Former Jackson County Fire Chief Sentenced to Prison for Mail Fraud, Ordered to Pay $226K in Restitution

A volunteer fire chief from Jackson County was sentenced to a year in prison today after pleading guilty to mail fraud charges. Johnny Baker, who led the Coalton volunteer fire department, was convicted of diverting over $200,000 of the department’s funds for his personal use.

The scheme, which began seemingly innocently, had Baker managing to pull tab sales meant to support the fire department. Across the local community, this legal gambling venture flourished in businesses whose intended goal was to rally financial support for the firefighters. However, according to the

U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio

, Baker began supplementing his income, spending the proceeds on various luxuries, including cruises and an ATV.

Joining the volunteer department in 2009, Baker served in various roles before becoming the fire chief in January 2023. During his tenure as chief, he misappropriated funds, not only from the pull tab sales but also by having items purchased with the fire department’s money delivered to his residence using services like UPS.

This misuse of funds led to Baker’s guilty plea in April to one count of mail fraud, which unfolded in the U.S. District Court under Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr. Wearing the dual hats of both a defendant and once a respected community servant, Baker will now have to repay approximately $226,000 in restitution, a sum that echoes the depth of his betrayal.

The announcement came from Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Lesley Allison, Inspector in Charge at the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Pittsburgh Division. Assistant United States Attorney David J. Twombly carried the weight of the case on behalf of the United States, whose role was crucial in navigating the legal proceedings that culminated in today’s sentencing.

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