WIFE OF FORMER PRESIDENT OF SHELTON STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE AGREES TO PLEAD GUILTY TO WIRE FRAUD

BIRMINGHAM, AL - MELINDA KAY UMPHREY, 58, of McCalla, Alabama has agreed to plead guilty to 3 counts of wire fraud and to forfeit $156,734.28 as a result of her fraudulent employment at the Alabama Fire College from June 2001 to December 2003. The Information and Plea Agreement outlining the charges were filed in U. S. District Court today according to U. S. Attorney Alice H. Martin. She faces a maximum sentence of twenty years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.00.

UMPHREY is the wife of the former President of Shelton State Community College in Tuscaloosa County which housed the Alabama Fire College. From June 1, 2001 to December 31, 2003, the Alabama Fire College "employed" UMPHREY as a "Coordinator" at an annual salary of approximately $40,000. The federal investigation into public corruption at the Alabama Fire College established that UMPHREY performed no legitimate work to earn the compensation or benefits that she received which totaled in gross salary $127,594.46, and earned benefits valued at $29,139.82. UMPHREY, a former state employee, also used this salary to maximize her retirement benefits and accrue service time in the state of Alabama's retirement system.

"Melinda Kay Umphrey essentially stole $156,734.28 from the State of Alabama and used her no-work job to also accrue service time in the Alabama state retirement system," stated U.S. Attorney Martin.

"The FBI and our law enforcement partners are committed to rooting out corruption at every level. There is no acceptable level of corruption," stated Carmen S. Adams, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation.


The investigation of this matter was conducted by investigators from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Lloyd Peeples is prosecuting the matter on behalf of the United States.

Members of the public are reminded that an indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government's burden to prove a defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.