MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WTVF) — A grand jury has returned three indictments against Kelsey Ketron, the daughter of Rutherford County Mayor Bill Ketron. She now faces more than 70 counts, including fraud, perjury and money laundering.
Murfreesboro police say Ketron was arrested at 7 p.m. Monday at her home and booked into the Rutherford County Jail. She's been at the center of an ongoing fraud investigation uncovered by NewsChannel 5 Investigates.
Ketron is accused of fraud and selling insurance without a license at her family's insurance business in Murfreesboro. Up until this point, the allegations had not been criminal but civil charges which were filed by state regulators with the Tennessee Department of Insurance.
Investigators say Ketron is now charged with 30 counts of impersonating a licensed professional, 14 counts of money laundering, 12 counts of aggravated perjury, five counts of fraudulent insurance acts $250,000 or more, five counts of forgery $250,000 or more, two counts of fraudulent insurance acts $60,000 - $250,000, fraudulent insurance acts $10,000 - $59,999, theft of property $10,000 - $60,000, and theft of property $60,000 - $250,000.
She’s also accused of stealing more than $65,000 from her father’s various campaign accounts and his political action committee. She was treasurer for his Bill Ketron for County Mayor campaign account, his Senate campaign account and his quest political action committee.
The first indictment includes nine counts of aggravated perjury, stemming from statements she made during a sworn deposition. According to the indictment, Ketron said she had an insurance license and that she had re-issued a check and had sent several checks.
The second indictment has three counts of aggravated perjury, stemming from a case in which a homeowner discovered the insurance policy she’d paid for didn’t exist. During a sworn deposition, Ketron again discussed having an insurance license and mailing checks.
The third indictment includes five counts of fraudulent insurance activity, five counts of forgery, three more accounts of fraudulent insurance activity, two counts of theft, 14 counts of money laundering and 30 counts of impersonation of a licensed professional.
Ketron's attorney, Trey Harwell released the following statement in response to her arrest:
"Kelsey Ketron has cooperated with the authorities from the start. We were stunned by her sudden arrest and incarceration last night without the opportunity to make bail today. Based on our understanding of the facts, Kelsey did not do anything that would arise to criminal conduct. She is innocent until proven guilty and, as such, we are troubled by the way her arrest was handled. The pending civil cases involving Universal Insurance have been settled. We look forward to a vigorous defense of her case in court when the full story comes out."
According to police, the State District Attorney’s Office selected the Hamilton County DA to prosecute the case after Rutherford County District Attorney General Jennings Jones and his staff recused themselves due to a conflict of interest.
Her bond was set at $100,000. Police say a circuit court hearing is set for Nov. 25.
More:
Emails suggest Bill Ketron got special treatment from state insurance regulators after complaint
Rutherford Co. commissioner asks whether Bill Ketron used senate campaign money on mayoral run
Search warrant reveals what police found in raid of Ketron's insurance office
County commissioner calls for special meeting on Ketron insurance fraud case
More customers come forward and accuse Murfreesboro insurance agent Kelsey Ketron
Attorneys for Murfreesboro insurance agent Kelsey Ketron asks judge for more time in fraud case
