A woman indicted on bankruptcy fraud charges is also charged with intentionally setting a retail store on fire. Debra Fowler Kessinger, 57, was recently indicted in connection with a fire that took place in 2011 in Warren Country Kentucky.
Kessinger was formally charged by a grand federal jury in connection to a fire that destroyed the Horse Cave Dollar General Store. Charges related to the incident include maliciously damaging and destroying and attempting to damage and destroy, by means of fire. The fire happened in June 2011 and the building was considered a total loss. A new store has since been built.
Kessinger will be arraigned later in April on an arson charge which carries up to 20 years in prions with a $250,000 if convicted. During this court appearance she was also indicted by the jury with two counts of bankruptcy fraud including making false claims in a filing and fraudulently transferring and concealing property.
Kessinger filed for protection in November 2008, but failed to disclose she had thousands of dollars in assets when she filed her petition. The same year she received over $47,000 in retirement funds belonging to her husband upon his passing. From 2008 through 2009 she received over $95,000 from her late husband’s life insurance policy. She concealed her assets from creditors while purchasing a 2006 Chevrolet Equinox for $14,000 from life insurance proceeds. She also had roughly $14,000 in another account she failed to mention on the day she filed bankruptcy.
Kessinger will be sentenced in May on bankruptcy fraud charges. She faces up to 10 years in prison and $500,000 fine for each count if found guilty.