Ralph Tackett, Wire Fraud, Kentucky 2023

A Georgetown man has been sentenced to 33 months in federal prison for his role in embezzling over half a million dollars from a local church.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Ralph Tackett, 66, was sentenced on Monday by Chief U.S. District Judge Danny C. Reeves for wire fraud.

Tackett, who served as the treasurer of a Georgetown church, used his position of trust to embezzle a total of $512,042.00 from the church between December 2015 and July 2019.

The funds were transferred to pay off Tackett’s personal credit cards, deposited into his personal and business accounts, and used to meet the demands of a third-party.

Throughout this time, Tackett concealed the true nature of the church’s expenditures from the church Pastor and Board members, causing substantial financial hardship for the church.

As part of his sentence, Tackett was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $532,807.46 to the church, which includes the amount of money he embezzled directly, as well as the additional costs the church incurred as a result of Tackett’s crime.

Tackett must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence, which will be served under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for three years upon his release.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI, with the United States represented by Assistant United States Attorney Tashena A. Fannin.

The sentencing comes as a result of a joint investigation between the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI.

The case highlights the importance of trust and accountability in positions of authority, as well as the devastating consequences of embezzlement on organizations and communities.

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