St. Paul’s Fire Chief Doc Matthews Charged in $250K Fraud Scheme

St. Paul’s Fire District Chief Doc McNeil Matthews, 47, of Hollywood, South Carolina, is staring down federal prison time after being indicted on charges of embezzlement and fraud involving theft from a federally funded agency. Alongside him, Assistant Chief Charles Riddle, 44, of Goose Creek, and Mary Jo Thomas-Delaney, 67, of Summerville, face identical charges in a sprawling kickback operation that gutted public resources meant for emergency services.

The two-count indictment, handed down by a Charleston grand jury and announced today by Acting U.S. Attorney Beth Drake, accuses Matthews of inflating his leave balances and then cashing them out—a move that siphoned taxpayer money directly into his pocket. That first count alone carries a maximum penalty of ten years behind bars and a $250,000 fine.

Count two exposes a deeper rot: a secret scheme in which Matthews, Riddle, and Thomas-Delaney allegedly inflated payments from the fire district to Grant Services LLC, Thomas-Delaney’s company, then split the excess proceeds among themselves. The maneuver exploited federal funding funneled to the district, turning public safety funds into private profit.

The investigation, led by the FBI and the South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division, ignited after internal audits conducted at the request of the St. Paul’s Fire District Commission uncovered glaring financial discrepancies. What started as a routine review quickly spiraled into a full-blown federal probe targeting the very leadership meant to uphold integrity.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Klumb is handling the prosecution. Federal authorities have made no effort to downplay the breach of trust, emphasizing that public officials in positions of duty who betray that trust will be held accountable under the full weight of federal law.

Despite the damning indictment, Drake reiterated the foundational principle of the justice system: the charges are merely accusations. Doc McNeil Matthews, Charles Riddle, and Mary Jo Thomas-Delaney are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The case now moves toward arraignment, with federal prosecutors vowing a relentless pursuit of accountability.