SPARTA — Carrie J. Kelley, 43, of Sparta, was arrested Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, on multiple felony charges related to the alleged theft of more than $1 million from MedStar Ambulance Inc., authorities said.
The Randolph County Sheriff’s Office announced Kelley’s arrest on warrants for two counts of theft of property over $1 million, a Class X felony; one count of wire fraud, a Class 3 felony; and four counts of fraudulent filing of Illinois income tax, Class 4 felonies. The arrest took place on Dec. 5, 2025, without incident, with assistance from the Illinois Department of Revenue.
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Investigators were first alerted to potential financial irregularities at MedStar Ambulance Inc. in February 2024. A lengthy investigation revealed that Kelley, an employee at the company during the period in question, allegedly misappropriated funds totaling over $1 million over several years. The investigation involved cooperation between the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office, Illinois Department of Revenue, and the Illinois Attorney General’s Office.
Randolph County Sheriff Jarrod Peters credited the investigative team for their persistence.
“I want to credit the Investigators who continued to work on this case and bring closure to it. Their continued hard work and determination led to the arrest of Kelley,” he said. Peters encouraged anyone with additional information related to the case to contact his Detective Division.
MedStar Ambulance Inc., a provider of emergency medical services in Southwestern Illinois, issued a statement addressing the arrest and ongoing repercussions. The company said the situation was “mentally, emotionally, and physically demanding” for its staff. The issue came to light after the company’s CEO, Charles Kelley, received employee complaints regarding group health insurance, prompting an internal audit that uncovered more extensive financial misappropriation than initially suspected.
Deborah Kelley, owner of MedStar Ambulance, emphasized the company’s commitment to accountability and patient care.
“Our priority remains the well-being of our patients and the integrity of our organization. We have cooperated fully with law enforcement and have taken all necessary steps to restore trust, placing greater safeguards in place to prevent any recurrence in the future,” she said.
MedStar Ambulance expressed gratitude to law enforcement agencies involved in the investigation, including the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office, Illinois State Police, Illinois Department of Revenue, and the Illinois Attorney General’s Office, for their professionalism and dedication.
Carrie J. Kelley was taken to the Randolph County Jail following her arrest and released to correctional staff.
All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
