Former Ripon Area Fire District Chief charged with fraud, use of Department credit card
Dec 04, 2024
RIPON, Wis. (WFRV) - The former Fire Chief for the Ripon Area Fire District (RAFD) has been charged with three counts of fraud stemming from the alleged use of an RAFD credit card.
According to Fond du Lac County District Attorney Eric Toney, Former Chief Tim Saul, 57, was charged with three counts of Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card on December 2.
The criminal complaint shows that Saul's alleged fraudulent purchases date back to 2016 and went on for several years. The balance on the RAFD's card, at one point, was reportedly $36,000.
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Authorities say the payments that stood out as "clearly not being RAFD purchases" were nine Alliant Energy bills, 11 Charter Communications bills, a variety of hotels, including the Kalahari Resort and Mt. Olympus in the Wisconsin Dells, and a $199.36 amount to the "Chicago Cubs."
Shortly after a meeting with district officials in 2022 where five years of detailed statements for the credit card were requested, Saul subsequently resigned from his position.
When district officials met with Saul in 2022 and requested five years of detailed statements for the credit card, the criminal complaint said Saul resigned from his position as RAFD Fire Chief shortly after the meeting.
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Court records show that all three charges are a Misdemeanor A.
Saul's initial appearance is scheduled for Monday, December 23, which is anticipated to resolve the same day with a sentencing hearing.
Local 5 will update this story when more information becomes available.