Documents related to Green River Fire Department Chief Mike Nomis’ criminal charges alleged he and his wife Stephanie had used the firefighter’s foundation accounts to pay for personal expenses, ranging from furniture and appliance purchases to meals at local restaurants and checks written for cash.
Mike is charged with felony theft and misdemeanor wrongful appropriation of public property, while Stephanie faces a single charge of felony theft. Felony theft is publishable by not more than 10 years in prison and a potential fine of not more than $10,000. Mike’s misdemeanor charge is punishable by not more than one year in jail and carries a potential fine of not more than $1,000.
According to court documents, an investigation into alleged embezzlement claims started in October and focused on checks drawn on the Green River Fire Department Foundation bank accounts in question. Those checks were allegedly written to Michael Nomis by Michael Nomis for uses listed as expenses or reimbursement. There were also checks written to Sierra and Stevie Nomis for cleaning the fire department.
During the past year, the foundation fund, which originally contained $60,000, had decreased to approximately $20,000 and members of the GRFD had requested bank account information or receipts for expenditures Mike Nomis had made and had declined to release.
Under previous GRFD chiefs, business meeting minutes for the foundation dictated each expenditure and a receipt was provided for verification. The minutes now only document the beginning and ending balances of each account, with no verification of expenditures. Mike Nomis also wrote the minutes after each meeting.
The foundation manages four accounts, the foundation fund, an equipment fund, a social fund and a burn out fund which provides assistance to residents who are displaced after a house fire. Funding for the foundation’s activities are generated from donations made by residents and area businesses and was designed to be held until needed by the fire department.
Among the checks allegedly signed by Mike Nomis included a $2,278.34 purchase from John Paras Furniture in Rock Springs paid through the foundation’s equipment fund. The invoice was dated June 27, 2019 and allegedly sold to Stephanie Nomis. When investigators spoke to the sales person who had finalized the sale, he recalled asking why the furniture was being paid for with a GRFD check. Using stock identifiers, it was determined the sofa, recliner, table, chairs, and bench originally purchased were not delivered to the GRFD. The items were scheduled for delivery July 2, 2019 to the Nomis residence at 150 Keith Drive.
Another check listed in the court documents was written to WS Forestry for “packs, shelters” in the amount of $897. The actual check was written to cash and allegedly cashed by Mike Nomis. Investigators reviewing invoices sent by the Wyoming Forestry Division did not find an invoice for $897 and the service also told investigators it does not accept cash payments.
Investigators found similar instances where checks would be written to cash for various amounts, then were allegedly cashed by Mike Nomis.
Court documents state Stephanie admitted purchasing a GE washer and dryer set from Home Depot in 2019 totaling $1,052.58 that was taken to her daughter’s home, but claimed it was purchased for the GRFD. The investigation later revealed the city had purchased an industrial-sized washer for the department Feb. 19, 2019 for the GRFD for $5,574.
During an interview with investigators, Stephanie said she knew there was a debit card associated with the foundation’s social fund and originally denied using it for purchases before later stating she did use it. She also said she knew purchases with the debit card had to be voted on and said Mike knew she used the card because they frequently argued about it. She told investigators she used the social fund debit card over the course of several years for personal expenses.
Court documents note there are “numerous other transactions from all funds currently under investigation related to Michael and Stephanie Nomis.”
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