Attorney General Steve Marshall announced on Apr. 10 the indictment and arrest of Karen Lakey, a former employee of the International Motor Sports Hall of Fame, on one count related to the use of public employment for personal gain or gain of a family member. Lakey, 56, from Munford, turned herself in to the Talladega County Sheriff’s Office without incident.
The case follows an investigation by the Attorney General’s Special Prosecutions Division that began after an audit by the Department of Examiners of Public Accounts into the International Motor Sports Hall of Fame (IMSHOF). At the time referenced in the indictment, Lakey served as IMSHOF’s bookkeeper.
According to the announcement, “The indictment charges Lakey with using her position as bookkeeper of IMSHOF to obtain all or a portion of $159,477.55 of IMSHOF funds for her own gain or the gain of a family member.” If convicted, she faces up to 20 years in prison and a $30,000 fine. The charge is classified as a class B felony. Authorities said no further information about the investigation or alleged crimes will be released at this time.
Marshall thanked both the Department of Examiners and IMSHOF for their assistance during this matter. He also reminded that “an indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.”
The Alabama Attorney General office works statewide as Alabama’s chief law enforcement agency offering legal representation and services such as prosecuting crimes and supporting victims according to its official website. The office has also focused on initiatives to reduce violent crime and support victims according to its official website. In addition, it received recognition from state organizations for its work during crises such as being named a Hometown Hero by the Alabama League of Municipalities in 2020 according to its official website.
Steve Marshall has served as Alabama’s forty-eighth Attorney General since Feb. 10, 2017 according to its official website, maintaining jurisdiction across all counties according to its official website. The office has influenced policy through high-profile cases before courts including defending convictions under statutes like the Brody Act according to its official website.