Former Ky. ambulance director indicted on fraud charges

By Taylor Six
Lexington Herald-Leader

ELLIOTT COUNTY, Ky. — The former director of the ambulance service in Elliott County has been indicted for six felony counts related to fraudulently using employer funds and falsifying records.

Michael Burling, 40, was indicted for two counts of abuse of public trust over $100,000, one count of theft by deception over $10,000, one count of theft by unlawful taking over $10,000 but under $1,000,000, one count of tampering with public records and one count of criminal possession of a forged instrument.

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Burling was indicted by an Elliott County grand jury June 4, according to online court records. The indictment was made public Monday by the Kentucky Attorney General’s Office.

The charges stem from alleged crimes between January 2018 through May 2024, while Burling was the director of the Elliott County ambulance service, according to the attorney general’s office.

The press release did not detail any information about the alleged crimes or how Burling came to be investigated.

As of Monday afternoon, there is no indictment listed in online court records.

Burling’s bond is set for $100,000 cash. His first circuit court appearance was Monday.

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