Crime
The former chief allegedly made fraudulent claims for nearly $20,000 in overtime pay that he was not eligible for.
A former Adams police chief was indicted by a grand jury on fraud charges Tuesday, according to prosecutors.
Kevin Scott Kelley, 46, of Mauldin, S.C., has been charged with procurement fraud, making a false claim to an employer, and larceny over $1200 by a single scheme, the Berkshire District Attorney’s Office said in a press release. His arraignment is scheduled for May 4 in Berkshire Superior Court, records show.
Kelley allegedly submitted fraudulent reimbursement claims under a municipal traffic enforcement grant, prosecutors said. The grant program was administered by the Office of Grants and Research related to work for the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT).
Specifically, Kelley allegedly claimed that he worked overtime hours that he did not actually work, according to court records. This alleged fraud happened between about January 2024 and September 2025.
Adams police became suspicious when they noticed discrepancies in the reimbursement submissions, prosecutors said. When they found evidence of fraud, they requested help from the DA’s office and the Berkshire State Police Detective Unit.
State Police conducted a formal investigation and found that Adams had allegedly received $19,123.15 in overtime pay for “dates on which he either absent from work or performed duties not consistent with the requirements of the grant program,” according to the DA’s office.
In September 2025, the Adams Select Board voted to place Kelley on paid leave, The Berkshire Eagle reported. He was first hired to be the town’s police chief in December 2020 after serving as chief at Spartanburg Community College in South Carolina.
Kelley was confirmed to no longer be the town’s police chief in December 2025, according to the Eagle. His attorney information was not immediately available Wednesday evening.
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