Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet
Two indicted again for allegedly falsifying applications to environmental cleanup fund

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Jan. 26, 2007) - Two people indicted last week in Todd County were indicted again today in Logan County for allegedly falsifying ownership of underground petroleum storage tanks in an attempt to have removal and site remediation costs paid from a special state environmental fund.

A Logan County grand jury returned a six-count indictment against Marvin Michael Vanhoose, of Versailles, and a five-count indictment against Licia Ruth Lykins, of Salyersville.

Both are application consultants who work with tank-removal companies. They were investigated by the Office of Inspector General (OIG) of the Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet (EPPC). The investigation is continuing.

Vanhoose is charged with second-degree complicity to forgery, two counts of second-degree forgery, two counts of first-degree possession of a forged instrument and knowingly submitting false documents to EPPC.

Lykins is charged with second-degree complicity to forgery, second-degree forgery, first-degree possession of a forged instrument, second-degree solicitation to forgery and knowingly submitting false documents to EPPC.

Possession of a forged instrument is a Class C felony. Other charges are Class D felonies.

The grand jury charged that Vanhoose and Lykins persuaded individuals in the area to sign "applications for tank removal assistance" as purported owners of tanks in three locations. Vanhoose’s indictment involves tanks at a former gas station in Trenton and an auto repair business in Auburn. Lykins’ indictment is related to a property in Adairville and the site in Trenton.

The purpose of the applications was to have the cost of the tank removal projects paid from the EPPC Small Operator Tank Removal Account, a fund created to help low-income owners of small gas stations. The actual owners would not have qualified, investigators determined.