Five people have been charged with conspiring to defraud Dolly Parton's My People Fund, which was established last year to help people affected by the wildfires in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. According to the Knoxville News Sentinel, the Sevier County grand jury has brought charges against Debra Kay Catlett; her son, Chad Alan Chambers; Rocco Boscalia; Annie Lyons; and Esther Pridemore. The suspects face charges including money laundering, criminal conspiracy and felony theft. An arraignment date hasn't been set.
· According to Dollywood Foundation President David Dotson, the fund assisted 900 families with about $9 million in the first six months after the wildfires.
· Records allege that the suspects were able to steal roughly $12,000 before the plot was found out.