Local Furniture Stores Under Investigation

Multiple investigations are underway regarding two different furniture stores in Paducah that are owned by the same company.  The McCracken County Attorney's Office, Paducah Police, and Kentucky Labor Cabinet have all launched investigations into alleged activity to determine if anything criminal has been conducted by the owners of Fleming Furniture along the 3800 block of Hinkleville Road, and Ashley Furniture along South 16th Street, both in Paducah.

The subject of each investigation is whether the owners of the two stores have conducted alleged, possibly illegal activity in taking payment for furniture that is not delivered.  McCracken County Assistant Attorney Todd Jones tells West Kentucky Star that his office is trying to determine if the issues that customers are reported as having with Fleming Furniture and Ashley Furniture are "criminal or civil in nature."  Jones said he isn't sure when their investigation will be complete, and he declined to elaborate on which way the investigation was leaning at this time.  

Paducah Police confirms to West Kentucky Star that they are also investigating the situation after numerous customers of both stores filed complaints with the department regarding furniture that had been paid for, but never delivered.  The department would not tell West Kentucky Star how far along they are in their investigation, or when they expect it to be complete.  Jones says he is encouraging any customers that have had unresolved issues with either furniture store to call the McCracken County Attorney's Office and / or file a report with Paducah Police.

West Kentucky Star has also learned that the Kentucky Labor Cabinet has launched their own investigation after around a dozen employees of the stores filed complaints about pay that's allegedly missing from their paychecks.  The Labor Cabinet would not indicate anything specific beyond the alleged complaints to West Kentucky Star, only that it could take weeks or months to determine if anything wrong was done.

The stores' owner, Dan Kelley, has not returned our calls to present his side of the story.  Jones also indicates that he has tried to contact Kelley no less than 10 times on behalf of the McCracken County Attorney's Office, and Kelley has not returned his calls either.  Other published media stories indicate Kelley has not returned their calls either.

Research conducted by West Kentucky Star through the Kentucky Secretary of State's Office indicates that both stores are owned under one corporation, Kelley-Wiggins Furniture, Inc., that has a registered address which is the same as Fleming Furniture's store location along Hinkleville Road.  A cross reference with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Louisville, the court responsible for western Kentucky, by West Kentucky Star shows no filings with the court regarding either personal or corporate issues, which could be an indication of financial issues.  The incorporation filings with the Secretary of State's office are listed as in good standing and current.  The last filing was on June 29th, 2015, and was for the annual report required by Kentucky Law for incorporations to remain current with the state.