RANKIN COUNTY – Daniel and Sherry Finnegan, owners and employees of Finnegan Fire Safety Equipment, pleaded guilty Tuesday in Rankin County, according to the Mississippi Office of the State Fire Marshal.
Officials said Daniel Finnegan was sentenced to 20 years, with seven years to serve. Sherry Finnegan was sentenced to five years, with four years suspended and one year to serve.
The state fire marshal’s office said the plea agreements cover charges filed in both Rankin and Madison counties. Across the two counties, officials said 12 charges were filed against Daniel Finnegan and 12 against Sherry Finnegan stemming from six separate cases.
Authorities said the Finnegans were originally charged with 41 counts each of false pretense, a felony, along with 37 counts each of violations of the Mississippi Fire Prevention Code, which are misdemeanors.
Despite the pleas entered in Rankin and Madison counties, officials said the Finnegans still face additional charges, including 31 Mississippi Fire Prevention Code violations and 37 false pretense charges that remain pending. The investigation involves 13 counties, and charges remain active in 11 counties, according to the fire marshal’s office.
Based on documentation obtained and verified during the investigation, officials said confirmed victims paid the Finnegans a total of $343,162.69. The fire marshal’s office said the amount does not reflect the full financial impact because many victims also paid additional costs to correct deficient installations and bring fire protection systems into compliance.
Officials said restitution ordered for Daniel Finnegan totals $67,853.95, and restitution ordered for Sherry Finnegan totals $20,000.
The Mississippi Office of the State Fire Marshal said it will continue to monitor remaining cases in other counties and provide updates as more information becomes available.
