Argyle Fire Chief Indicted for Federal Violations

PLANO, Texas – The former Argyle Fire Chief has been indicted for federal violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston today. 

Troy Mac Hohenberger, 63, was named in a federal indictment returned by a federal grand jury on Nov. 17, 2022, in the Eastern District of Texas.  The indictment charges Hohenberger with multiple federal violations related to misuse and theft of funds from the Argyle Fire District, Inc. operating account, along with making false statements to the Department of Labor.  Hohenberger made his initial appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kimberly C. Priest Johnson.   

According to the indictment, Hohenberger, while chief of the Argyle Fire Department, is alleged to have taken money from the operating account of the fire district (which received federal funds in the form of Medicare reimbursements) and used over $490,000 of those funds to pay personal credit card bills.  The indictment also alleges these personal credit card expenses included cash advances at casinos, payments related to a family member’s business in Hawaii, and other personal uses.  Hohenberger is also alleged to have failed to fund firefighter retirement accounts in the time required by federal regulations and thus embezzled or stole the funds, and that he made false statements related to the ERISA-qualified firefighter retirement plan on a form submitted to the Department of Labor.

If convicted, Hohenberger faces up to 10 years in federal prison.

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Labor – EBSA.

A grand jury indictment is not evidence of guilt.  All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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