Ex-Stockyard Worker Gets Five Years for Theft
Brittany Gerkey pleaded guilty to embezzling over $500,000 from Bluegrass Stockyards in Albany and agreed to testify against a co-defendant.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Financial Crime
Clinton Circuit Court Judge David L. Williams sentenced Brittany Gerkey, 39, to five years in prison for stealing more than $500,000 from Bluegrass Stockyards in Albany between February 2022 and May 2024. Gerkey pleaded guilty on October 8, 2026 to theft and unlawful computer access.
Why it matters
The case shows how a fabricated cattle sale entered into a stockyard's system can move money out of a business undetected for years. Gerkey's cooperation against co-defendant Bret Carver could shape the outcome of his pending trial.
Gerkey received two concurrent five-year sentences with credit for time already served and must pay $179,286.44 in restitution to the Clinton Circuit Clerk, with $25,000.00 due upfront. Carver's jury trial is set for January 27, 2027 at 9 a.m., and Gerkey has agreed to testify against him.
The players
Brittany Gerkey
Gerkey, 39, is the former employee of Bluegrass Stockyards who pleaded guilty to theft and was sentenced to five years in prison.
Bret Carver
Carver is the former Albany Bluegrass Stockyard manager accused of orchestrating the fake cattle sale and awaiting a jury trial.
David L. Williams
Williams is the Clinton Circuit Court judge who presided over Gerkey's sentencing.
The details
Prosecutors say Carver manually entered a fake cattle sale under an existing client's name, producing a check to a fictitious seller even though no cattle changed hands. Gerkey allegedly deposited money into bank accounts to help Carver; she and Carver were arrested on March 12, 2025.
Timeline
February 2022: Embezzlement period begins.
May 2024: Embezzlement period ends.
March 12, 2025: Gerkey and Carver are arrested.
October 8, 2026: Gerkey pleads guilty.
January 27, 2027: Carver's jury trial is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m.
Legal Context
Gerkey's plea falls under Kentucky's theft by unlawful taking statute, which treats thefts over $10,000 as a felony. The case reflects how state prosecutors have charged long-running embezzlement schemes under that threshold rather than as isolated thefts.
Businesses that rely on manually entered sales records may want to review internal controls and reconciliation procedures. Restitution payments flowing to the Clinton Circuit Clerk may also affect how the affected stockyard recovers its losses.
The takeaway
Embezzlement schemes often depend on weak oversight of manual entries, so routine audits of sales and payment records can catch irregularities early. Anyone with information about similar financial misconduct can contact local law enforcement or the county prosecutor's office.
What happens next
Bret Carver is scheduled for a jury trial on January 27, 2027 at 9 a.m., where Gerkey's testimony is expected to be part of the prosecution's case.
Further reading
For more on similar cases, browse Financial Crime coverage across Kentucky.
Source note: This article includes information reported by LEX 18 News - Lexington, KY (WLEX).
