A federal grand jury in Lexington today indicted former Warren County school Superintendent Randy Kimbrough on charges related to embezzlement and money laundering. Kimbrough, who was superintendent in Warren County from 1988 to 1992 and a deputy secretary for the state education department until her resignation earlier this month, is accused of converting more than $500,000 in state funds for her own use from April 1998 to December. Kimbrough, who declined comment, left Warren County when her contract was not renewed amid questions about a $100,000 anonymous donation for a football stadium at Greenwood High School. Questions arose as to whether there ever was an anonymous donation. Kimbrough who was in charge of the state education departments Bureau of Management Support Services, where she handled school finances, school lunch programs, transportation and facilities is accused of laundering money through an account at Commonwealth Credit Union of Frankfort by purchasing two automobiles and a $100,000 certificate of deposit, according to a statement released this morning from the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. Early on in the investigation, authorities said the missing money was linked to an Ashland educational cooperative. The state said that Kimbrough authorized state funds to be sent the cooperative for services that were never completed. Education cooperatives are groups of school districts that pool money for training, materials, professional development, consulting and finding more cost-efficient deals. Auditors converged on the cooperative and looked at the dealings which were signed off by Kimbrough. There also were questions raised about the cooperatives employment of her husband Jesse Kimbrough, a former Bowling Green school principal. The indictment which is a formal charge by a grand jury and is not proof of guilt seeks forfeiture of all money laundered and any property traceable to the money laundering and to seek full restitution, the office said. Lisa Gross, spokeswoman for the state education department, declined comment on the indictment. Kimbrough announced in November that she would resign this spring, after the 2000 General Assembly concluded, and was considering applying for the job of commissioner to succeed Wilmer Cody, who resigned Dec. 31, Gross said. If convicted, Kimbrough could be sentenced to three to five years in prison. Current Warren County schools Superintendent Leonard McCoy said he hopes the indictment does not impugn the integrity of the Warren County school system in the minds of the public.