A former Muncie police officer has been charged with stealing more than $26,000 from a Fraternal Order of Police lodge while he served as treasurer.
The Star Press reports 40-year-old George Edward Hopper turned himself in at the Delaware County jail on Friday and was released after posting a $5,000 bond.
Hopper could not be reached for comment because the telephone listing for him had been disconnected. It was not known if he has hired an attorney.
Hopper resigned the Muncie Police Department in March 2013, after FOP officials launched an investigation into missing funds. He had been a police officer for nearly 15 years.
Court documents show Hopper previously repaid $12,000, and Prosecutor Jeffrey Arnold said the former officer paid an additional $14,000 in restitution Friday.
Showing posts with label Grand Theft. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Grand Theft. Show all posts
Saturday, April 12, 2014
Friday, February 07, 2014
Officer Kevin Burgs Arrested for Stealing Watch from Jared's Galleria
A Pembroke Pines Police officer was arrested after
authorities said he was caught on video stealing a watch when he
responded to a burglary at a jewelry store, police said Thursday.
A Pembroke Pines Police officer was arrested after authorities said he was caught on video stealing a watch when he responded to a burglary at a jewelry store, police said Thursday.
Officer Kevin Burgs was arrested and
charged with grand theft after he took a watch worth $795 from the
Jared's Galleria of Jewelry at 11077 Pines Boulevard Wednesday morning.
He bonded out around 4:30 a.m. and it was unknown whether he has an
attorney.
Police said two suspects cut a hole in the roof of the building and got away with $75,000 worth of merchandise and caused about $10,000 in damages early Wednesday.
Burgs, a 9-year veteran of the
department, was one of the responding officers to the business, police
said. He was caught on surveillance video cameras removing the watch,
police said.
"Public trust is vital to our partnership with the community. It is important to note that we held this officer accountable for his actions and charged him appropriately," the police department said in a statement. "We will remain transparent and provide updates as this matter progresses. This one act is not representative of the rest of our police department. We are extremely proud of our employees and thankful for their constant dedication and hard work."
Burgs was suspended with pay pending the outcome of an internal investigation.
Residents in Pembroke Pines said they were shocked to hear of the arrest.
"That’s really bad, if you can’t trust the police who can you trust?" Flor Morales said.
Thursday, October 10, 2013
Officer Dan Hamlin Arrested for Grand Theft
A JSO officer has been arrested on 26 counts of official misconduct and grand theft.
JSO said officer Dan Hamlin was arrested after a warrant was issued Wednesday.
Undersheriff Dwain Senterfitt said Hamlin was fraudulently claiming overtime. Senterfitt said Hamlin claimed he was consulting with the State Attorney's Office on pre-trial cases but listed a state attorney on his timesheet who was no longer at the office.
According to JSO, this case has been under investigation since June. Senterfitt said Hamlin was made aware at the time, and the overtime stopped.
Senterfitt said Hamlin has resigned.
JSO said officer Dan Hamlin was arrested after a warrant was issued Wednesday.
Undersheriff Dwain Senterfitt said Hamlin was fraudulently claiming overtime. Senterfitt said Hamlin claimed he was consulting with the State Attorney's Office on pre-trial cases but listed a state attorney on his timesheet who was no longer at the office.
According to JSO, this case has been under investigation since June. Senterfitt said Hamlin was made aware at the time, and the overtime stopped.
Senterfitt said Hamlin has resigned.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Former Officer Gene Tomatani Pleads Guilty to Grand Theft
A former Redondo Beach police officer accused of taking more than $75,000 from a law enforcement officers' association pleaded guilty Wednesday to one count of grand theft by embezzlement, authorities said.
Gene Tomatani, 40, is expected to pay $75,388 in restitution between now and his sentencing March 15, the Los Angeles County district attorney's office said. He has already paid $12,000 toward the restitution.
Tomatani agreed to a settlement and is expected to be sentenced to 90 days in County Jail and three years' probation. He must attend a year of Gamblers Anonymous, the district attorney said.
Tomatani was the president and treasurer of the Redondo Beach Police Officer's Assn. and was accused of embezzling the money between May 2004 and May 2008.
He resigned from the department in October.
Gene Tomatani, 40, is expected to pay $75,388 in restitution between now and his sentencing March 15, the Los Angeles County district attorney's office said. He has already paid $12,000 toward the restitution.
Tomatani agreed to a settlement and is expected to be sentenced to 90 days in County Jail and three years' probation. He must attend a year of Gamblers Anonymous, the district attorney said.
Tomatani was the president and treasurer of the Redondo Beach Police Officer's Assn. and was accused of embezzling the money between May 2004 and May 2008.
He resigned from the department in October.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Former Sgt. Walter McWilson Pleads Guilty to Receiving Stolen Property
A once-lauded Oceanside police sergeant will do jail time after pleading guilty Wednesday to three counts of receiving stolen property.
Before striking a plea bargain with prosecutors, Walter McWilson, 37, a 10-year Oceanside police veteran, had been facing 14 felony charges, including grand theft and conspiracy for allegedly asking his office manager girlfriend to use her construction company's credit cards to buy gift cards, electronics and home improvement materials.
Prosecutor Anna Winn, who handled the case, said police officers are "heroes" and "protectors," so McWilson's fall was painful to many.
"Anytime a police officer commits a crime, it betrays all police officers and it betrays the public trust," Winn said.
McWilson is scheduled to be sentenced June 15 to 365 days in county jail, Winn said. But if he repays Oceanside-based Royal Pacific Construction $22,000 by that date, he will get a sentence of between 180 and 270 days.
Under state guidelines, McWilson will probably be required to serve half of any sentence he receives.
McWilson has three children and lives in Murrieta with a son and his elderly mother.
His now ex-girlfriend Aimee Rich, 34, had previously pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement and is expected to be sentenced April 22 to between 120 and 365 days in jail, Winn said.
Before he was placed on leave in August, McWilson gained the praise of department leaders as the supervisor of the Neighborhood Policing Team and for his work on the Crisis Negotiations Team and the Psychiatric Emergency Response Team.
With an earnest but friendly demeanor and what department leaders said was a sincere concern for the community, one Oceanside police captain called McWilson a "rising star."
Detectives from his own department discovered McWilson's crimes by accident as they investigated Rich, police said.
She refused to tell investigators whether her embezzlement had benefited any friends, but a receipt for a mattress seized from her Murrieta apartment had McWilson's name on it, police said.
Oceanside police Chief Frank McCoy on Wednesday said McWilson's arrest and guilty plea showed the department's commitment to justice.
"A clear message was sent that regardless of if someone is a police officer or whatever their profession is, our department will conduct a thorough and fair investigation," McCoy said.
Oceanside's probe showed that Rich had used company checks and lines of credit to embezzle about $160,000 between 2004 and 2008, court records show.
Winn said McWilson admitted that Rich used her company's credit to buy him about $22,000 worth of goods, including four TVs, one of which he sold to a neighbor, an Apple notebook computer, a high-end mattress, Thomasville mahogany flooring and $4,000 in Home Depot gift cards.
As a convicted felon, McWilson will never be able to work in law enforcement again, Winn said.
But it is not McWilson's first time on the wrong side of the law. In 1993 he was convicted of evading a police officer, Winn said, but had the charge expunged after establishing a record of good behavior.
Before striking a plea bargain with prosecutors, Walter McWilson, 37, a 10-year Oceanside police veteran, had been facing 14 felony charges, including grand theft and conspiracy for allegedly asking his office manager girlfriend to use her construction company's credit cards to buy gift cards, electronics and home improvement materials.
Prosecutor Anna Winn, who handled the case, said police officers are "heroes" and "protectors," so McWilson's fall was painful to many.
"Anytime a police officer commits a crime, it betrays all police officers and it betrays the public trust," Winn said.
McWilson is scheduled to be sentenced June 15 to 365 days in county jail, Winn said. But if he repays Oceanside-based Royal Pacific Construction $22,000 by that date, he will get a sentence of between 180 and 270 days.
Under state guidelines, McWilson will probably be required to serve half of any sentence he receives.
McWilson has three children and lives in Murrieta with a son and his elderly mother.
His now ex-girlfriend Aimee Rich, 34, had previously pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement and is expected to be sentenced April 22 to between 120 and 365 days in jail, Winn said.
Before he was placed on leave in August, McWilson gained the praise of department leaders as the supervisor of the Neighborhood Policing Team and for his work on the Crisis Negotiations Team and the Psychiatric Emergency Response Team.
With an earnest but friendly demeanor and what department leaders said was a sincere concern for the community, one Oceanside police captain called McWilson a "rising star."
Detectives from his own department discovered McWilson's crimes by accident as they investigated Rich, police said.
She refused to tell investigators whether her embezzlement had benefited any friends, but a receipt for a mattress seized from her Murrieta apartment had McWilson's name on it, police said.
Oceanside police Chief Frank McCoy on Wednesday said McWilson's arrest and guilty plea showed the department's commitment to justice.
"A clear message was sent that regardless of if someone is a police officer or whatever their profession is, our department will conduct a thorough and fair investigation," McCoy said.
Oceanside's probe showed that Rich had used company checks and lines of credit to embezzle about $160,000 between 2004 and 2008, court records show.
Winn said McWilson admitted that Rich used her company's credit to buy him about $22,000 worth of goods, including four TVs, one of which he sold to a neighbor, an Apple notebook computer, a high-end mattress, Thomasville mahogany flooring and $4,000 in Home Depot gift cards.
As a convicted felon, McWilson will never be able to work in law enforcement again, Winn said.
But it is not McWilson's first time on the wrong side of the law. In 1993 he was convicted of evading a police officer, Winn said, but had the charge expunged after establishing a record of good behavior.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Former Officer Timothy Radogna Sentenced for Grand Theft
A former Glendora police officer pleaded no contest today to grand theft and possessing methamphetamine.
Timothy Radogna, 34, was sentenced to 180 days in county jail and three years of probation and ordered to complete a 24-month drug rehabilitation program, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney's office.
He could have received a maximum term of nine years and eight months in state prison.
Radogna was arrested in May after he was accused of stealing hundreds of dollars from the Glendora Police Department and possessing drugs.
Radgona was also ordered to repay $500 to the department, authorities said.
Timothy Radogna, 34, was sentenced to 180 days in county jail and three years of probation and ordered to complete a 24-month drug rehabilitation program, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney's office.
He could have received a maximum term of nine years and eight months in state prison.
Radogna was arrested in May after he was accused of stealing hundreds of dollars from the Glendora Police Department and possessing drugs.
Radgona was also ordered to repay $500 to the department, authorities said.
Wednesday, December 09, 2009
Sgt. Gene Tomatani Charged with Embezzling From Union
A former Redondo Beach police sergeant has been charged with embezzling more than $72,000 from his police union.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney's office says 40-year-old Gene Tomatani was charged Tuesday with felony grand theft.
Prosecutors say Tomatani stole from the Redondo Beach Police Officer's Association while serving as treasurer and then president of the group from 2004 to 2008.
Tomatani will be arraigned Jan. 8. If convicted, he faces up to four years in state prison.
Tomatani resigned from the department in October.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney's office says 40-year-old Gene Tomatani was charged Tuesday with felony grand theft.
Prosecutors say Tomatani stole from the Redondo Beach Police Officer's Association while serving as treasurer and then president of the group from 2004 to 2008.
Tomatani will be arraigned Jan. 8. If convicted, he faces up to four years in state prison.
Tomatani resigned from the department in October.
Wednesday, June 03, 2009
Former Officer Michael Miles Accused of Having Sex with 14-Year-Old Boy
A former police officer and volunteer teacher was arrested Tuesday, accused of having sex with a 14-year-old boy. Michael Gregory Miles was an officer with the Oak Hill Police Department.
Eyewitness News learned the school did not do a background check on Miles before he started working with kids. Miles is related to the school's owners.
Michael Miles was a police officer, he was family and he was trusted, but the relationship he started with a 14-year-old boy from Edgewater's Private Discovery Academy, has led to three felony charges against the former officer.
"You would never think he was creepy or anything like that, where you would think something was going on. Never, never in a million years," said administrator Nancy Solman.
Edgewater investigators said the affair started at the school last year, after Miles had resigned as an officer.
Court documents show the boy was at Spruce Creek High School in April when he revealed the affair to classmates.
He and Miles then told police everything. They said they met first in the parking lot of a local grocery store.
Later, it was a more secluded place, a heavily wooded area in a residential neighborhood. They used email and MySpace to set up the meetings.
"With him, you would have never thought anything because he was with law enforcement. That's the whole thing; he had that whole law enforcement background," said Solman.
The school has cameras inside and officials said Miles was supervised when he was with students.
Police say they don't have any reason to believe there are any other victims. These are not the first charges against Miles.
He is supposed to be in court later this week on charges of grand theft and impersonating a police officer, something he's accused of doing after he quit as an officer in Oak Hill.
Eyewitness News learned the school did not do a background check on Miles before he started working with kids. Miles is related to the school's owners.
Michael Miles was a police officer, he was family and he was trusted, but the relationship he started with a 14-year-old boy from Edgewater's Private Discovery Academy, has led to three felony charges against the former officer.
"You would never think he was creepy or anything like that, where you would think something was going on. Never, never in a million years," said administrator Nancy Solman.
Edgewater investigators said the affair started at the school last year, after Miles had resigned as an officer.
Court documents show the boy was at Spruce Creek High School in April when he revealed the affair to classmates.
He and Miles then told police everything. They said they met first in the parking lot of a local grocery store.
Later, it was a more secluded place, a heavily wooded area in a residential neighborhood. They used email and MySpace to set up the meetings.
"With him, you would have never thought anything because he was with law enforcement. That's the whole thing; he had that whole law enforcement background," said Solman.
The school has cameras inside and officials said Miles was supervised when he was with students.
Police say they don't have any reason to believe there are any other victims. These are not the first charges against Miles.
He is supposed to be in court later this week on charges of grand theft and impersonating a police officer, something he's accused of doing after he quit as an officer in Oak Hill.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Officer Phillip Brooks Arrested for Selling Impounded Cars
DAYTON, Ohio
A Dayton police officer has been indicted on more than 20 felony counts on allegations he illegally sold impounded cars.
Phillip Brooks, 43, was indicted today, May 21, on charges including grand theft, forgery, and tampering with evidence.
Brooks is accused of using the police database to find the owners of impounded cars, forging fake documents, and selling the cars in his name. Investigators said he has been doing it for at least four years and they found out about the scam when one of the vehicle's legitimate owners tried to reclaim a car.
Brooks could get up to 59 years in prison if convicted.
Brooks was booked into the jail April 9 for contempt of court when he refused to submit a handwriting sample in connection to the case. He was released several hours later when he provided the sample.
Brooks was removed from his patrol position last month when the case emerged. He's scheduled to be arraigned June 4.
_____________________
http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/ohio-news/dayton-police-officer-indicted-in-illegal-sales-129776.html
Information from the Dayton Daily News was used in this report.
A Dayton police officer has been indicted on more than 20 felony counts on allegations he illegally sold impounded cars.
Phillip Brooks, 43, was indicted today, May 21, on charges including grand theft, forgery, and tampering with evidence.
Brooks is accused of using the police database to find the owners of impounded cars, forging fake documents, and selling the cars in his name. Investigators said he has been doing it for at least four years and they found out about the scam when one of the vehicle's legitimate owners tried to reclaim a car.
Brooks could get up to 59 years in prison if convicted.
Brooks was booked into the jail April 9 for contempt of court when he refused to submit a handwriting sample in connection to the case. He was released several hours later when he provided the sample.
Brooks was removed from his patrol position last month when the case emerged. He's scheduled to be arraigned June 4.
_____________________
http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/ohio-news/dayton-police-officer-indicted-in-illegal-sales-129776.html
Information from the Dayton Daily News was used in this report.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Sgt Steven Mark Flamm Arrrested for Shoplifting & Child Endangerment
A Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department sergeant could face charges of grand theft and child endangerment in connection to the shoplifting of $790 in clothing from a store in Thousand Oaks, authorities said Tuesday.
Sgt. Steven Mark Flamm, 42, was booked into Ventura County Jail Monday after he turned himself in at the Thousand Oaks police station, said Detective Eric Buschow, a spokesman for the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department.
Flamm, of Simi Valley, came to the police station voluntarily after Ventura County sheriff’s investigators contacted him and explained he was a suspect in the theft of two jackets worth a total of $790 from the Nordstrom store at The Oaks, Buschow said.
Flamm was initially stopped by Nordstrom’s loss prevention officers outside the store after the alleged theft, which occurred on the afternoon of May 1.
A Ventura County sheriff’s deputy responded to the scene at 346 W. Hillcrest Drive, and decided, along with store officials, to release Flamm pending further investigation, Buschow said. Authorities determined they had probable cause to arrest Flamm after reviewing surveillance video and the circumstances of the incident, he said.
Flamm was booked into jail on suspicion of felony grand theft and misdemeanor child endangerment, Buschow said. The child endangerment charge relates to Flamm’s alleged use of his young daughter as a participant in the crime, he said.
The girl is younger than 10 years old, Buschow said. He declined to discuss the specifics of the girl’s alleged involvement in the theft.
Flamm was released from custody Monday on $10,000 bail, Buschow said. He is scheduled to be arraigned in Ventura County Superior Court on May 18.
He could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
Flamm has been relieved of his law enforcement powers and placed on paid leave from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, said department spokesman Steve Whitmore.
If the Ventura County District Attorney charges Flamm with a felony, he will be placed on unpaid leave, Whitmore said.
Emphasizing that Flamm is presumed innocent until proven guilty, Whitmore said the allegations are disturbing.
Flamm will remain on leave until the criminal proceedings are concluded, Whitmore said. If he is found guilty, he could be fired.
A member of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department since 1988, Flamm recently worked in the department’s training bureau, Whitmore said.
Los Angeles County sheriff’s sergeants can earn between $75,000 and $98,000 a year, plus overtime, according to documents posted on the county’s Web site.
Sgt. Steven Mark Flamm, 42, was booked into Ventura County Jail Monday after he turned himself in at the Thousand Oaks police station, said Detective Eric Buschow, a spokesman for the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department.
Flamm, of Simi Valley, came to the police station voluntarily after Ventura County sheriff’s investigators contacted him and explained he was a suspect in the theft of two jackets worth a total of $790 from the Nordstrom store at The Oaks, Buschow said.
Flamm was initially stopped by Nordstrom’s loss prevention officers outside the store after the alleged theft, which occurred on the afternoon of May 1.
A Ventura County sheriff’s deputy responded to the scene at 346 W. Hillcrest Drive, and decided, along with store officials, to release Flamm pending further investigation, Buschow said. Authorities determined they had probable cause to arrest Flamm after reviewing surveillance video and the circumstances of the incident, he said.
Flamm was booked into jail on suspicion of felony grand theft and misdemeanor child endangerment, Buschow said. The child endangerment charge relates to Flamm’s alleged use of his young daughter as a participant in the crime, he said.
The girl is younger than 10 years old, Buschow said. He declined to discuss the specifics of the girl’s alleged involvement in the theft.
Flamm was released from custody Monday on $10,000 bail, Buschow said. He is scheduled to be arraigned in Ventura County Superior Court on May 18.
He could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
Flamm has been relieved of his law enforcement powers and placed on paid leave from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, said department spokesman Steve Whitmore.
If the Ventura County District Attorney charges Flamm with a felony, he will be placed on unpaid leave, Whitmore said.
Emphasizing that Flamm is presumed innocent until proven guilty, Whitmore said the allegations are disturbing.
Flamm will remain on leave until the criminal proceedings are concluded, Whitmore said. If he is found guilty, he could be fired.
A member of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department since 1988, Flamm recently worked in the department’s training bureau, Whitmore said.
Los Angeles County sheriff’s sergeants can earn between $75,000 and $98,000 a year, plus overtime, according to documents posted on the county’s Web site.
Monday, May 04, 2009
Trial Begins for Officer Paul Cervantes Accused of Theft
Opening statements are set to begin on Monday in the case of a police officer, accused of theft.
Paul Cervantes is being charged with Grand Auto Theft.
The charges come after an alleged drug dealers accused Cervantes and another officer, Hector Becerra, of stealing his SUV, and giving it to an informant.
Back in February, Becerra was cleared of all charged against him.
The informant, Jesus Valles, has reached a preliminary plea deal. He is expected to testify for the prosecution in exchange for having the charges against him dropped.
Authorities say Cervantes had a direct role in that vehicle theft. Cervantes' Attorney, Terry Bowman, says the people making the allegations are not credible.
Paul Cervantes is being charged with Grand Auto Theft.
The charges come after an alleged drug dealers accused Cervantes and another officer, Hector Becerra, of stealing his SUV, and giving it to an informant.
Back in February, Becerra was cleared of all charged against him.
The informant, Jesus Valles, has reached a preliminary plea deal. He is expected to testify for the prosecution in exchange for having the charges against him dropped.
Authorities say Cervantes had a direct role in that vehicle theft. Cervantes' Attorney, Terry Bowman, says the people making the allegations are not credible.
_______________
Friday, April 17, 2009
Officer Leo Liston Charged with Stealing Money
ST. LOUIS
A St. Louis police officer has resigned after being indicted on charges of stealing money.
Leo Liston was indicted Thursday on a federal charge of stealing more than $5,000 in police funds last year. He was the third city officer to be charged in connection to the missing funds.
Police spokeswoman Erica Van Ross said Liston resigned from the department earlier this week. It was not immediately clear from electronic court records who his lawyer is.
Two other officers, Bobby Lee Garrett and Vincent Carr, were indicted in December and accused of planting evidence, stealing money and dealing drugs. Garrett has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Carr pleaded guilty in February.
The indictment says Liston, Garrett and "others" stole the money on June 11, 2008.
----------------------------------------
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/laworder/story/9EE3A4F98199F4928625759C00104170?OpenDocument
A St. Louis police officer has resigned after being indicted on charges of stealing money.
Leo Liston was indicted Thursday on a federal charge of stealing more than $5,000 in police funds last year. He was the third city officer to be charged in connection to the missing funds.
Police spokeswoman Erica Van Ross said Liston resigned from the department earlier this week. It was not immediately clear from electronic court records who his lawyer is.
Two other officers, Bobby Lee Garrett and Vincent Carr, were indicted in December and accused of planting evidence, stealing money and dealing drugs. Garrett has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Carr pleaded guilty in February.
The indictment says Liston, Garrett and "others" stole the money on June 11, 2008.
----------------------------------------
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/laworder/story/9EE3A4F98199F4928625759C00104170?OpenDocument
Monday, March 16, 2009
Former Officer Hughes Facing Incest & Child Porn Charges
A former Elko police captain facing incest and child pornography charges has been released from jail after a judge reduced his bail.
Court records show Elko District Judge Andrew Puccinelli last week lowered bail for Aaron Hughes from $500,000 to $200,000.
The Elko Daily Free Press reports Hughes posted bail on Friday and was released from a Lander County jail where he was being held.
Under the judge's order, he cannot contact any witnesses in the case or leave Elko County and must live with family.
Hughes was charged in December after police searched his home while investigating unrelated grand larceny charges and seized a computer allegedly containing videos of him engaging in sex with an underage, blood relative.
___
Information from: Elko Daily Free Press, http://www.elkodaily.com
Court records show Elko District Judge Andrew Puccinelli last week lowered bail for Aaron Hughes from $500,000 to $200,000.
The Elko Daily Free Press reports Hughes posted bail on Friday and was released from a Lander County jail where he was being held.
Under the judge's order, he cannot contact any witnesses in the case or leave Elko County and must live with family.
Hughes was charged in December after police searched his home while investigating unrelated grand larceny charges and seized a computer allegedly containing videos of him engaging in sex with an underage, blood relative.
___
Information from: Elko Daily Free Press, http://www.elkodaily.com
Monday, February 23, 2009
Attorney Bob Seale who Served as Judge Arrested for Theft
LIVINGSTON, Ala.
An attorney who served as municipal judge in two west Alabama cities resigned after being arrested on charges of stealing about $80,000 from a client, police said Monday.
Attorney Bob Seale of Livingston was charged with theft last week after an audit revealed money missing from the account of a person for whom he was serving as legal guardian, said Police Chief Ashley Wellborn.
No city funds were involved in the case, Wellborn said. "He did not in any way have any access to any city money," said the chief.
Seale confirmed in a phone interview that he had resigned his position as municipal judge in Livingston and nearby York, both located in Sumter County near the Mississippi line, but he declined comment on the charges.
Wellborn said Seale is free on $15,000 bond. Wellborn said Seale had served as municipal judge in Livingston for at least two decades.
_____________
http://www.al.com/newsflash
An attorney who served as municipal judge in two west Alabama cities resigned after being arrested on charges of stealing about $80,000 from a client, police said Monday.
Attorney Bob Seale of Livingston was charged with theft last week after an audit revealed money missing from the account of a person for whom he was serving as legal guardian, said Police Chief Ashley Wellborn.
No city funds were involved in the case, Wellborn said. "He did not in any way have any access to any city money," said the chief.
Seale confirmed in a phone interview that he had resigned his position as municipal judge in Livingston and nearby York, both located in Sumter County near the Mississippi line, but he declined comment on the charges.
Wellborn said Seale is free on $15,000 bond. Wellborn said Seale had served as municipal judge in Livingston for at least two decades.
_____________
http://www.al.com/newsflash
Friday, February 20, 2009
Officer Robert Gordon and Wife Charged with Stealing from Wal-Mart
A Baltimore police officer and his wife were charged with attempting to steal more than $1,100 worth of items from a Wal-Mart in Owings Mills earlier this week, authorities said today.
Store security guards stopped the officer, Robert H. Gordon, 44, and Daniella Gordon, 40, outside the store after watching them leaving with the items, Baltimore County police said. The couple had purchased about $150 worth of goods — mostly household items such as cleaning supplies, clothing and food — and tried to hide other items beneath the ones they purchased, according to Bill Toohey, a Baltimore County police spokesman.
Store security called county police, who arrested the Baltimore County residents and charged them with theft of goods valued over $500. Both were released on their own recognizance, according to electronic court records. Their trial is scheduled for April 28.
Nicole Monroe, a city police spokeswoman, said Robert Gordon, a 16-year veteran, has been suspended.
________________
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29285547/
Store security guards stopped the officer, Robert H. Gordon, 44, and Daniella Gordon, 40, outside the store after watching them leaving with the items, Baltimore County police said. The couple had purchased about $150 worth of goods — mostly household items such as cleaning supplies, clothing and food — and tried to hide other items beneath the ones they purchased, according to Bill Toohey, a Baltimore County police spokesman.
Store security called county police, who arrested the Baltimore County residents and charged them with theft of goods valued over $500. Both were released on their own recognizance, according to electronic court records. Their trial is scheduled for April 28.
Nicole Monroe, a city police spokeswoman, said Robert Gordon, a 16-year veteran, has been suspended.
________________
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29285547/
Sunday, February 08, 2009
Officer Carl Beckman Accused of Stealing More than $23,000
Carl Beckman was a respected Sylvania police officer who received several awards over the years and had no disciplinary record in his file.
But the 36-year veteran who was trusted enough to serve in the department's property room is now charged with stealing thousands of dollars of forfeiture money.
Mr. Beckman, 58, was indicted by a Lucas County grand jury on one count of theft in office. The former officer is accused of pilfering more than $23,000 from the department's property-room safe between January, 1996, and January, 2009.
Because the amount taken is more than $5,000, the offense is a third-degree felony. Mr. Beckman faces up to five years in prison if convicted. He is to be arraigned Feb. 19 by Judge Ruth Ann Franks.
"This is not only disappointing but very shocking," Sylvania Police Chief Gerald Sobb said. "Obviously, a person in that position was trusted. If there was any question of his honesty, he wouldn't have been there."
Mr. Beckman joined the police department in April, 1973. In November, 1988, he was assigned to the property room. When he left the department last month, his base pay was $68,800, the chief said.
Chief Sobb said the property room houses all evidence found and seized during the investigation of crimes. Included in that is cash taken from suspects, which is then secured, labeled, and placed in a property-room safe.
After a case concludes, the money is either returned or the court orders it forfeited to the department. That money is deposited into the law enforcement trust fund, Chief Sobb said.
The fund shortage was discovered during an attempt to deposit recently forfeited money, Chief Sobb said.
"He didn't bring me the money on some of these cases. That's when we discovered this," the chief said.
Authorities said $23,711 is believed missing from the property room. The chief said he was not aware of any financial problems that Mr. Beckman was facing or any reason for the alleged thefts.
Mr. Beckman could not be reached for comment. He retired from the department on Monday, Chief Sobb said, and was indicted on Thursday. The chief said that during Mr. Beckman's time on the force, he had no discipline problems and received several awards, including his fourth Police Star in April.
Mayor Craig Stough said the county prosecutor's office was notified soon after money was discovered to be missing.
"It's very sad and disappointing when a trusted officer of 36 years is discovered to be stealing," he said. "But I'd like to emphasize that these are not taxpayer dollars that are missing. These are funds missing from the property room and funds seized from ongoing investigations, although I've been told that nothing missing would impact an ongoing investigation."
Chief Sobb said the department is conducting a full audit of the property room to make sure nothing else is missing.
"We're going through every piece of evidence and property in the property room," he said. "We want to know if anything else is missing. Hopefully, [money] is all that was taken."
The law enforcement trust fund is made up of money seized in criminal investigations and forfeited through the courts. Laws specify what it can be used for, including equipment for officers and for drug programs and education, the chief said.
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http://www.10tv.com/live/content/onnnews/stories/2009/02/07/story_sylvania.html?sid=102
Thursday, February 05, 2009
Former Officer Bill Billings Arrested for 3 Felonies
A former Gainesville police officer turned himself in early Wednesday on three felony charges, adding to the three misdemeanors he was charged with last month. All the charges are tied to his work as a police officer.
Bill Billings, 51, turned himself in at the Alachua County jail on 4:30 a.m. on charges of grand theft, scheme to defraud and official misconduct. Bond in his case was set at $15,000. He had previously been charged with three misdemeanor prostitution counts.
The felony charges allege that Billings falsely reported he was working overtime, accepted $5,409 in unearned overtime and falsified records to show he was working overtime while he was not.
Billings' problems became public in November when the police department announced the results of an internal investigation involving Billings. The report was turned over to the State Attorney's Office.
The internal report determined that 14 women reported they had had sex with Billings for money while he was on duty, in uniform and driving marked police vehicles.
The investigation also turned up evidence used to charge Billings with the felonies for which he turned himself in on Wednesday morning.
Billings, who had been a corporal with the agency and handled recruitment for GPD's Personnel Unit, resigned from the Police Department three months before the results of the internal investigation were released.
__________________
More Information:
http://www.alligator.org/articles/2009/02/05/news/local/090205_prostitution.txt
Friday, January 09, 2009
Sheriff Greg Bartlett Gives up Making Profit so Prisoners Can be Properly Fed
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.
An Alabama sheriff imprisoned after admitting he legally pocketed about $210,000 from his jail kitchen while providing skimpy meals to inmates agreed to give up future profits from the operation, a judge said Friday.
An order from U.S. District Judge U.W. Clemon shows that Morgan County Sheriff Greg Bartlett has promised to use all government funding he receives for food to actually feed prisoners in the county lockup, which holds about 300 men and women.
That's a change from the past, when Bartlett — like other Alabama sheriffs — kept any profits generated by the kitchen under a state law dating to the 1920s.
Aside from forgoing the money, Clemon's order said Bartlett promised to follow USDA guidelines and provide inmates with meals that include fresh fruit and milk: two items prisoners said they rarely or never received in the past.
Clemon jailed Bartlett overnight this week in a federal prison after ruling he purposely fed prisoners inadequately to maximize his personal profits under Alabama's unusual feeding system.
Clemon called windfalls under the law "reprehensible," but he stopped short of addressing whether it violated the constitutional rights of prisoners.
A lawyer for inmates said she hoped the decision would lead to better meals in the Morgan County Jail and changes in the law statewide.
"We hope this will encourage the Legislature to revisit the statute that allows sheriffs to keep profits from feeding inmates," said attorney Melanie Velez of the Atlanta-based Southern Center for Human Rights.
Bartlett issued a statement Friday saying he had received only 15 complaints about food after serving almost 330,000 meals in 2008. He speculated that some of the complaining inmates might have been shorted by other inmates serving them.
He also said sheriffs can lose money under the jail food funding system.
"I agree that on the surface, Alabama state law on the feeding system is hard to understand and to defend," he said. "If a sheriff makes $4,000 or $1 in a month's time it's called starving inmates, if an inmate gains weight it's called wasting tax payer dollars feeding criminals that murdered, robbed, raped and molested the citizens of our community."
Because Alabama's law makes sheriffs responsible for feeding inmates, rather than the counties where they work, some have to pay out of pocket to cover shortfalls.
An Associated Press review last year found that sheriffs in 55 of Alabama's 67 counties operate under a Depression-era system that allows them to make money operating their jail kitchens.
Several sheriffs who agreed to speak to AP about their feeding operations said they were receiving small profits from the system, but none would disclose an exact amount.
Bartlett testified that he pocketed some $212,000 in kitchen profits over the last three years, reporting the money as income on his personal tax returns. Bartlett's profit margin last year was about 50 percent, based on his testimony.
"That's just an astronomical amount of money for a county," said Velez, the lawyer for prisoners.
The state pays sheriffs $1.75 a day for each prisoner they house and lets the elected officers keep any profits they can generate. Bartlett and some other sheriffs also receive a smaller state supplement, money from their counties and payments from the U.S. government for housing federal prisoners.
Clemon reviewed practices in Morgan County because of a 2001 settlement in a federal lawsuit over conditions in the jail. In that agreement, the jail is required to provide prisoners with "nutritionally adequate" meals — something Clemon said Bartlett had failed to do.
The judge's order dealt only with Morgan County, but the head of the Alabama Sheriff's Association, Bobby Timmons, said the case could have a statewide impact on jailhouse practices.
In his decision, Clemon said Morgan County would be responsible for any shortfall if the jail kitchen begins operating at a deficit.
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I just don't understand how this fucker can still be running the jail...shouldn't he be locked up for theft? And then never allowed to work at the jail again?
An Alabama sheriff imprisoned after admitting he legally pocketed about $210,000 from his jail kitchen while providing skimpy meals to inmates agreed to give up future profits from the operation, a judge said Friday.
An order from U.S. District Judge U.W. Clemon shows that Morgan County Sheriff Greg Bartlett has promised to use all government funding he receives for food to actually feed prisoners in the county lockup, which holds about 300 men and women.
That's a change from the past, when Bartlett — like other Alabama sheriffs — kept any profits generated by the kitchen under a state law dating to the 1920s.
Aside from forgoing the money, Clemon's order said Bartlett promised to follow USDA guidelines and provide inmates with meals that include fresh fruit and milk: two items prisoners said they rarely or never received in the past.
Clemon jailed Bartlett overnight this week in a federal prison after ruling he purposely fed prisoners inadequately to maximize his personal profits under Alabama's unusual feeding system.
Clemon called windfalls under the law "reprehensible," but he stopped short of addressing whether it violated the constitutional rights of prisoners.
A lawyer for inmates said she hoped the decision would lead to better meals in the Morgan County Jail and changes in the law statewide.
"We hope this will encourage the Legislature to revisit the statute that allows sheriffs to keep profits from feeding inmates," said attorney Melanie Velez of the Atlanta-based Southern Center for Human Rights.
Bartlett issued a statement Friday saying he had received only 15 complaints about food after serving almost 330,000 meals in 2008. He speculated that some of the complaining inmates might have been shorted by other inmates serving them.
He also said sheriffs can lose money under the jail food funding system.
"I agree that on the surface, Alabama state law on the feeding system is hard to understand and to defend," he said. "If a sheriff makes $4,000 or $1 in a month's time it's called starving inmates, if an inmate gains weight it's called wasting tax payer dollars feeding criminals that murdered, robbed, raped and molested the citizens of our community."
Because Alabama's law makes sheriffs responsible for feeding inmates, rather than the counties where they work, some have to pay out of pocket to cover shortfalls.
An Associated Press review last year found that sheriffs in 55 of Alabama's 67 counties operate under a Depression-era system that allows them to make money operating their jail kitchens.
Several sheriffs who agreed to speak to AP about their feeding operations said they were receiving small profits from the system, but none would disclose an exact amount.
Bartlett testified that he pocketed some $212,000 in kitchen profits over the last three years, reporting the money as income on his personal tax returns. Bartlett's profit margin last year was about 50 percent, based on his testimony.
"That's just an astronomical amount of money for a county," said Velez, the lawyer for prisoners.
The state pays sheriffs $1.75 a day for each prisoner they house and lets the elected officers keep any profits they can generate. Bartlett and some other sheriffs also receive a smaller state supplement, money from their counties and payments from the U.S. government for housing federal prisoners.
Clemon reviewed practices in Morgan County because of a 2001 settlement in a federal lawsuit over conditions in the jail. In that agreement, the jail is required to provide prisoners with "nutritionally adequate" meals — something Clemon said Bartlett had failed to do.
The judge's order dealt only with Morgan County, but the head of the Alabama Sheriff's Association, Bobby Timmons, said the case could have a statewide impact on jailhouse practices.
In his decision, Clemon said Morgan County would be responsible for any shortfall if the jail kitchen begins operating at a deficit.
**********************
I just don't understand how this fucker can still be running the jail...shouldn't he be locked up for theft? And then never allowed to work at the jail again?
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
More Information on Sgt. Faron White Accused of Faking his Abduction
DECATUR, Ala.
A north Alabama police officer accused of faking his abduction and flying to Las Vegas took about $70,000 from a safe containing confiscated drug money, according to an affidavit.
Authorities initially said Sgt. Faron White, a 20-year veteran of the Decatur Police Department, took about $2,500 from the safe of the narcotics unit he directed, although they said thousands more could be missing.
The affidavit with the new amount was filed Tuesday by Morgan County authorities in support of an arrest warrant for Sarah Richardson who is accused of helping White stage his disappearance.
The sworn statement by Decatur Sgt. Richard Archer said Richardson was aware that White had stolen about $70,000 and on Saturday morning drove him to the airport in Nashville.
Federal marshals arrested the 48-year-old White in a Hampton Inn hotel lobby Monday night in Las Vegas, three days after he was last seen working late in his office in Decatur. He faces an extradition hearing in Las Vegas Thursday. Police say he planned to try to win money to pay off gambling and other debts.
The affidavit says Richardson, a police volunteer, met up with White at the Decatur Police Training Center at about 11:30 p.m. Friday before driving him to Nashville early Saturday morning. Police have said the two were romantically involved.
The affidavit, which does not specifically say where Archer got the information, was first reported by The News Courier in Athens.
Richardson is accused of helping White scatter papers from his desk to make it look like he may have struggled with someone before being abducted.
A north Alabama police officer accused of faking his abduction and flying to Las Vegas took about $70,000 from a safe containing confiscated drug money, according to an affidavit.
Authorities initially said Sgt. Faron White, a 20-year veteran of the Decatur Police Department, took about $2,500 from the safe of the narcotics unit he directed, although they said thousands more could be missing.
The affidavit with the new amount was filed Tuesday by Morgan County authorities in support of an arrest warrant for Sarah Richardson who is accused of helping White stage his disappearance.
The sworn statement by Decatur Sgt. Richard Archer said Richardson was aware that White had stolen about $70,000 and on Saturday morning drove him to the airport in Nashville.
Federal marshals arrested the 48-year-old White in a Hampton Inn hotel lobby Monday night in Las Vegas, three days after he was last seen working late in his office in Decatur. He faces an extradition hearing in Las Vegas Thursday. Police say he planned to try to win money to pay off gambling and other debts.
The affidavit says Richardson, a police volunteer, met up with White at the Decatur Police Training Center at about 11:30 p.m. Friday before driving him to Nashville early Saturday morning. Police have said the two were romantically involved.
The affidavit, which does not specifically say where Archer got the information, was first reported by The News Courier in Athens.
Richardson is accused of helping White scatter papers from his desk to make it look like he may have struggled with someone before being abducted.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Sheriff Jimmie Williamson Charged with Fraud
Telfair County Sheriff Jimmie W. Williamson has been charged with “honest services fraud” in connection with allegations he embezzled county money and accepted bribes, according to federal court documents.
Williamson, 48, is accused of embezzling fine and bond money paid by people arrested in Telfair County and using the money for his personal use instead of turning the money over to the county court system, according to a news release issued by the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Southern District of Georgia.
He also is accused of accepting bribes from people arrested in Telfair County in exchange for reducing or dismissing pending charges and for granting special privileges for people housed in the county jail, according to the release.
Williamson also is accused of using sheriff’s office money to buy items for his personal use, including an all-terrain vehicle, according to a document filed Monday in federal court. That document was filed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office to bring charges against an individual in lieu of an indictment or arrest, said Edmund A. Booth Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.
On Dec. 2, 2005, Williamson mailed a letter from the Telfair County Sheriff’s Office to Lendmark Financial Services with a check drawn from the sheriff’s office’s inmate account fund to make a monthly payment on a loan for the all-terrain vehicle, according to the court records.
Ashley McLaughlin, Williamson’s attorney, said the sheriff has cooperated with investigators.
“He’s been straight with them since day one,” he said.
McLaughlin said the sheriff is guilty of “ignorance, not malice.”
He explained that the sheriff’s office didn’t utilize a “lock box” until the past couple of years. When a fine was paid to the sheriff’s office, the money was clipped to the back of the citation.
“There were times when anybody could have access to (the money),” McLaughlin said.
McLaughlin said the sheriff denies accepting any bribes.
With no money in the budget for an all-terrain vehicle, Williamson purchased one with his own funds with the thought that the county would pay him back when funds became available, McLaughlin said.
“He thought that was OK,” McLaughlin said.
The four-wheeler always was used for sheriff’s office purposes, commonly when deputies searched for marijuana fields, he said.
Booth said Williamson has not been arrested and doesn’t anticipate the sheriff will be arrested. Instead, Booth said Williamson will be summoned to appear in court in January for an initial appearance and arraignment.
The GBI launched an investigation into allegations of fraud and financial impropriety against Williamson in May following a request from the Oconee Circuit District Attorney’s Office. A search warrant was served at Williamson’s home in November.
At the time of the search warrant, GBI agents said they couldn’t estimate how much money was involved or what time span during which the alleged thefts occurred.
The federal court documents filed Monday indicate the alleged embezzlement, bribery and improper purchases began in January 2004.
If convicted, Williamson faces a maximum 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years on supervised release, according to court records.
Williamson, a two-term sheriff, did not run for re-election this year because of the county’s two-term limit.
Johnny O. Smith, the incoming sheriff, said he plans to bring credibility back to the sheriff’s office once he takes office in January.
“We’re going to work hard to make the people proud of us,” he said.
Information from The Telegraph’s archives was included in this report.
Williamson, 48, is accused of embezzling fine and bond money paid by people arrested in Telfair County and using the money for his personal use instead of turning the money over to the county court system, according to a news release issued by the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Southern District of Georgia.
He also is accused of accepting bribes from people arrested in Telfair County in exchange for reducing or dismissing pending charges and for granting special privileges for people housed in the county jail, according to the release.
Williamson also is accused of using sheriff’s office money to buy items for his personal use, including an all-terrain vehicle, according to a document filed Monday in federal court. That document was filed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office to bring charges against an individual in lieu of an indictment or arrest, said Edmund A. Booth Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.
On Dec. 2, 2005, Williamson mailed a letter from the Telfair County Sheriff’s Office to Lendmark Financial Services with a check drawn from the sheriff’s office’s inmate account fund to make a monthly payment on a loan for the all-terrain vehicle, according to the court records.
Ashley McLaughlin, Williamson’s attorney, said the sheriff has cooperated with investigators.
“He’s been straight with them since day one,” he said.
McLaughlin said the sheriff is guilty of “ignorance, not malice.”
He explained that the sheriff’s office didn’t utilize a “lock box” until the past couple of years. When a fine was paid to the sheriff’s office, the money was clipped to the back of the citation.
“There were times when anybody could have access to (the money),” McLaughlin said.
McLaughlin said the sheriff denies accepting any bribes.
With no money in the budget for an all-terrain vehicle, Williamson purchased one with his own funds with the thought that the county would pay him back when funds became available, McLaughlin said.
“He thought that was OK,” McLaughlin said.
The four-wheeler always was used for sheriff’s office purposes, commonly when deputies searched for marijuana fields, he said.
Booth said Williamson has not been arrested and doesn’t anticipate the sheriff will be arrested. Instead, Booth said Williamson will be summoned to appear in court in January for an initial appearance and arraignment.
The GBI launched an investigation into allegations of fraud and financial impropriety against Williamson in May following a request from the Oconee Circuit District Attorney’s Office. A search warrant was served at Williamson’s home in November.
At the time of the search warrant, GBI agents said they couldn’t estimate how much money was involved or what time span during which the alleged thefts occurred.
The federal court documents filed Monday indicate the alleged embezzlement, bribery and improper purchases began in January 2004.
If convicted, Williamson faces a maximum 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years on supervised release, according to court records.
Williamson, a two-term sheriff, did not run for re-election this year because of the county’s two-term limit.
Johnny O. Smith, the incoming sheriff, said he plans to bring credibility back to the sheriff’s office once he takes office in January.
“We’re going to work hard to make the people proud of us,” he said.
Information from The Telegraph’s archives was included in this report.
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