After a year-long investigation into allegations of improper use of Seminole County Sheriff's Department funds, the OSBI has arrested a former undersheriffaccused of embezzlement. And it is not only that he took the money that has the sheriff's department upset, but wherehe took the money from.
Former undersheriff Chris Conn is accused of taking between $10,000 and $20,000 over the last two years from an account designated to help underprivilegedchildren at Christmas time.
Seminole County Deputies Association Undersheriff Terry Gouker says that the agency's "Christmas with a Deputy" program provides $100 spending money anda shopping trip with a sheriff's deputy to less fortunate children each Christmas. Just over a year ago, Gouker noticed that the fund, over which Connwas responsible, was nearly out of money.
Gouker said that the account was funded through donations which should have provided sufficient funds for the program, and that a near zero balance wasa huge red flag that something was not right.
He retrieved bank statements for the account, which showed numerous withdrawals, including multiple casino charges. He turned his findings over to theOklahoma State Bureau of Investigations, who took over the case.
OSBI agents say Conn admitted to having a gambling addiction. Conn, 42, has been charged with embezzlement and is no longer employed by the Seminole CountySheriff's Department.
Gouker says that since the discovery of the embezzlement, the agency has implemented a two-signature policy to prevent unauthorized use of funds from the"Christmas with a Deputy" account.
Embezzlement is a white collar offense that is penalized in accordance with the value of money or property misappropriated in the act:
Based upon the allegations against in this case, a typical defendant would face up to 5 years in prison; however, embezzlement by a public officer is oftenpenalized more harshly. According to 21 O.S. � 1451(C),"Any county or state officer, deputy or employee of such officer, who shall divert any money appropriated by law from the purpose and object of theappropriation, shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment in the custody of the Department of Corrections for a termnot less than one (1) year nor more than ten (10) years, and a fine equal to triple the amount of money so embezzled and ordered to pay restitutionto the victim."
If convicted as a public officer embezzling public funds, the former undersheriff faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a $30,000 to $60,000 fine,and restitution of $10,000 to $20,000.
