Fmr. Miami Cop Accused Of Embezzlement Expected To Take Deal
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – The former president of the Miami Community Police Benevolent Association (MCPBA) accused of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars of the association's money is expected in Miami's federal court this week.
On Wednesday, 46-year old Vernell Reynolds is expected to plead guilty as part of a plea deal which could send her to prison for only a few years, according to CBS4 news partner The Miami Herald.
Last January, Reynolds was indicted on 16 counts of wire and tax fraud, according to the U.S. Justice Department. The alleged theft of took place from several police benevolent fund bank accounts dating back to 2008. Reynolds allegedly embezzled more than $210,000 of the association's funds before her arrest.
The MCPBA is a private association of Miami law enforcement officers. As an advocacy group, they speak out for African American officers if they feel like they've been treated unjustly. To conduct its affairs, the MCPBA maintains two credit union accounts, according to the DOJ. The funds contained in the MCPBA credit union accounts consisted primarily of the monthly dues of the MCPBA members. The funds in the accounts were held in trust for the benefit of the MCPBA.
In 2005, Reynolds became the president of the MCPBA. As president, Reynolds possessed and used an ATM/debit card that accessed the MCPBA credit union accounts.
Reynold's indictment alleges that in September 2008, she began stealing money from the MCPBA accounts and using it for her own purposes. Reynolds' scheme continued through June 2010, according to the justice department.
According to the indictment, Reynolds made unauthorized withdrawals from the MCPBA credit union accounts, made unauthorized personal purchases with MCPBA funds and transferred MCPBA funds from the MCPBA accounts to her personal credit union accounts.
"The indictment also seeks forfeiture of the proceeds of the offenses, including more than $200,000," the release from the DOJ read.
The justice department alleges that some of these unauthorized withdrawals occurred at casinos located in South Florida and on at least one occasion in California.
Reynolds failed to disclose her unauthorized withdrawals, purchases and transfers to the MCPBA members and presented false financial information to the MCPBA members to conceal her fraud, the DOJ reported.
Each count of wire fraud was punishable by up to 30 years in prison if Reynolds was to be convicted.
CBS4 news partner The Miami Herald contributed to this report.
