Edward Mullins, the former President of the NYPD Sergeants’ Union, has been sentenced to two years in prison for stealing union funds. Mullins pleaded guilty to a scheme in which he submitted fraudulent expense reports, stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from the Sergeants Benevolent Association (SBA). Despite publicly vowing to protect the interests of the SBA’s members, Mullins used the union as his personal piggy bank, discrediting both himself and law enforcement. This case serves as a reminder that even high-ranking union officials are not above the law. In addition to his prison sentence, Mullins has been ordered to make restitution to the SBA in the amount of $600,000.
Background
Introduction
In a shocking case of corruption within the New York City Police Department (NYPD), former President of the Sergeants Benevolent Association (SBA), Edward Mullins, has been sentenced to two years in prison for stealing union funds. This article will delve into the details of the scheme, the sentencing and charges, the impact and consequences, the FBI investigation, the prison term and supervised release, restitution and forfeiture orders, and the praise for the FBI and task force involved in the case.
Edward Mullins and the SBA
Edward Mullins served as the President of the Sergeants Benevolent Association (SBA) from 2002 until October 2021. The SBA is the union that represents all current and former sergeants of the NYPD, with approximately 13,000 members. As the head of the SBA, Mullins was entrusted with the responsibility of protecting the interests of these hard-working sergeants.
Scheme to Steal Union Funds
Starting in 2017, Edward Mullins devised a scheme to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars from the SBA. He used his personal credit card to pay for personal expenses, such as meals at high-end restaurants and luxury items, and then submitted false and inflated expense reports to the SBA. These expense reports misrepresented the charges as legitimate SBA expenditures when they were not. Mullins’ fraudulent expenses were paid through the SBA’s Contingent Fund, which was primarily funded by the annual dues paid by SBA members.
Sentencing and Charges
Sentencing of Edward Mullins
Edward Mullins pled guilty on January 19, 2023, before U.S. District Judge John G. Koeltl. He was sentenced to two years in prison for his involvement in the scheme to steal union funds.
Restitution and Forfeiture Orders
In addition to the prison term, Edward Mullins was sentenced to three years of supervised release. He was ordered to make restitution to the SBA in the amount of $600,000 and to forfeit the same amount of funds.
Details of the Scheme
Edward Mullins’ Personal Expenses
As part of the scheme, Edward Mullins used his personal credit card to pay for personal expenses, including meals at high-end restaurants and luxury items.
Fraudulent Expense Reports
Mullins then submitted false and inflated expense reports to the SBA, falsely claiming that these charges were legitimate SBA expenditures. He routinely included non-SBA-related meals on his expense reports and inflated the costs of his meals, thereby taking more money from the SBA. Additionally, he recategorized personal expenses, such as clothing and supermarket expenses, as SBA-related meals to obtain even more money from the SBA.
Misuse of SBA Contingent Fund
Edward Mullins’ fraudulent expenses were paid through the SBA’s Contingent Fund. This fund, primarily funded by the annual dues paid by SBA members, was intended for legitimate SBA expenditures, not personal expenses.
Total Amount Stolen
Between 2017 and 2021, Edward Mullins stole at least $600,000 from the SBA through the filing of hundreds of fraudulent expense reports.
Impact and Consequences
Abuse of Position of Trust
Edward Mullins abused his position as the President of the SBA, a position of trust, to steal funds from the union. His actions betrayed the trust of the hard-working sergeants he was supposed to represent.
Disgrace to Law Enforcement
Mullins’ actions have brought disgrace to the law enforcement community. As a high-ranking union boss, his involvement in corruption undermines the integrity and reputation of the NYPD.
Undermining Public Trust
Corruption within the NYPD, especially among its leadership, undermines the public’s trust in law enforcement. Edward Mullins’ actions erode the confidence that the public places in the police force.
FBI Investigation
FBI’s Role in the Case
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) played a crucial role in the investigation into Edward Mullins’ scheme to steal union funds. Their investigation uncovered the extent of the fraud and provided the evidence necessary for prosecution.
FBI/NYPD Public Corruption Task Force
The FBI worked in collaboration with the NYPD through the FBI/NYPD Public Corruption Task Force. This task force is dedicated to investigating and combatting public corruption within the city.
Work of the Public Corruption Unit
The Office’s Public Corruption Unit handled the prosecution of Edward Mullins. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexandra Rothman and David Robles were tasked with leading the prosecution and presenting the evidence in court.
Prison Term and Supervised Release
Edward Mullins’ Sentence
Edward Mullins was sentenced to two years in prison for his role in the scheme to steal union funds.
Length of Prison Term
Mullins’ prison term is set at two years, during which he will be incarcerated for his crimes.
Details of Supervised Release
Following his prison term, Mullins will be subjected to three years of supervised release. This period will involve regular monitoring and supervision to ensure his compliance with the terms of his release.
Restitution and Forfeiture
Repayment to the SBA
As part of his sentencing, Edward Mullins was ordered to make restitution to the SBA in the amount of $600,000. This repayment is meant to compensate the union for the funds he stole.
Amount of Restitution
The restitution order requires Mullins to repay the full amount of $600,000 to the SBA, reflecting the total amount he stole from the union.
Order to Forfeit Funds
In addition to restitution, Edward Mullins was ordered to forfeit $600,000. This forfeiture ensures that the ill-gotten funds are taken away from Mullins and returned to the SBA.
Praise for FBI and Task Force
Recognition of FBI’s Work
The outstanding work of the FBI in investigating Edward Mullins’ scheme to steal union funds has been widely recognized. Their diligent efforts in uncovering the fraud and bringing Mullins to justice deserve praise.
FBI/NYPD Collaboration
The collaboration between the FBI and the NYPD through the FBI/NYPD Public Corruption Task Force was instrumental in the successful investigation and prosecution of Edward Mullins. This partnership showcases the importance of interagency cooperation in fighting corruption.
Public Corruption Unit’s Role
The Office’s Public Corruption Unit played a crucial role in the prosecution of Edward Mullins. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexandra Rothman and David Robles’ dedication and hard work contributed to the successful outcome of the case.
Conclusion
The sentencing of Edward Mullins, the former President of the NYPD Sergeants’ Union, to two years in prison for stealing union funds sends a strong message that corruption within law enforcement will not be tolerated. Mullins’ scheme to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars from the union through fraudulent expense reports has had a profound impact on the reputation and trust in the NYPD. The FBI’s investigation, in cooperation with the NYPD, exposed the details of the scheme and led to Mullins’ conviction. The prison term, supervised release, restitution, and forfeiture orders imposed on Mullins reflect the seriousness of his crimes. The collaborative efforts of the FBI/NYPD Public Corruption Task Force and the work of the Office’s Public Corruption Unit have been instrumental in bringing Mullins to justice. This case serves as a reminder that those in positions of power and trust will be held accountable for their actions, even within the law enforcement community.
Contact Information
U.S. Attorney’s Office Contacts
For more information or inquiries, please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office:
- Phone: (212) 637-2600
Southern District of New York Address
The Southern District of New York is located at:
One St. Andrew’s Plaza New York, NY 10007