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Ex-Deputy Pleads Guilty to Stealing Public Funds
A former St. Clair County sheriff’s deputy has pleaded guilty to stealing public funds in a brazen wire fraud scheme. Michael E. Mullaney, 54, of Lowry City, Mo., admitted to defrauding Work Force West Virginia to claim unemployment benefits for a former county jail inmate, William E. Parker, 54, of Fort Ritchie, Fla., formerly of Urich, Mo.
Mullaney, a deputy with the St. Clair County sheriff’s department at the time, arrested Parker for first-degree burglary on February 20, 2010. While Parker was incarcerated, the two devised a scheme to defraud Work Force West Virginia and claim unemployment benefits for Parker. Mullaney obtained Parker’s personal information and completed an Internet form to fraudulently certify Parker’s eligibility for the benefits.
As a result of the scheme, Parker received $5,388 on a bank debit card between February 25 and May 10, 2010. Under federal statutes, Mullaney is subject to a sentence of up to one year in federal prison without parole, while Parker faces up to 20 years in federal prison without parole.
The scheme was investigated by the FBI, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the St. Clair County sheriff’s department, and the Work Force West Virginia Unemployment Compensation Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Abram McGull II is prosecuting the case.
Mullaney’s guilty plea was announced by Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri. Sentencing hearings will be scheduled after the completion of presentence investigations by the United States Probation Office.
The case highlights the corrupt practices that can occur in law enforcement and the consequences of such actions. It serves as a reminder of the importance of accountability and transparency in our justice system.
The sentencing of Mullaney and Parker will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only.
Key Facts
- State: Missouri
- Category: Public Corruption|White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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