Christopher Hayes, Wire Fraud, Rhode Island 2017

Christopher Hayes, 49, of Middletown, R.I., a former Newport, R.I., Police Department Sergeant and former President of the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), Newport Lodge No. 8, has pleaded guilty to wire fraud in federal court.

Hayes appeared before U.S. District Court Chief Judge William E. Smith, where he admitted to using an FOP debit card to pay for his own personal expenses, writing checks payable to himself from the FOP bank account, withdrawing cash from the FOP bank account for personal use, and making online payments to his personal credit card from the FOP bank account.

According to the investigation, which was conducted by the United States Attorney’s Office, U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General and Office of Labor Management Standards, and the Rhode Island State Police, Hayes fraudulently converted approximately $71,523 in FOP funds for his own personal use between August 2009 and December 2014.

The guilty plea is the result of a thorough investigation into Hayes’ activities as the President of the FOP, where he was entrusted with managing the organization’s finances. Instead, he chose to use the position for personal gain, betraying the trust of his fellow officers and the community he was sworn to serve.

Hayes is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge William E. Smith on July 21, 2017. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John P. McAdams. The outcome of the sentencing will determine the consequences of Hayes’ actions, but one thing is certain – his guilty plea marks the end of his career as a police officer and a significant blow to the reputation of the FOP.

The investigation and subsequent guilty plea serve as a reminder that no one is above the law, and those who abuse their power and position will be held accountable. The public expects integrity and honesty from their public servants, and it is the duty of law enforcement to uphold these values. In this case, Christopher Hayes failed to meet these expectations, and now he must face the consequences of his actions.

For more information, contact Jim Martin at (401) 709-5357 or email USARI.Media@usdoj.gov. You can also follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Twitter @USAO_RI for updates on this and other cases.

RELATED: Cocaine Kingpin Kevin Kerfoot Pleads Guilty in US Smuggling Ring

RELATED: Clearwater Crack Dealer Faces Two Decades

MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS

Public Corruption

James Glenn Warner, Bribery, Virginia 2015

Jun 19, 2015

Public Corruption

Felita Boldin, Learning Misconduct, Washington 2023

Feb 24, 2026

Public Corruption

Theodore Roosevelt, Railroad Industry Manipulation, Nebraska 1907

Oct 30, 1907

Public Corruption

Justin Vazquez, Damaging Government Property, New York 2017

Jun 5, 2017