The former Kirtland Hills Police Chief, Gerald Smith Jr., 57, has been slapped with federal charges for allegedly defrauding the village out of at least $80,000 through unauthorized purchases and false record alterations.
According to Steven M. Dettelbach, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, and Stephen D. Anthony, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Cleveland office, Smith made personal expenditures using village funds, including items like clothing, tools, and even furniture for his Florida condominium.
Smith served as chief from 1988 until April 4, 2014, and had been with the department since 1978. He was responsible for reimbursing officers for work-related expenses and procuring necessary supplies using village funds. However, it is alleged that he misused these privileges to siphon public money.
Smith is accused of making false entries on receipts to conceal his personal purchases, including items like ceiling fans and firearms, and even submitting false claims to the petty cash fund for meals during both official and personal trips. The U.S. Attorney Dettelbach emphasized that Smith’s actions were a betrayal of public trust.
On March 17, 2014, Smith was placed on leave and required to surrender all village property, including his access badges and keys. He was also served with a federal grand jury subpoena. On March 20, he secretly transferred over 50 items from his residence to a village storage facility, according to the information.
As investigations continue, Smith now faces one count of mail fraud and one count of destruction, alteration, or falsification of records in a federal investigation, with the potential for severe consequences if convicted.
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Key Facts
- State: Ohio
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|Public Corruption|White Collar Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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