Latest news with #policecorruption
CBS News
2 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
Former Hialeah Police Chief Sergio Velazquez pleads not guilty to fraud, grand theft charges
One day after being arrested for allegedly stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars in public funds, former Hialeah Police Chief Sergio Velazquez appeared in court where he entered a plea of not guilty. Velazquez, 62, is charged with structuring, grand theft and an organized scheme to defraud. During a hearing Tuesday morning, Velazquez's attorney entered the plea on his client's behalf and requested a trial by jury. Miami-Dade County Judge Mindy Glazer, who found probable cause for the charges, set bond at $30 thousand. An official arraignment will take place in 21 days. Velazquez served as police chief from 2012 until his suspension in 2021. Police chief's alleged spending spree His arrest followed a complaint from the current police chief, who discovered discrepancies involving seized funds and petty cash stored in the department's safe, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement which conducted an investigation. FDLE agents allege that between 2015 and 2021, Velazquez made more than 900 cash deposits across multiple personal bank accounts, all under $10,000, amounts structured to avoid federal reporting requirements. The funds allegedly came from sources intended for confidential police operations and court-ordered forfeitures. The FDLE's probe revealed that during the final five months of Velazquez's tenure—from May to October 2021—about $560,000 in department funds were unaccounted for. Financial records reviewed in the investigation show Velazquez made over $300,000 in purchases from Rolex, along with additional luxury expenditures including $11,000 at Cartier, $6,700 at Louis Vuitton and $5,000 at Versace.
BBC News
2 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Police staff jailed for passing details to drug dealer boyfriend
A former police administrator has been jailed for two years and 11 months for passing confidential information to her drug dealer boyfriend. Lucy Langmead, 44, of Tonteg, Rhondda Cynon Taf, was working for South Wales Police when she started accessing the police computer system to obtain information concerning family members and included looking up police intelligence to pass on to her then partner Daniel Cozens, 37, who was involved in the supply of controlled class C drugs, as well as personal information about members of the sentencing Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke said Langmead had "betrayed the trust" put in her. An investigation found that over a 21-month period between 11 May, 2020, and 1 March, 2022, Langmead accessed the police computer system for non-policing included looking up details of her ex-partner's new girlfriend as well as details about members of the public which she shared with family members and Crown Court heard the also accessed information on the three defendants involved in the Logan Mwangi murder case which was ongoing at the beginning a relationship with Daniel Cozens, Langmead then started sharing confidential information with the 37-year-old regarding police intelligence and details on his "drug dealing associates" between May 2021 and February 2022. Cardiff Crown Court Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke said "these were deliberate and intentional acts" by the a police employee Langmead "knew full well what you were doing" but "continued to do so", she said, adding that Langmead was essentially "showing off to other people" that she had access to confidential said it was a "very serious breach of trust" which caused "serious harm to policing and the public interest".Although there were no direct financial rewards, Judge Lloyd-Clarke said: "The benefit to the two of you that you were both in good standing with the offenders you were assisting."There was obviously an impact on police operations as a result, including in one case the disposal of class A drugs by an offender when he became aware of police investigations," she said. She added that although Langmead initially had reason to access data on the murder of five-year-old Logan, whose body had recently been discovered, she "could only have kept accessing the file to satisfy your own morbid curiosity".Judge Lloyd-Clarke also said she had taken into consideration mitigating factors, including medical reports for the who joined South Wales Police in May 2005, resigned from the force during the pleaded guilty to 13 offences of securing unauthorised access to computer material and five of unlawful disclosure of personal data as well as conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office between 23 May, 2021, and 25 February, 2022. Sentencing Langmead, the judge took into account her pregnancy which is considered high will serve up to half of her sentence in custody and remain on license for the of Treforest, Rhondda Cynon Taf, pleaded guilty to drugs charges and conspiracy to commit misconduct in public was sentenced to a total of one year and eight months and will serve at least half in Griffiths from the Crown Prosecution Service said in a statement that Langmead's actions could have placed criminal investigations at risk.
Free Malaysia Today
27-05-2025
- General
- Free Malaysia Today
5 cops among 16 arrested for cable theft in Selangor, KL
Selangor police chief Hussein Omar Khan said the two sergeants and three corporals were arrested on May 22 at several locations in Cheras and Kajang. PETALING JAYA : Five police officers have been arrested over their alleged involvement in cable theft activities in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor over the past one year. Selangor police chief Hussein Omar Khan said the two sergeants and three corporals, serving at district police headquarters and stations in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, were among 16 suspects arrested in connection with a syndicate known as 'Sindiket Mulia', Bernama reported. 'Investigations found that the syndicate members received information from the police officers involved about areas with fewer patrols and so on,' he was quoted as saying. Hussein said the police officers had been under remand since May 23 to assist in investigations after being arrested on May 22 at several locations in Cheras and Kajang. He said the syndicate was also aided by technicians and security guards from companies appointed by Telekom Malaysia. According to Hussein, these policemen acted as insiders to inform syndicate members about which cable parts to cut to prevent alarms from being triggered. 'Every cable theft involved insiders who showed them where and how to steal the cables,' he said. Hussein said the stolen cables were taken to a plantation to have the copper extracted for sale to scrap metal dealers. He said the syndicate was masterminded by two men with 36 and 29 previous criminal cases each, including drug-related offences. 'Initial investigations found the syndicate had conducted 23 transactions at scrap metal shops around Semenyih, making an estimated RM683,000. We believe this syndicate has committed more than 23 thefts,' he said. Hussein said police seized a Toyota Hilux four-wheel-drive, a Proton Perdana, a Mitsubishi Fuso Canter lorry, 1.2 tonnes of metal, and metal-cutting equipment. He said the case is being investigated under Section 379 of the Penal Code for theft, Section 431A of the Penal Code for mischief involving telegraph cables and wires, and Section 29(1) of the Minor Offences Act 1955 for fraudulent possession of property.
Malay Mail
27-05-2025
- Malay Mail
Five cops on cable theft syndicate's payroll among 16 arrested, say Selangor police
SEPANG, May 27 — Five police officers allegedly on the payroll of a cable theft syndicate were among 16 individuals arrested after Selangor police crippled the syndicate's year-long operation near Kampung Desa Putra here. Selangor police chief Commissioner Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said the officers were allegedly paid between RM1,000 and RM2,000 each in exchange for confidential information on police crime prevention activities in the area where the syndicate operated. 'The stolen cables were burned to extract the metal, which was then sold to a scrap metal yard in Semenyih. The syndicate reaped hefty profits of around RM683,000. 'The spoils were distributed among the members, including the police officers, according to their roles,' he said during a press conference at the Sepang police headquarters today. The arrests followed a series of raids conducted between May 19 and 23. On May 19, police patrols discovered three suspicious vehicles transporting cables near an oil palm plantation. Two suspects were found outside the vehicles, while six others were caught burning cables to extract the metal. Further arrests were made on May 20, 22, and 23. Items seized included machinery and equipment used to extract the cable, as well as vehicles used to transport the stolen items. The detained police officers comprised three corporals and two sergeants. Hussein revealed that among those arrested were two outsourced contractors hired by a major utility company. They allegedly taught syndicate members how to evade system detection and extract cables without triggering alarms. Hussein urged the public to report any suspicious activities involving cable theft and to avoid engaging in transactions involving stolen cables. 'Cable theft is not only a crime but also threatens public safety, the economy, and societal harmony,' he said.
