Former Decatur Police Sergeant Pleads Guilty to Theft from Government Agency
| U.S. Attorney’s Office March 25, 2009 |
BIRMINGHAM, AL—FARON EUGENE WHITE, 48, of Falkville, Alabama, and SARAH ELIZABETH RICHARDSON, 29, of Decatur, Alabama plead guilty today in U.S. District Court in Huntsville. WHITE was charged with theft from a program that receives federal funds and RICHARDSON was charged with Accessory after the fact. At the time alleged in the indictment, WHITE was employed by the Decatur City police and RICHARDSON was a civilian volunteer in the Decatur drug unit.
“Law enforcement officers are held accountable just like any citizen who steals from programs which receive federal funds,” stated United States Attorney Alice H. Martin.
According to the Indictment, between August, 2007 to January, 2009, WHITE stole in excess of $5,000 under the control of the Decatur City Police Department. RICHARDSON, knowing that an offense had been committed, assisted WHITE in order to hinder and prevent apprehension.
Sentencing is scheduled for July 14, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. for WHITE and 11:00 a.m. for RICHARDSON at the Huntsville courthouse. WHITE faces a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. RICHARDSON faces a maximum penalty of up to 5 years in prison and a fine of up to $125,000 for accessory after the fact.
The case was investigated by agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Integrity and Government Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney David H. Estes is prosecuting the matter on behalf of the United States.