Former St. Louis County Deputy Sheriff Pleads Guilty to Federal Theft Charge

St. Louis, MO – Alvin Wilson, St. Louis, MO, admitted to stealing from an organization that receives federal funds.

According to his plea agreement, from 2012 through December 31, 2016, Wilson was employed as a security officer for the St. Louis Public Library. The Library received funds from the federal government through a grant program. At the same time, Wilson was employed as a Deputy Sheriff for the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office. Wilson’s duty hours at the Library were typically from 6:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and from 8:00 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. on Saturday. Wilson falsely reported hours worked at the Library and received payment from the Library based on the falsely reported work hours. He repeatedly and regularly left his duty post at the Library for significant intervals of time in the middle of his duty hours to handle work assignments for the Sheriff’s Office. Wilson falsely reported his work hours at the Library in that he claimed entitlement to pay for hours when he well knew that he was not working at the Library, but instead was working at the Sheriff’s Office or was at home. With his plea, Wilson agreed that the loss to the Library exceeds $95,000.00.

Judge Rodney Sippel, who accepted Wilson’s guilty plea, set a sentencing date of September 22, 2017.

Theft from an organization that receives federal funds carries a maximum penalty of not more than 10 years in prison and/or fines up to $250,000 or both. Restitution is also mandatory. In determining the actual sentence, a judge is required to consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide recommended sentencing ranges.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Reginald Harris is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.