Okaloosa County Sheriff and Director of Administration and Finance Arrested on Federal Charges

PENSACOLA, FL—Thomas F. Kirwin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced that Sheriff Charles “Charlie” W. Morris , age 59, of Shalimar, Florida, and Teresa Adams , age 50, of Niceville, Florida, were arrested today based upon a federal criminal complaint alleging violations of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 666 (Theft or Fraud from Federally Funded Programs), 1343 (Wire Fraud), 1346 (Fraud or Theft of Honest Services), 1957 (Money Laundering) and Sections 371, 1349 and 1956(h)(Money Laundering Conspiracy).

Sheriff Morris was arrested by federal agents in Las Vegas, Nevada, and is expected to make an initial appearance in United States District Court for the District of Nevada today.

Thereafter, he is expected to be returned to the Northern District of Florida. According to the complaint filed in federal court, Morris , with the assistance of his Director of Administration and Finance, Adams , created fictitious bonuses to sheriff’s department employees. The complaint alleges the employees were directed to return all or a portion of the bonuses in the form of cash and cashier’s checks under the pretense that these returned funds were to be used for charitable purposes. Adams is expected to make an initial appearance before United States Magistrate Judge Elizabeth M. Timothy in Pensacola today.

A criminal complaint is merely a charging instrument. Each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in United States District Court.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Randall J. (Randy) Hensel.