Memphis Police Officer Charged with Computer Fraud and Lying to Federal Agents

MEMPHIS, TN—Sean Fritz, age 36, of Marion, Arkansas, an officer with the Memphis Police Department, was charged with two counts of computer fraud, Title 18, U.S.C. § 1030(a)(2) and one count of false statements to a federal agency, Title, 18, U.S.C. § 1001(a)(2), announced United States Attorney Edward L. Stanton, III, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Memphis Division Aaron T. Ford, and Memphis Police Director Toney Armstrong.

According to information provided to the court, on two separate occasions Fritz accessed the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), National Crime Information Center’s (NCIC) database for non-law enforcement purposes. Specifically to aid a confidential source for illegal purposes. When interviewed by agents from the FBI, Fritz denied accessing NCIC to aid the confidential source for any illegal purpose.

Fritz was arrested on January10, 2012, and will appear before a Federal Magistrate for his initial appearance today. If convicted Fritz faces up to five years’ imprisonment and a $250,000 fine for each count of computer fraud, and up to five years’ imprisonment and a $250, 000 fine for making false statements to federal agents.

“As the indictment alleges, Officer Fritz abused his position of trust as a law enforcement officer by violating the very laws he swore to uphold and defend as a Memphis Police Department officer,” stated United States Attorney Edward L. Stanton, III. “This office and our law enforcement partners will continue to vigorously weed out and prosecute public corruption, as no individual or group is above the law.”

“Investigating allegations of public corruption is one of the foremost priorities of the FBI,” said Aaron T. Ford, Special Agent in Charge of the Memphis Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. “When allegations arise that an officer of the law has abused his position and possibly put the lives of fellow officers and the public at risk, the FBI and its partners will not rest until that officer is brought to face justice.”

“As the Director of the Memphis Police Department, I am dedicated to rid our department of corrupt officers. To carry a badge is a privilege and a honor,” stated Memphis Police Director Toney Armstrong. “ I will not allow this type of behavior to take that away from the majority of our dedicated officers.”

This crime was investigated by the Tarnished Badge Task Force, which is comprised of investigators from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Memphis Police Department, and Shelby County Sheriff’s Office. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brian K. Coleman on behalf of the federal government.