Three Plead Guilty in Sheriff’s Office Fraud Case

PHILADELPHIA—Three defendants charged in an alleged scheme to defraud the Philadelphia Sheriff’s Office pleaded guilty today to wire fraud, announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger. Robert Rogers, 35, Jackiem Wright, 29, and Reginald Berry, 29, all of Philadelphia, entered guilty pleas before U.S. District Court Judge Legrome Davis. Judge Davis scheduled a sentencing hearing for April 9, 2012 for Rogers, and April 16, 2012 for Wright and Berry.

Co-defendant Richard Bell was employed in the Accounting Department of the Philadelphia Sheriff’s Office. According to the information, between 2007 and 2010, Bell wrote fraudulent checks drawn on bank accounts of the Philadelphia Sheriff’s Office to unauthorized individuals and companies. Bell forwarded over $400,000 of those checks to Rogers. Rogers cashed the checks made payable to himself. Rogers forwarded the other checks to other individuals to cash or deposit. In particular, Rogers forwarded to Wright and Berry over $147,000 in checks made payable to one company. Wright and Berry deposited those checks into the company bank account, and withdrew or attempted to withdraw the proceeds.

Rogers faces an advisory sentencing guideline range of 27 to 33 months in prison; Wright and Berry each face an advisory sentencing guideline range of 15 to 21 months in prison.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division, the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, and the City of Philadelphia Office of Inspector General. The City of Philadelphia Office of the Controller has also assisted the investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah L. Grieb, Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Diviny, and Special Assistant United States Attorney Meriah Russell.