BOSTON — A Boston Police Officer from Roxbury has become the eighth officer to plead guilty in the ongoing overtime fraud scandal, the acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts announced Thursday. That officer has been identified as Craig Smalls, 55, of Roxbury.
Smalls pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit theft concerning programs receiving federal funds and one count of embezzlement from an agency receiving federal funds. Prosecutors allege that Smalls submitted falsified slips for overtime hours worked between March 2015 and September 2016 in a manner similar to other officers who have been charged in the same scandal.
PREVIOUS: Former Boston police sergeant pleads guilty in overtime fraud scheme
Smalls is accused of receiving $16,252 in overtime pay for hours he did not work. His conspiracy charge carries a sentence of up to five years in prison with three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. He also faces up to 10 years in prison and three years of supervised release for his embezzlement charge, as well as a fine of $250,000 or twice the amount of money gained or lost.
Fourteen BPD officers have been charged in the scandal. Eight, including Smalls, have pleaded guilty.
>>>MORE: Former BPD sergeant charged, pleads guilty in connection to overtime fraud investigation
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.
Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
©2021 Cox Media Group
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/7QOJU3BNCJERBNKJC5LWTBYFLU.png)
