Thursday, January 13, 2011

It's Always In Florida



OrlandoSentinel
Officials: Flagler deputy swiped seized cash, swapped with paper towels

A Flagler County Sheriff's deputy was arrested Wednesday, accused of stealing thousands of dollars seized in criminal investigations and replacing the money with paper towels. Sheriff's officials said Matthew Koenig, 40, was arrested about 3 p.m. Wednesday after a three-month investigation into funds missing from the Sheriff's Office's evidence room. Officials said the investigation determined that Koenig, an evidence technician, had removed and replaced $4,847 in seized funds. The theft was discovered, officials said, when another technician retrieved an envelope from the evidence room and discovered the money was missing. The Sheriff's Office said an internal audit was conducted, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement was asked to assist with an audit and a forensic investigation. Officials said DNA evidence found on the envelopes and the paper towels inside was used to link Koenig to the theft. Investigators also reported finding "unexplained deposits" into Koenig's personal accounts in 2009 and 2010. According to a statement released later Wednesday, Koenig had been with the Sheriff's Office since 1998, and has been placed on administrative leave. He was booked into the Flagler County Inmate Facility. Records show he was released later Wednesday after posting bail. A woman who answered the phone at his home said he wasn't there. He had not returned a call seeking comment late Wednesday evening.