FORT LAUDERDALE (AP) – Seventeen Florida sheriff’s deputies in the United States appeared in court on charges that they stole about half a million dollars in pandemic relief funds.
The Broward County deputies, who are charged separately, are accused of a range of crimes, according to court records.
Most are charged with wire fraud, which carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, though one deputy is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which has a maximum sentence of five years.
The eight law enforcement deputies and nine detention deputies have been suspended, Sheriff Gregory Tony said during a news conference.
He said his office is going through the legal process of firing them.
“At the end of the day, they will be gone,” Tony said.
