Second Sheriff’s Office Custody Sergeant Arrested for Timecard Fraud Thursday

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. (KEYT) – Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office Custody Sergeant Jeffrey Koeller was booked Thursday on charges of embezzlement, forgery, and grand theft after an investigation into fraudulent timecard activity.

On Aug. 6, Koeller surrendered himself at the Santa Maria Substation on Foster Road after a warrant was issued for his arrest and he was later booked at the San Luis Obispo County Jail on charges of embezzlement by a public officer, forgery, and grand theft with bail set at $100,000 stated the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office in a press release Thursday.

According to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office, a comprehensive review of overtime coding at the their office was conducted after former Custody Sergeant Segun Ogunleye was arrested for fraudulently securing over $175,000 through falsified timecards earlier this year.

A Santa Barbara County Grand Jury report in June of this year reported that overtime claims have contributed to a notable expansion of the local sheriff's office's budget over the last decade.

The comprehensive review of 688 timecards that included overtime entries resulted in the identification of one timecard with significant anomalies and the second criminal investigation into deputies shared the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office.

According to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office, Koeller allegedly claimed and received $93,000 in compensation for time he did not work and he was serving as a custody sergeant at the Northern Branch Jail at the time of the alleged misconduct.

"This employee's actions betrayed the publics trust and our agency. They do not reflect the character of our Sheriff's Office, or the honest work performed every day by our employees," shared Sheriff Bill Brown. "The overwhelming majority of our personnel are dedicated public servants of impeccable integrity who serve lawfully and with honor. If one of our own violates the trust that has been placed in them, we will investigate thoroughly and hold them accountable to our policies and the law. Furthermore, we will identify any supervisory shortcomings or blind spots and strengthen our systems to prevent any such misconduct from happening again."

The local law enforcement agency added that it has implemented enhanced internal review controls and oversight measures intended to help prevent similar misuse of public funds.

The administrative investigation into Koeller is ongoing and he remains on administrative leave as the investigation continues added the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office.