The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office has arrested one of their own following a criminal investigation that revealed an employee obtained more than $93,000 in earnings through falsified timecards.
On August 6, Custody Sergeant Jeffrey Koeller surrendered to detectives at the Santa Maria Substation following an arrest warrant and was later booked into the San Luis Obispo County Jail.
According to the department, this is the second Santa Barbara County Custody Sergeant arrested for fraud this year after Segun Ogunleye was arrested for falsified timecards on January 29. He was found to have received more than $175,000 in earnings for time he did not work.
Following his arrest, the Sheriff's Office conducted an extensive review of 688 timecards containing overtime entries, leading to the arrest of Koeller. At the time he submitted the cards, Koeller was serving as a Custody Sergeant at the Northern Branch Jail.
“This employee’s actions betrayed the public’s 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,” said Sheriff Bill Brown. “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."
According to the Sheriff's Office, enhanced internal review controls and oversight are being implemented to strengthen the accountability of employees.
Koeller has been placed on administrative leave, and his bail has been set at $100,000.
