Vernell Reynolds, a former president of the Miami Community Police Benevolent Association (MCPBA), has been indicted for embezzling MCPBA funds.
Reynolds, 46, of Hollywood, was indicted on 16 counts of wire fraud for allegedly stealing more than $200,000 from the police union, the FBI has announced.
To conduct its affairs, the MCPBA maintained two credit union accounts, containing the monthly dues of union members. The funds in the accounts were held in trust for the benefit of the MCPBA.
In 2005, Reynolds became the president of the MCPBA. As president, Reynolds had signature authority over the MCPBA credit union accounts. Reynolds also used an ATM/debit card that accessed the MCPBA credit union accounts. The indictment alleges that as early as September 2008, Reynolds began stealing money from the MCPBA accounts and using it for her own purposes. Reynolds' scheme continued through June 2010.
According to the indictment, Reynolds made unauthorized withdrawals from the MCPBA credit union accounts, made unauthorized personal purchases with MCPBA funds, and transferred MCPBA funds from the MCPBA accounts to her personal credit union accounts. The indictment alleges that some of these unauthorized withdrawals occurred at casinos located in South Florida and California.
Reynolds failed to disclose her unauthorized withdrawals, purchases and transfers to the MCPBA members and presented false financial information to the MCPBA members to conceal her fraud.
If convicted, the former officer faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison for each count of wire fraud. The MCPBA is a private association of Miami law enforcement officers that operates in Miami-Dade County.
