Boston Police officer to plead guilty to fraud related to shoplifting ring
A Boston Police officer is set to plead guilty to a federal fraud charge in U.S. District Court after prosecutors say he knowingly bought about $5,000 in gift cards from a shoplifting ring, according to court documents.
Eddie Odney, 38, was a nine-year veteran of the Boston Police Department, The Boston Globe reports. He had been placed on leave in February amid an anti-corruption investigation.
According to court documents, Odney allegedly maintained a friendship with a member of a shoplifting ring. The ring allegedly operated by stealing expensive retail items and returning them in exchange for gift cards, which would then be sold at about half price.
Odney is accused of knowingly buying $5,000 worth of illegally obtained gift cards and using them to spend about $1,600 at various stores.
As part of the plea agreement, prosecutors will recommend that Odney be sentenced to one year of probation, a fine, and will resign from the Boston Police, according to court documents.
An attorney for Odney did not immediately return a request for comment.
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