Police Union Official Pleads Guilty in fraud Case

May 24, 2018 4:30 pm

By: Sarah E. Rooney

Twitter: @abc6

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) – A former Newport police union official pleaded guilty Thursday to a fraud charge involving the transfer of department funds for personal use.

Former Treasurer of the Newport Police Department Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), Adam Conheeny, 46, admitted in federal court to illegally transferring more than $31,000 of department funds into his personal accounts.

Michael Mikulka, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, New York Region, and State Police Superintendent Ann C. Assumpico announced today that Conheeny pleaded guilty in federal court Thursday to one wire fraud charge.

The R.I. Department of Justice has released that Conheeny’s plea included information about his use of an FOP bank account for personal use between August 2009 and December 2014. Conheeny also admitted to writing FOP checks addressed to himself and withdrawing money from FOP accounts.

This case comes a year after another wire fraud case involving a Newport police union official. In May of 2017, former President of the Fraternal Order of Police Christopher Hayes, 49, pleaded guilty to wire fraud. Hayes was sentenced to six months of imprisonment followed by six months of home confinement in July of 2017.

In a statement, Special Agent in Charge Michael Mikulka stated:

“Theft of union funds by union officials is a serious crime that can have a devastating impact on union members. As a police officer, Adam Conheeny’s conduct is particularly egregious because he violated the very laws he took an oath to uphold. We will continue to work with our federal and state law enforcement partners to safeguard union funds and protect the financial interests of union members”

Conheeny’s sentencing has been scheduled for September 14^th, 2018. The case will be prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John P. McAdams.