By Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com
A former FBI agent who stole more than $136,000 in seized drug money to buy cars and cosmetic surgery for his wife was sentenced Wednesday in California to three years in prison.
Scott Bowman, 45, of Moreno Valley, Calif., confessed to stealing the money and pleaded guilty in May to charges of conversion of property by a federal employee, obstruction of justice, falsification of records and witness tampering.
U.S. District Judge Jesus G. Bernal also ordered Bowman to pay $136,462 in restitution.
The Justice Department wrote:
According to admissions made in connection with his plea, Bowman misappropriated drug proceeds seized during the execution of three search warrants in June and August 2014 after they were transferred to his custody in his official capacity as a federal law enforcement officer. Bowman admitted that he proceeded to spend the stolen money for his own personal use and enjoyment, including tens of thousands of dollars on vehicles and new equipment, including speakers, rims and tires. Bowman also used $15,000 of the misappropriated cash to pay for cosmetic surgery for his spouse and opened a new checking account into which he deposited $10,665 of the stolen funds, he admitted.
According to the plea agreement, in order to conceal his embezzlement, Bowman falsified official FBI reports and submitted a deposit receipt – with a forged signature – that understated the amount of proceeds he had actually seized at the search site. In October 2014, Bowman sent emails to a local police detective containing a detailed cover story that the detective was instructed to provide in case he was asked about Bowman’s handling of the drug proceeds and a copy of the receipt with the forged signature so that the detective could falsely claim the forged signature as his own, Bowman admitted.
