Chesterton Tribune

 

 

Former deputy to plead guilty to federal wire fraud count

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A former Porter County Sheriff’s Police deputy is expected to plead guilty this week in federal court to one count of wire fraud, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Indiana said.

Lawrence W. LaFlower, 42, resigned in May from the PCSP.

“According to court documents, between April 2013 and April 2018, LaFlower used his position as the treasurer of the Fraternal Order of Police Ewalt Jahnz Lodge No. 165 to embezzle over $180,000 from its investment and bank accounts,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. “The FOP is a fraternal organization in Porter County, Ind., whose mission is to improve working conditions for law enforcement officers and serve the public by raising money for scholarships and other programs.”

“Public officials who abuse their positions for personal financial gain will not be tolerated,” U.S. Attorney Thomas Kirsch said. “My office, with our law enforcement partners, will continue to pursue those who corrupt their office for self-serving motives.”

LaFlower was a lieutenant with the PCSP at the time of his resignation and had served as public information officer as well as school resource officer. In February 2010, LaFlower and Porter Assistant Fire Chief Jay Craig responded to a house fire on East Oakhill Road and, on learning that an elderly wheelchair-bound woman was trapped in her bedroom, entered the house without benefit of breathing apparatus and succeeded in rescuing her. Both LaFlower and Craig were treated for smoke inhalation and were subsequently presented with a Life Saving Award by the Porter Police Commission.

The specific complaint against LaFlower was not available this morning on the U.S. District Court’s digital archive.

 

 

 

Posted 9/25/2018

 
 
 
 

 

 

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