Submitted by the U.S. Attorney's Office

ROME — Brenton James Garmon, 36, of Cartersville, Georgia, pleaded guilty Wednesday in federal district court to embezzling approximately $80,493 in public funds that were under the care and control of the Bartow County Sheriff’s Office while Garmon worked there as a captain.

United States Attorney David E. Nahmias said of today’s plea, “Public officials, particularly those involved in law enforcement, must be held accountable for actions they take that violate the public trust. To use money seized from criminals and criminal activity for one’s own personal use is a disturbing crime of greed and neglect. Seized funds should go to fight crime and repay victims of crime, not to line the pockets of a corrupt officer.”

FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Greg Jones said, “We in law enforcement take these investigations very seriously because we are held to a higher standard. Mr. Garmon's actions displayed a breach of trust and confidence of the people we are sworn to protect and to serve. He further undermined the ability of the Bartow County Sheriff's Office personnel to perform their jobs effectively by illegally taking funds utilized by that department which allowed them to perform their duties.”

According to United States Attorney Nahmias and the information presented in court: Garmon was a captain with the Bartow County Sheriff’s Office from at least January 2004 through January 2007. In his role as captain, Garmon oversaw monies seized by the drug unit and canine unit. Garmon was responsible for keeping account of the seized funds, keeping a bank account for forfeited funds, and keeping a record of the condemnation and expenditure/distribution of the funds. Instead of depositing all of the funds into the appropriate accounts, Garmon took and used at least $80,493 of the funds for his own personal use. Among other things, Garmon used seized funds to stop foreclosure proceedings on his personal residence.

Garmon pleaded guilty to a Criminal Information charging him with one count of embezzling and converting to his own use approximately $80,493 in seized funds. Garmon could receive a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

Sentencing is scheduled for May 8, 2008, at 10 a.m., before United States District Judge Robert L. Vining, Jr.

This case is being investigated jointly by Special Agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, which also conducted an extensive audit. The Bartow County Sheriff’s Office cooperated and assisted in the investigation and in assisting with the audit to account for the missing monies.

Assistant United States Attorney Susan Coppedge is prosecuting the case.