A former Dallas police official who headed Dallas Crime Stoppers was sentenced Monday to almost four years in federal prison for taking money from the program and for tax evasion.
Theadora Ross, 52, a former senior corporal in the Dallas Police Department, must surrender to prison officials Jan. 14.
Ross, of Rowlett, who pleaded guilty in August to charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and tax evasion, was sentenced to 46 months in prison and ordered to pay $274,034 in restitution to the North Texas Crime Commission.
Ross resigned from the Police Department, but she still collects a city pension, the Dallas Morning News reported.
Crime Stoppers is a nationwide program that offers cash rewards for information from callers who can remain anonymous that leads to the arrest and indictment of criminals.
In Dallas, the office is funded by the NTCC, which collects fines levied by Dallas and Collin County courts, private donations and fund raising.
At the time of the crimes, Dallas Crime Stoppers was staffed by officers of the Dallas Police Department and deputies with the Dallas County Sheriff's Department.
Co-defendant Malva R. Delley, 38, of Dallas, who pleaded guilty in May 2011 to making a false statement to a financial institution, is awaiting sentencing. She faces a maximum of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Ross worked in Dallas Crime Stoppers from 2003 to May 2010, and headed the office from Mach 2006 to May 2010, according to federal court documents.
Ross and Delley worked together to defraud NTCC from February 2005 to May 2010, federal agents said in court documents.
Ross determined which tips would be presented, prepared the list for Crime Stoppers and sent the lists to JP Morgan Chase Bank, according to the documents. The lists contained bogus tips.
Ross provided the bogus tip information to Delley, who then presented the information to the bank and collected cash rewards, agents said.
After getting the money, Delley, on Ross's instructions, divided the cash with the former officer, documents show. In many cases, Delley deposited Ross' share into her bank account, agents said.
From the five years that the scheme ran, Ross and Delley collected at least $250,000 in cash rewards, according to court documents.
Ross also admitted that from 2006 to 2009 she filed false income tax forms, agents said.
Copyright 2012 - Fort Worth Star-Telegram
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
