Former FBI special agent Scott M. Bowman, 45, of Moreno Valley, Calif., pleaded guilty to a number of charges stemming from drug bust back in 2014, according to a Department of Justice press release.
The agent stole $136,000 of confiscated funds, as well as falsified reports and tampered with a witness.
Bowman bought a 2012 Dodge Challenger coupe for $43,850 and a 2013 Toyota Scion FR-S coupe for $27,500. Then he spent another $26,612 on new speakers, rim, tires, and other equipment, according to the DOJ release. He also spent $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.
On May 2, Bowman pleaded guilty to the charges against him; one count of conversion of property by a federal employee, one count of obstruction of justice, one count of falsification of records and one count of witness tampering.
“Bowman admitted that he 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 then spent the stolen money for his own personal use,” the DOJ release said.
The purchases, as well as his initial embezzlement was covered up via falsified federal reports. The statement says Bowman submitted receipts with fake signatures, asked local police departments to provide fake affidavits and documents, and even asked that department to provide a cover story if the actions became questioned.
“When the FBI became aware of allegations of misconduct by defendant Bowman, FBI management took immediate action by contacting the Justice Department’s Office of Inspector General,”said acting Assistant Director in Charge, James Struyk, of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office in the release.
“As Mr. Bowman takes responsibility for his actions by pleading guilty, the public should be reminded that FBI personnel are held to the highest standards and misconduct of any kind is taken very seriously.”
Bowman was fired from the bureau in March of 2015 and faces a maximum of 70 years behind bars, according to a Los Angeles Times report.
He is to be sentenced on Aug. 15.
