Former cop was himself scammed and "trying to get his money back" by joining scammers
A retired New Jersey police chief pleaded no contest this morning to charges that he participated in a scam that cost a 95-year-old Northampton Township, Pennsylvania, man almost $29,000.
Robert Ryan, 71, of Factoryville, PA, told Bucks County President Judge Jeffrey L. Finley that he, too, had lost $30,000 to a Jamaica-based lottery hoax and that his crimes were an attempt to recover his losses.
"He seems to be a very nice man. I never intended to hurt him," Ryan said of the victim, who sat in a wheelchair in the back of the courtroom and did not speak. "I was just trying to get my money back. It was a very foolish mistake for me to make, being a former law enforcement officer."
Ryan told Finley that he had worked 30 years as a police officer in New Jersey, retiring in 2000 as police chief in Garwood, NJ. By the time of today's hearing, he had spent five months in the Bucks County Correctional Facility, an experience he described as "horrendous."
Ryan pleaded no contest to charges that included four felony counts of theft by deception. Finley gave him a sentence of time served to 23 months, followed by five years of probation. Ryan was ordered to repay the victim's losses, totaling $28,900, in monthly increments of no less than $200 each.
At a minimum payment of $200 per month, it will take more than 12 years for the 95-year-old to collect the repayment.
Ryan was arrested on Dec. 22, 2016, after Wells Fargo Bank employees summoned Northampton police to their branch in Richboro. Investigators found Ryan there with the victim, who was attempting to withdraw $3,800 from two accounts.
Bank employees blocked the transaction because more than $20,000 already had been withdrawn that month from the victim's accounts, court records show.
The victim told police that he had been contacted earlier in the month by a man calling himself James Holliday, who told the victim that he had won $33 million in a lottery. The man told the victim that a courier would be coming by to pick up money needed to pay taxes before the prize could be claimed.
The victim told police that Ryan had stopped by several times to pick up five other checks he had written so that he could claim the alleged jackpot. Each of the checks had been made out to, and endorsed by, Ryan.
Ryan told Finley that he had lost about $30,000 to a similar scheme, causing the judge to exclaim, "Come on!", noting that Ryan was a law enforcement veteran.
Ryan said he had suffered a series of strokes that he believed had affected his judgment. He said he never learned the true identities of the scammers, and that he had given them all but $1,000 of the money he received from the victim.
Police said that after Ryan's arrest, his phone rang continuously from what purported to be a Jamaican callback number.
The case was investigated by the Northampton Township Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Kathleen G. Byrne.
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I would make a comment about this piece of garbage, but then Todd would just have to delete it.
I have little sympathy for either of them. The lottery scam is well worn and pre-dates the world-wide-web. Furthermore, many lotteries post bulletins warning people of such scams; lottery will never ask for money to redeem a prize. Also, one must have bought a ticket or entered a drawing to win.
It's sad how powerful the force of greed is to cause some to convince themselves that they can win without participating, and sending money to claim money is a normal thing.
At $200 minimum per month, as pointed out in the article, it could take upwards of a decade to get their money back. Many scammed out of money never get full restitution. While the few that do often don't receive the full amount back when adjusted for inflation.
I agree that I do not have much sympathy for either party. However, at 95 years old, the man's judgment may be nearly gone and we don't know the level of coercion applied to him. The former law enforcement officer should have known better and he probably did.
He worked in Law Enforcement for 30 years, but is/was dishonest his entire life.
Ummmmm, Excelent Question, maybe another Sheriff Arpaio?
I agree, He's a dirt bag.
Thank you sully16, I could not have said it any better, and kept the post up.
~Michael
I highly doubt if Mr. Ryan had not been a former "public servant" he would have gotten such a light sentence.
Should not he and all law enforcement be held to a higher standard?
Sheriff Joe enforced the law!
That's why he needed a Pardon, for enforcement of the law, give me a break!
How by creating an illegal tent city in 130 degree plus heat. Ignoring the constitution and arresting and profiling innocent people. I can not feel you are in some way connected to that pos cop.
Nothing will be done to him since he was a "cop".
Ryan was ordered to repay the victim's losses, totaling $28,900, in monthly increments of no less than $200 each.
At a minimum payment of $200 per month, it will take more than 12 years for the 95-year-old to collect the repayment.
Well he will not have to pay back the money since I suspect the vitum who is 95 years old will not live long enough to see it all back.
Ryan said he had suffered a series of strokes that he believed had affected his judgment.
What a pos excuse.