Former Metro Nashville Police sergeant sentenced for embezzling more than $100,000
Nashville TN October 25 2018
A former Metro Nashville Police sergeant was sentenced to federal prison Wednesday for stealing more than $100,000 while executing search warrants, the U.S. Attorney’s Office reports.
James Dunaway, 43, of Old Hickory, was a supervisor in the MNPD Specialized Investigation Division-Narcotics Unit and was responsible, among other things, for monitoring and executing search warrants, U.S. Attorney Don Cochran’s office reported.
While executing those warrants, Dunaway embezzled, stole and converted approximately $109,910 to his own use, the court found.
“James Dunaway betrayed the families of Nashville and the men and women of this police department,” said Metro Police Chief Steve Anderson said in the release. “Our sting investigation showed that he greedily and selfishly stole money in a scheme that sickened all of us. I am grateful to U.S. Attorney Don Cochran and the FBI for agreeing with our request to prosecute Dunaway in the federal system.”
In one case, a November 15, 2017, search, video cameras captured Dunaway placing money in his pockets. The indictment alleges that Dunaway stole $5,860 during the execution of this search warrant, the report from Cochran’s office said.
Also, between April 11 and May 8, 2017, Dunaway made approximately $40,540 in cash deposits, and on May 1, 2017, he obtained a cashier’s check with $42,500 cash, which he stole during the searches.
Dunaway then used the cashier’s check to purchase a 2014 Toyota Sequoia, the release said.
“When public servants that are sworn to uphold the law violate their oath, they must always be held accountable,” Cochran said in the release. “Dunaway made a conscious decision to violate the public’s trust and in doing so, he brought dishonor upon the profession and his department and placed an unnecessary burden on the many honorable men and women who work tirelessly every day to adhere to the highest standards of the profession.
“I commend the leadership of the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department for taking swift and appropriate action when this matter came to their attention.”
Dunaway was indicted in May by a federal grand jury. He pleaded guilty to charges of theft from an entity that receives federal program funds and money laundering in July.
He is set to serve two years in federal prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release.
