Two officials with the Prince George’s County Sheriff’s Department were recently indicted on conspiracy charges as a result of the theft of more than $20,000 from the Prince George’s County Deputy Sheriff’s Association, Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #112. Wendy Tyler and Captain Nancy Ridgely were the president and first vice president of the union from September 2005 to October 2007. During that time, they are alleged to have embezzled money from the union through overpayment and using a union credit card for personal purchases.
As president of the union, Wendy Tyler was entitled to quarterly checks totaling $10,400; instead, she received 13 checks totaling $22,124. First vice president Ridgely approved and signed all but one of the checks. Tyler is additionally accused of using a union credit card to make over $10,000 in personal, nonunion purchases.
Ridgely’s Maryland criminal defense attorney proclaims his client’s innocence in the conspiracy case. He told reporters, “My client adamantly denies these allegations and will vigorously contest these charges.” Neither Ridgely nor Tyler responded to media requests for comment regarding the indictment.
Prince George’s County Sheriff’s Department officials clarified that the money allegedly embezzled by Tyler and Ridgely is not government money, but rather union funds.
Tyler and Ridgely have both been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the trial.
This article is presented by The Law Offices of David Benowitz, a criminal and DUI defense firm serving Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia.
