2nd Former Newport Police Union Official Admits Guilt in Fraud Case

PROVIDENCE – The former treasurer of the Newport, R.I., Police Department Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), Newport Lodge No. 8, pleaded guilty in federal court in Providence today to a fraud charge, admitting to fraudulently converting more than $31,000 in FOP funds for his own personal use.

Adam Conheeny, 46 of Portsmouth, R.I., a former Newport Police Department Officer, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, announced Michael Mikulka, Special Agent in Charge, New York Region, U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, and Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police Ann C. Assumpico.

Appearing before U.S. District Court Chief Judge William E. Smith, Conheeny admitted that between August 2009 and December 2014, he used an FOP debit card to pay for his own personal expenses, and wrote checks payable to himself and withdrew cash from the FOP bank account for his own personal use.  Conheeny admitted to fraudulently converting approximately $31,413 in FOP funds for his own use.

As Treasurer of the FOP, Conheeny was not paid any wages or salary, nor did he receive an allowance. Conheeny had no authority to spend FOP funds for personal expenses.  

In a related case, Christopher Hayes, 49, of Middletown, R.I., a former Newport Police Department Sergeant and former President of the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), Newport Lodge No. 8, was sentenced in July 2017, by U.S. District Court Chief Judge William E. Smith to a total sentence of 12 months, 6 months imprisonment followed by 6 months of home confinement, for converting approximately $71,523 in FOP funds for his personal use. Hayes pleaded guilty to wire fraud on May 1, 2017.

“Theft of union funds by union officials is a serious crime that can have a devastating impact on union members. As a police officer, Adam Conheeny’s conduct is particularly egregious because he violated the very laws he took an oath to uphold. We will continue to work with our federal and state law enforcement partners to safeguard union funds and protect the financial interests of union members,” stated Michael C. Mikulka, Special Agent-in-Charge, New York Region, U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General.

Conheeny is scheduled to be sentenced on September 14, 2018.

The case, investigated by the United States Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, United States Department of Labor Office of Labor Management Standards, and the Rhode Island State Police Financial Crimes Unit, is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John P. McAdams.

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