The former Allen County Sheriff pleaded guilty to for asking
for and taking bribes from people arrested in prostitution stings, suspected
gamblers and others.
Samuel A. Crish, 56, is scheduled to be sentenced later this
year. He pleaded guilty to multiple counts of extortion and soliciting bribes.
“The conduct Mr. Crish admitted to is as offensive as it is
audacious,” U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman said. “Demanding bribes from
gamblers and johns arrested in prostitution stings reads like something out of
a bad movie. This defendant let down the people of Allen County and the men and
women who served with him at the Sheriff’s Office. He does not represent the
vast majority of law enforcement, and he will now be held accountable for his
crimes.”
“Mr. Crish tarnished his badge when he chose to use his
official capacity to influence criminal investigations and to protect
self-interests,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Eric Smith. “As a law enforcement officer and county
sheriff sworn to uphold the law, his conduct was abhorrent. We are pleased that Mr. Crish has now
accepted responsibility for his actions.”
Court documents detail Crish extorting or soliciting tens of
thousands of dollars from several people between 2012 and 2016.
According to court documents:
Crish joined the Allen County Sheriff’s Office in 1991,
where he held numerous positions, including commander of the office’s
Investigative Division and the West Central Ohio Crime Task Force (WCOCTF). He
was elected sheriff in 2008, 2012 and 2016.
In June 2012, Crish approached a person identified in the
charges as Person 1 and asked Person 1 for $8,000, falsely stating he needed
the money to cover medical bills. Person 1 gave Crish the money in cash in an
alley behind the sheriff’s office in July 2012.
Two months later, Person 1 applied for the position of nurse
at the Allen County Jail, which Crish oversaw. Based on conversations with
Crish, Person 1 understood the job was theirs. Crish stated in October 2012 he
would try to hire Person 1 as nurse. In the same conversation, he stated he
needed $42,000 to pay his debts and asked if Person 1 could help.
Person 1 took out a home equity line of credit and, on Oct.
12, 2012, gave Crish a check for $42,000 in the alley behind the sheriff’s
office. Crish agreed to repay the money in monthly increments of $480. On Dec.
15, 2012, Person 1 was hired by the Allen County Sheriff’s Office to work as
the nurse at the county jail.
Person 3 operated a used car business and was arrested by
members of the sheriff’s office and WCOCTF on Aug. 19, 2015 during a
prostitution sting. He was charged with solicitation in Lima Municipal Court.
Crish visited Person 3’s business several times in August
and September 2015, at one point asking Person 3 for a $7,000 loan. Person 3
gave Crish a check for $7,000 on Sept. 25, 2015.
Crish met with prosecutors and law enforcement officials
about Person 3’s case on Nov. 24, 2015, and demanded the Lima City Attorney’s
Office drop the charges. The solicitation case was dismissed on Feb. 18, 2016.
Eight days later, Crish texted Person 3 to meet, where they discussed the
dismissal of Person 3’s case.
Person 4 operated a used car business in Elida, Ohio. Crish
asked Person 4 in September 2015 to work as an informant. He also asked Person
4 to loan him $10,000.
Person 4 gave Crish $10,000 in cash on Nov. 3, 2015. The
next day, Person 4 was arrested at a motel in Lima as part of a prostitution
sting operation. Following his arrest, Person 4 asked to speak to Crish. All of
the other men arrested were charged.
Crish visited Person 4’s business on Nov. 5, 2015, and told
him not to worry about the arrest because he was working for Crish.
Crish visited Person 4’s business again on Nov. 17, 2015,
and asked for $500. Person 4 insisted Crish would have to pay back the $500,
unlike the previous $10,000. Crish called Person 4 in May 2016 and told him he
was “fine” referring to the charges for the prostitution arrest.
Person 5 owned a grocery store in Allen County. Crish
stopped by Person 5’s business in October 2015 to ask for a loan. Crish
inferred during the visit that an agency was coming to investigate Person 5’s
business for suspected illegal gambling operations, but that Crish could stop
the investigation if Person 5 provided Crish with a loan.
Person 5 gave Crish a $2,000 loan in October 2015, which
Crish repaid without interest.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Ohio Bureau of
Criminal Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gene
Crawford.
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