SCRANTON, PA — A former police officer and union president of the Scranton Police Department, Paul Helring, 47, was charged with theft concerning programs receiving federal funds on Monday, November 27, 2023.
Helring is alleged to have fraudulently obtained over $5,000 in compensation for extra duty patrol shifts at several local low-income housing complexes. The United States Attorney’s Office alleges that Helring claimed to have worked these shifts, which he did not, while serving as the coordinator of the department’s extra duty overtime program.
The case against Helring was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Public Corruption Task Force, with assistance from the Office of Inspector General within the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Assistant United States Attorneys Jeffery St John and Philip J. Caraballo are prosecuting the case.
If found guilty, Helring faces a maximum penalty under federal law of 10 years imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. The sentence would be determined by the Judge after considering the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Information, a criminal complaint, or an arrest is not a declaration of guilt. A suspect, arrestee, or defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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