Pubdate: Wed, 17 Jul 2002
Source: Commercial Appeal (TN)
Copyright: 2002 The Commercial Appeal
Contact:  http://www.gomemphis.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/95
Author: Bill Dries
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/corrupt.htm (Corruption)

PAIR PLEAD GUILTY IN DRUG-MONEY FRAUD

A man and a woman who posed as owners of $135,000 seized by narcotics 
officers pleaded guilty Tuesday to federal conspiracy, mail fraud, 
embezzlement and money laundering charges.

Their co-defendant in the case, suspended Memphis police officer Alandas 
McGraw, is slated to go to trial Aug. 5.

Victor Bowen and Barbara Patrick were charged in a 22-count indictment in 
May along with McGraw, an officer in the Vice and Narcotics Unit.

McGraw had been relieved of duty with pay two months earlier, following a 
police internal financial audit.

As the forefeiture and settlement officer of the Vice and Narcotics Unit, 
McGraw had the authority and control of the necessary paperwork to pave the 
way for the city to cut two settlement checks that were split among the 
three, according to the charges.

Bowen and Patrick admitted in court Tuesday that they posed as the owners 
of the cash and filed claims for it.

Bowen claimed $189,000 in cash taken in July 2001 from a search at the 
downtown Grey hound bus station.

Patrick claimed more than $186,000 in cash from the spare tire of a 1995 
Chevrolet Tahoe on Interstate 240 in November.

McGraw proposed that the city settle the two claims for a total of $135,000.

Bowen, 31, who is McGraw's cousin, faces a maximum sentence of 55 years in 
prison and a $1.7 million fine on the seven counts to which he pleaded.

Patrick, 41, who was Bowen's girlfriend, faces a total maximum sentence of 
30 years in prison and a $1-million fine on four counts.

Both are scheduled to be sentenced in October by U.S. Dist. Judge Julia 
Gibbons.
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