Ex-police officer given two years of probation in wire fraud case / LJWorld.com

Archive for Monday, November 2, 2009

A former Lawrence police officer was sentenced to two years probation for wire fraud after stealing video games and selling them online. The former officer was given the highest honor for bravery during the Boardwalk fire.

By Jesse Fray

November 2, 2009

A former Lawrence police officer on Monday was sentenced to probation for two years, after pleading guilty to 14 counts of federal wire fraud, prosecutors said.

Robert Ryan Sayler, 32, was accused of selling stolen video games on eBay last year while he was a member of the Lawrence Police Department. He entered a guilty plea in the case in August.

Prosecutors said Sayler executed a scheme in which he bought video games from Target, removed the game discs from the original packaging and returned the empty boxes to Target for a refund. He then sold the games on the Internet auction site eBay for $30 to $46 a piece.

The activity occurred between Aug. 9 and Sept. 17, 2008, while he was working as a police officer. He was earning a $58,333 annual salary when he was terminated Dec. 23, 2008, after more than eight years on the police force.

U.S. District Judge Monti Belot handed down the probation sentence on Monday.

Discussion

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2 November 2009
at 2:31 p.m.

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Sulla (Anonymous) says…

As usual….if it were me or any other John Q. Citizen who did what he did, it would be the Rockpile for at least five years.
2 November 2009
at 2:49 p.m.

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artichokeheart (Anonymous) says…

That would depend if John Q. Citizen had a previous record. Since this guy was a officer for 8 years I'm guessing he has no priors. If you recall he was a officer who had been awarded honor. Do keep in mind he did lose his career over this not to mention it was all over the news. John Q probably wouldn't get that kind of exposure.
2 November 2009
at 3:04 p.m.

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yankeevet (Anonymous) says…

Wow; what luck; thats it??
2 November 2009
at 3:27 p.m.

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foodboy (Anonymous) says…

Cops and/or robbers
2 November 2009
at 3:39 p.m.

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Sulla (Anonymous) says…

This cop won an award so he shouldn't do the time,eh? John Q Citizen of his age with no prior records would had got gangster slapped by the *federal* judge in the case, regardless if he had saved kitty cats from trees or helped an old lady across the sidewalk in the past. You know it. If anything, public servants convicted of felonies should get harsher sentences;employ some of that Chinese justice, I say. Oh, John E. Law lost his career over it. Boo hoo. Dunkins Donuts will still continue on quite well..He may be their next manager.
2 November 2009
at 3:50 p.m.

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OldEnuf2BYurDad (Anonymous) says…

“Prior history” is a useful way to seperate the career criminals from the guy who screwed up and can be rehabilitated. I think this was a smart sentencing decision.
2 November 2009
at 4:33 p.m.

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Marion (Marion Lynn) says…

I'm more inclined to think that the guy slammed a lot harder than John Q. would have because he was a cop.

I mean a federal case over a few misappropriated video games?

Heck of a way to spend federal funds.

2 November 2009
at 5:19 p.m.

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MichaelJ (Anonymous) says…

This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.
2 November 2009
at 5:33 p.m.

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edjayhawk (Anonymous) says…

Rodney King all over again…
2 November 2009
at 5:41 p.m.

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mike_blur (Mike Blur) says…

Marion, it's wire fraud. When you cross state lines (even over the internet) it's federal.
2 November 2009
at 5:48 p.m.

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Sulla (Anonymous) says…

All these law&order right wingers turn bleeding heart wrist slappers when a cop gets nailed for something…. It was a waste of money paying that guy $58 gs in the first place - he should pay it back at least, the greedy slug..
2 November 2009
at 5:49 p.m.

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was_freashpowder2 (Alexander Neighbors) says…

How come His case is over and the Case against the Yellow house owners is still going on ?
2 November 2009
at 6:02 p.m.

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artichokeheart (Anonymous) says…

Sulla (Anonymous) says…
“This cop won an award so he shouldn't do the time,eh? John Q Citizen of his age with no prior records would had got gangster slapped by the *federal* judge in the case, regardless if he had saved kitty cats from trees or helped an old lady across the sidewalk in the past. You know it. If anything, public servants convicted of felonies should get harsher sentences;employ some of that Chinese justice, I say. Oh, John E. Law lost his career over it. Boo hoo. Dunkins Donuts will still continue on quite well..He may be their next manager.”

I did not say because he got an award he should get off easy. I simply stated he was an officer for 8 years and had recieved an award for service. That is taken into consideration.
Firemen get cats out of trees not police officers and Boys scouts walk old ladies across the street.
Why should public servents get harder sentances? They already get crap wages.
Losing his career is a big deal. I imagine there are quite a few benefits that he has lost as a result too.
Finally is it that you are affraid when he gets hired at D&D he might fire you?
2 November 2009
at 6:05 p.m.

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Seamus (Anonymous) says…

Marion— he was stealing. End of story. Furthermore, the people who are paid to enforce the laws ought to be held in account when they break those laws.
2 November 2009
at 6:35 p.m.

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Did_I_say_that (Anonymous) says…

was_freashpowder2 (Alexander Neighbors) says…
“How come His case is over and the Case against the Yellow house owners is still going on ?”

From the article, “…pleading guilty to 14 counts of federal wire fraud, prosecutors said.”

Alex, it only takes a guilty plea.

2 November 2009
at 7:16 p.m.

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was_freashpowder2 (Alexander Neighbors) says…

but see it Either takes 1 guilty plea or a trial and since Guy and Carrie have not plead Guilty why Have they been not given a trial in the last 5 years ?

Also I was under the assumption that the 6th Amendment ( your right to a speedy trial gave a prosecutor 70 days to take you to trial )

So can anyone tell me if 5 years is longer than 70 days ?
2 November 2009
at 7:23 p.m.

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beobachter (Anonymous) says…

Alex, just STFU, they are guilty and their time is coming.
2 November 2009
at 8:43 p.m.

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AS (Anonymous) says…

Clears case of win and lose. Did he comment a crime or didn't he no excuse it happened!
2 November 2009
at 9:01 p.m.

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lawthing (Anonymous) says…

yes he commented the crime and admitted to it, no excuse it just happened. So now he is a commented criminal.
2 November 2009
at 9:33 p.m.

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oneeye_wilbur (Anonymous) says…

some Target employee, sure would like to now what store. I would take back a bag of potato chips, empty of course and get my money back. A bit of air in the bag and super glue.

The Target employee is still employed? How come the employee was never interviewed regarding this article?

What are stores policy of refunds? Maybe someone should buy a chainsaw and take the empty box back full of rocks and tape it up.
2 November 2009
at 9:42 p.m.

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dawndy (Anonymous) says…

This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.
3 November 2009
at 1:25 a.m.

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was_freashpowder2 (Alexander Neighbors) says…

beobachter (Anonymous) says…
Alex, just STFU, they are guilty and their time is coming.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––
Why do you continually tell me to STFU what does it mean ?
3 November 2009
at 8:19 a.m.

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monkeywrench1969 (Anonymous) says…

Amazing. I am at a loss for words

3 November 2009
at 8:32 a.m.

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MichaelJ (Anonymous) says…

Guy and Carrie Neighbors would have gone to trial long ago, except they kept firing their lawyers and hiring new counsel-which results in delays and delays and delays. Interesting tactic.
3 November 2009
at 9:03 a.m.

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artichokeheart (Anonymous) says…

This has nothing to do with Yellow House. He sold the DVDs on the internet. He entered a plea to the crime, was sentanced and that is the end of it. Not all roads lead to Yellow House.
I will say this though the constant piping in by Freshpowder2 on any and every remotely similar topic is becoming annoying even to me.
3 November 2009
at 10:15 a.m.

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jf50 (Anonymous) says…

Again above the law. He may not of had priors on record but we don't know what he did while wearing the badge. I feel he got off way to easy. It's a shame that the oath he took to be a cop meant nothing to him. I'm sure this is not his first offense, he just hasn't been busted on anything else.
3 November 2009
at 10:41 a.m.

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thebigspoon (Anonymous) says…

STFU means : shut the f*** up….
3 November 2009
at 11:56 a.m.

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brujablanco (Anonymous) says…

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3 November 2009
at 12:06 p.m.

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was_freashpowder2 (Alexander Neighbors) says…

Michaelj
They would have been to trial along time ago if they didn't fire their attourneys ……
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And I always thought the reason there has been no trial was because of the lack of evidance. Also. Why does the prosecutor continue to claim guy and carrie are crazy they have had multipul mental evaluations. And each time deemed good to stand trial (each mental eval request delays the trial almost 6 months). On top of that guy is in prison right now still because he complained about the prosecutor back in april.

Mj strange thing is the charges were dropped back in 2007……1 day before the speedy trial clock ran up
3 November 2009
at 12:27 p.m.

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was_freashpowder2 (Alexander Neighbors) says…

MichaelJ,
Here is some info so you can be up to speed with whats going on.

the link below is to the court docket for the original case
http://www.scribd.com/doc/20129565/Do…

the following is for the second case that was created after the first one was dropped.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/19835865/Do…

*Enjoy*
3 November 2009
at 12:32 p.m.

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smitty (Anonymous) says…

Another one bites the dust.

I wonder if any charges would have even been filed or if there would have even been a complaint if it were a local business, not a corporate one. Local is a scratch my back scratch your back situation that political connections control. Gee, who has those strong political connections and has used them? Something to think about since.

One more item from observation…..what's up with **Sulla, you're an ass** being allowed from mj of le while any other outside of le on this forum are disappeareded for the same language? Honest mistake, right?