New York residents are shocked by a confession from an ex-NYPD union boss, who claims to have stolen over $600,000 from the union. The ex-NYPD union boss, Ed Mullins, pleaded guilty in late January to stealing all that money to fund his own personal lavish lifestyle.

The 61-year-old was formerly the president of the NYPD sergeant’s union, which is one of the nation’s largest police unions. It represents about 13,000 active and retired sergeants. He was serving as head of the union as well as working alongside the New York Police Department up until October 2021.

At that time, he resigned as the head of the Sergeant’s Benevolent Association and retired from the NYPD. Both resignations came on the heels of an FBI investigation and a public FBI search on the suspect’s home and the union’s Manhattan office.

Now, Mullins has confessed to stealing the money during his criminal trial. He explained that the money came from falsely inflated expense reports filed between 2017 and October of 2021. He allegedly used that additional money to pay for meals and buy luxury items. He also admitted to charging the union for his own personal supermarket bills and restaurant tabs.

Theft Charges in New York: Degrees and Penalties

As a result of the plea deal Mullins agreed to, he will likely receive a lighter sentence than is typical in these situations. Theft charges in New York are often very substantial. There are various degrees of theft charges, and they increase in severity based on the value of the stolen property. Petit larceny, the least severe charge, is considered a misdemeanor. This charge usually involves stolen property worth under $1,000.

When the value of the stolen property exceeds $1,000, the person is usually charged with grand larceny. Grand larceny is always a felony offense, which carries life-long consequences.

In general, with stolen property amounting to $600,000, the individual would get charged with grand larceny in the second-degree. This charge is a felony, and a conviction could result in a sentence of up to 15 years in prison.

Have you recently been hit with a theft charge in New York? If so, then your best bet is to hire a quality defense attorney who can help you defend yourself against the accusations. With the help of a lawyer, you may be able to get your charges reduced, have the allegations dropped altogether, or secure a lighter sentence through a plea deal like Mullins.

If you’re ready to talk to a lawyer, then we invite you to schedule a consultation with our office now.