A 10-year veteran of the Philadelphia Police Department found himself on the wrong side of the law after allegedly stealing credit and debit cards from prisoners under his care.
Officer Charles Jacoby III could face 20 years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine if he is found guilty of wire fraud.
Jacoby was assigned as a patrol officer and cell block attendant for the 22nd District in North Philly. Part of his duties including looking after incarcerated people’s personal belongings.
Jacoby, 30, targeted “individuals who, in his opinion, had acted rowdy or disruptive,” according to court papers filed in federal court.
He allegedly stole cards from January 2011 to April 5 of this year. He took the stolen cards, drove to a local Wawa store and used the stolen cards to purchase gas for his car and things for himself, according to court papers.
After the purchases Jacoby destroyed the cards, according to authorities.
The department’s Internal Affair’s Bureau were handling the case but it was handed over to the FBI and is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because on April 5 Jacoby allegedly committed interstate fraud when he charged about $67 at a point of sale machine located inside the Wawa that was hooked up to a computer on Minnesota-based National Bankcard Services, Inc.
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Jacoby is no longer with the police department, police said.
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