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Tallahassee police officer and firefighter charged with fraud

Jennifer Amison
Jennifer Amison
Posted at 4:31 PM, Sep 06, 2017
and last updated 2017-09-07 01:14:14-04

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - Warrants have been issued for a Tallahassee Police officer and a Tallahassee firefighter after an investigation revealed they hosted a fundraiser for first responders' families and used the donations for their own personal use. 

The Tallahassee Police Department (TPD) and Tallahassee Fire Department (TFD) said they were notified that warrants have been issued for Jennifer Amison with TPD and Joseph “Mike” Amison with TFD.

The two are facing the following charges:

  • Organized scheme to defraud
  • Failure to apply contributions in a manner substantially consistent with solicitation
  • Two counts of grand theft $10,000-$20,000

According to a complaint, the Amisons are accused of having a fundraiser in 2016.

The fundraiser was held following the passing of Tallahassee firefighter Chris Thurman, Tallahassee firefighter Captain Brad Deanda, and Shelby Allen, who is the late daughter of a Tallahassee firefighter. The fundraiser was intended to benefit the families of those who passed. 

The complaint alleges that after the fundraiser was held, the Amisons did not give the money to the families, instead spending the money on personal things.

The complaint says that the Amisons kept nearly $12,000 from the families.

The documents say that the Amisons claimed to be having "health problems" as an excuse for not giving the families the money, though health records show otherwise.

An investigation revealed that the Amisons also demonstrated an "ongoing pattern of conduct by taking advantage of the tragedies of other first reponders by selling items under the guise of benefiting the families." 

Due to interviews with victims and further investigation, warrants were issued for the Amisons' arrest. 

Both employees have been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of departmental investigations. 

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