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Harry Kelley Indicted on Federal Weapons & Conspiracy Charges BEAUMONT, August 5, 2010 - This afternoon the John M. Bales, United States Attorney held a press conference to announce the indictment by a Federal Grand Jury of Liberty County Sheriff’s Department Captain, Harry Kelly. |
Bales told those present that at the same time of the press conference Harry Kelly was appearing before a Federal Magistrate in Beaumont to be advised of his rights and to make arrangements for counsel.
Harry Leroy Kelley was indicted on August 4, 2010, and charged with 103 counts of possession of a stolen firearm, two counts of possession of a firearm without a serial number, one count of possession of stolen ammunition and one count do conspiracy to commit mail fraud.
According to information presented in court, from 1992 to 2009, Kelley served almost exclusively as a police officer for the Cleveland Police Department. During that time, Kelley had control over the evidence room and was responsible for the destruction of certain items, including firearms in accordance with state law. It is alleged that Kelley drafted disposal orders for firearms that he removed from the evidence room and reported their destruction when, in fact, he did not have the firearms destroyed.
According to US Attorney Bales, Kelly is alleged to have bartered and exchanged the weapons for his own personal gain and to obtain other firearms used in his business as a gun dealer.
According to Bales, the value of approximately 100 weapons mentioned in the indictment is not known, however, it is in the value of tens of thousands of dollars.
During the time Harry Kelley is alleged to have been engaged in criminal activity at Cleveland PD, now Sheriff Henry Patterson was his direct supervisor.
The man that Kelley alleged to have traded the guns to was the owner of a Gun Shop and Shooting Range, Gary Lee and he was also a Reserve Deputy Sheriff with the Liberty County Sheriff’s Department under the direction of Sheriff Henry Patterson.
Bales stated that Kelley’s actions were a violation of a sacred public trust and amounted to little more than public corruption, which his office investigates.
Steve Green with LCSO said today, "As a result of the indictment of Captain Harry Kelley by a federal grand jury in Beaumont, Texas, he will be placed on Administrative Leave without pay by the Liberty County Sheriff's Office."
Let’s listen in to what US Attorney John Bales said today…
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