Former Trooper Stole $70K In Drug Bust Money

In an embezzlement that lasted four years, South Dakota trooper Brian Biehl was found guilty of stealing nearly $70,000 in drug bust money that was taken as police evidence.

The former Highway Patrol trooper plead guilty to grand theft by law enforcement of the amount of $69,668. Biehl was only targeted as a suspect once authorities recalculated sums of money in evidence after search and seizures, according to KELO.

After an amount of $4,000 was found to be missing from an evidence case, Biehl confessed to his long-standing thievery.

Arrested and charged on Nov. 4, 2016, Biehl stated that his thefts had been, “Going on for quite some time.”

“I know I screwed up,” Biehl continued.

The former trooper reportedly stole funds in small amounts in the period from May 21, 2012 to Oct. 19, 2016, according to The Daily Republic.

Biehl confessed that he periodically stole cash from evidence bags, and that he would stow empty bags in his squad car.

The defendant stated that he stole the seized funds because he was “short on money.”

Biehl claimed his intentions were to pay back all the money he took, as well as saying that he never confiscated money for himself during traffic stops, nor did he sell the drugs he confiscated.

A trooper for 15 years before his arrest, Biehl is no longer employed as a trooper with the South Dakota Highway Patrol office.

During his tenure with the department, he worked as an officer with a K-9 unit, putting him into contact with many drug-related cases.

On top of his work in law enforcement, Biehl also served as school board president, though the impact of his embezzlement on his work in education is so far unknown, reports KELO.

The former trooper faces a prison sentence of up to 10 years, as well as a $20,000 fine.

Sources: KELO (2), The Daily Republic / Photo credit: Chris Potter/Flickr