Columbus Man Guilty In Federal Surplus Property Case

A former Columbus police officer has pleaded guilty to misappropriating and selling surplus property the police department received through a U.S. Department of Defense surplus equipment program. The office of the U.S. Attorney in Columbus says an investigation by Columbus police, the FBI and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service found property worth $252,000 had been diverted from a defense department program. Defendant Steven Dean pleaded guilty Wednesday in federal court in Columbus to one count of embezzlement from a program receiving federal funds and one count of theft of public property. The property included construction equipment and vehicles, restaurant equipment and diesel generators. Judge Michael Watson did not set a sentencing date for the 49-year-old Dean. A message was left with Dean's lawyer.