I-Team: Gwinnett Sheriff Assigns Himself $70,000 Performance Car Bought With Seized Drug Money

By: Randy Travis
Aired: Jun 25 2018
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. - Talk about a sweet ride. The Gwinnett County sheriff just bought a $70,000 performance car that will be used primarily to get him back and forth to the office.
Would you call that extravagant?
The money comes from funds seized in federal drug cases. According to the U.S. Justice Department, last year across the country law enforcement seized $1.6 billion in money and property from suspected drug dealers. Police are allowed to spend that money on things that legitimately protect the public. And the Gwinnett County Sheriff's department insists a 2018 Dodge Charger Hellcat does exactly that.
It's certainly built for power and speed: 707 horse power, 6.2 liter supercharged V-8 engine. Top speed -- should you choose to risk it -- 200 miles per hour.
"We're really excited that we have this vehicle that's going to be a great attraction for the audience we're trying to reach," insisted Shannon Volkodav, spokesperson for the sheriff who chose not to comment on his new car.
The Gwinnett County Sheriff's Department says the car has a dual purpose: get the boss back and forth to work, and serve as a draw for a local charity -- the Beat the Heat program -- where young people are warned about the dangers of distracted driving and drag racing. Drivers get a chance to race officers in a "safe, controlled environment."
"So how is the sheriff going to use this car?" I asked. "Is he going to race kids in it?"
"Well, there are times that the Beat the Heat team is on the race track and this car of course is going to be great for that," replied Volkodav.
The Hellcat costs $69,280. That money came from federal drug forfeitures. Gwinnett taxpayers covered the $3300 to add hidden lights and sirens.
The Justice Department would not comment specifically on whether the Hellcat was an allowed purchase. In broad terms, federal drug money cannot be used to buy anything that's "extravagant." So the question -- does a $70,000 high performance car fit that definition?
"I hesitate to use the word extravagant," responded Volkodav. "We feel like we're going to be able to use this vehicle to help save lives."
However, no one suggested that purpose when the sheriff's department sent a memo to Gwinnett County explaining why it needed the car. In a February, 2018 memo from Sheriff Conway to Gwinnett County Administrator Glenn Stephens, there was no mention of the car being assigned to him... or any planned use for the Beat the Heat program... or even that it was the more expensive Hellcat. The sheriff only said it would be a Dodge Charger used in "undercover/covert operations."
It's unclear how such a vehicle could be used to publicly promote driver safety, while at the same time be helpful for undercover investigations.
"Is there any concern in the department that it doesn't look good?" I asked the sheriff's spokesperson.
"I think anyone who knows sheriff Conway understands that he's very fiscally responsible," Volkodav answered.
Over the years the sheriff has returned tax dollars to the general fund that his department did not need. He has driven Dodge Chargers in the past as his assigned vehicle, but never one as pricey -- or as powerful -- as the Hellcat.
FULL STORY: www.fox5atlanta...

[@bigcountry5977]

Policing for Profit.

[@tomyboyle5302]

It's great when Police Departments bend the laws to suit themselves.

[@kiabass8798]

I know right

[@bwtv147]

Civil forfeiture of “suspected” drug money is a prime example of taking property without due process I.e. unconstitutionally.

[@Audiogeek-kf2ez]

Again in Georiga,corruption at it's worst. The 70 k should be used for training of all the officers that that are involved in questionable arrests , and use of excessive force.

[@banesbox]

1.6 billion dollars seized from SUSPECTED drug dealers. Yeah, all a cop has to say is he suspects you of dealing drugs & take everything you own even if you don't have anything to do with drugs.

[@champwithcheesewilson8300]

Sounds like he living out his dreams 😂😂

[@weltonvillegal6258]

Should hold the money in trust for the lawsuits they have to pay out. The City Manager has to be on the take or brain dead. Amazing what people will pull out of their asses to justify idiotic/corrupt/questionable decisions.

[@democratshateamerica8196]

It’s okay when the cops break the laws for themselves. Right?

[@mv3240]

What a waste. That lady has the same mentality I've seen before from government people who love to spend money that's not their own.

[@jevonwilliams4579]

Who cares,they are the law they suppose to treat them self with confiscated drug money...

[@kellylestig4941]

Of course that female cop doing the interview is going to agree with the sheriff of buying it because it’s her boss she doesn’t wanna lose her job

[@rickuyeda4818]

I was working Malibu when the DEA caught 4 Columbia Nationals at the Safeway at Cross Creek and PCH. The Columbians had $4M in cash. In exchange for keep the money, the DEA just deported them. Happens all the time.

[@patientmental875]

Love how the sheriffs spin it into that they are going to use it for charity & undercover ops instead of just saying the sheriff is a crook & stole the money for his personal dream car! Gwinnett is one of the most blatant corrupt places ive ever seen! Very stupid, bold & immature purchase! Hes flashing it around too without a care in the world! Hope the attention it receives lands him in prison where he belongs! And police wonder why snipers are camping their stations!

[@DUDEfreestyle]

Corruption at it's finest 👌

[@fabjonjon]

could have bought four late 2000s used squad cars with 50k miles or so on each and outfitted them for that price

[@rickuyeda4818]

Beverly Hills PD would roll over their cars at 30K miles. Mexico would buy them. The Sheriff's Dept, on the other hand, keeps their cars for well over 100K miles.

[@MikeJones-jm5cs]

This department is off the chain!

[@ENOREL]

He lied, never had intention to use it for anything covert. He brought him self a toy, with federal funds and well crafted wording.

[@bbigrocker1]

And there you have it, cops covering for cops doing underhanded shyt. He's "fiscally" responsible, but blows $70K on a car for what?

[@FreedomExpress11]

The sheriff is not as corrupt as his wife, judge Carla Brown!

[@sheepdog1102]

70 thousand in constitutional law training would be money well spent. The car totally unnecessary!

[@lawrencearnemann3923]

Just curious. What does the average cruiser cost? Lights, "pursuit package "ect?

[@pjoka2644]

In Kentucky, all money, property, etc...seized in drug busts HAS to be used for drug prevention, not for "toys" for the department. This car is NOT going to save lives, how can it???? That is about the dumbest thing I have heard out of anyone's mouth in a long time.

[@michaelmedrano1559]

Wow talk about slapping people on the face. The Sheriff thinks people are dumb and will do what ever he wants.

[@rickuyeda4818]

That's nothing. Sheriff Baca bought a new plane for $2M without approval from the County.

[@asgdfjkglh5414]

yep, we just saw how financially responsible sheriff Conway was....thx, dont want to know him better.

[@lisagrafton2529]

Put someone in power, to see what their true nature is like!

[@givemethedaily1052]

I think you need to verify its only from "Suspected Drug" dealers. Review their civil forfeiture procedures?

[@kellylestig4941]

He use drug money that was confiscated by his department to buy himself a gift that’s really fucked up, and criminal

[@sandman915]

He just looks like old man going through a mid life crisis.

[@Dj.MODÆO]

I’ve never heard of an active sheriff being involved in high speed chases….he did not need this car.

[@jevonwilliams4579]

Stop being jealous

[@kenyattawolf6452]

That sounds extravagant to me😒 Im sure we can find something better to spend our tax money on..smdh

[@drussell710]

Our tax money did not pay for the car. Our tax dollars pay for every light and siren package for every police car and drug money for pictures usually always pay for the vehicles themselves so there's nothing different in this situation aside from the fact that it's a little bit more expensive. So you're shaking your damn head because they're using your tax dollars to pay for lights and sirens that cost exactly the same as putting lights and sirens in any other police car? Smdh

[@mistresskeke]

It's not tax money, it's cash & property taken at gunpoint under threat of lethal force & possible kidnapping (arrest) from alot of innocent people that were not charged or convicted of a crime, who got caught driving thru their county with the belief that they were still in the U.S.A. & that the 4th would apply.

[@rickuyeda4818]

@@mistresskeke - So I take it, you're for drug dealing?

[@mistresskeke]

Pharmacists are drug dealers, technically. The police are abusing their power when they steal money & property from innocent people they never charge or convict of any crime. To call the stolen funds "drug money" is laughable.

[@charliefromstarkvillemissi1852]

“Sheriff Steals Car” is your title. Really, there isn’t a single sheriff in America that isn’t a sociopathic criminal. It is an obsolete job.

[@rickdavid6758]

I know of law enforcement agencies that are still driving 8 year old crown vics because they have no money to replace them. So blow 70k on this charger and do smoke shows and take it to the drag strip....yup makes a lot of sense.

[@sogron007]

I only problem is the office should have got a Ferrari' which is absolutely necessary for real police work.

[@66THEOSU]

Hazzard County and Boss Hogg with zero accountability...zero.

[@gino007able]

like most people he is frugal except when he wants a new toy.

[@zr71offroad20]

They were ordered to return the money $69,000 they wasted, their response. "We have not responded to that letter, we are exploring all are options."

[@heatherbaker8596]

This is ridiculous. How is that even justifiable

[@yourmaid8385]

That 1.6 billion is in civil forfeiture. A big portion of which is people never charged with a crime.

[@pumpvrose3096]

People won’t understand unless they are car enthusiasts,plus with the millions of dollars in drug money they get this is like dropping a penny so it really doesn’t matter

[@PurpleHeartVR]

Orrrrr maybe, it's used as a pursuit vehicle to not let that guy that is shooting at police and murdered 3 people get away...

[@lisagrafton2529]

How about using $70,000, to train officer on the public's constitutional rights.

[@jevonwilliams4579]

U jealous,stop being jealous😂😂😂

[@bikebuilder8567]

To the news channel did they buy this car with drug money? Or did they forfeiture the money from drug dealers and then buy the car or did they get the car from a drug dealer? And I'm not cool with them spending $3,300 on horseshit flashing lights and what not

[@ThatGuy-mu2rr]

😂😂😂😂😂😂 corruption taken to a different level.

[@zerocool1ist]

HMMM, looks like crime does pay.

[@dennislaw2135]

So to discourage kids from dragracing you take them dragracing? This is a total misappropriation of intended forfeiture funds.

[@danhotea6302]

we investigate ourselves and we didin t do anything wrong

[@jonschmidt1545]

Just another corrupt cop.

[@markusshelby3436]

I don't think they should be allowed to use the money anyways policing for profit I think the money should go to homeless veterans

[@paulwilliams73]

your going to have da chief's "daily drive" AND also used in such "events" that could be taken out of commission (a fan belt snaps) what is da chief going to do then

[@phillipgrier4150]

Absolute waste of stolen money!

[@Maybe1Someday]

In Atlanta you'd thunk the police would drive hummers an lambbos...

[@idontlikecops1]

You've abvioisly never been to atl

[@MikeJones-jm5cs]

It's bad enough 250,000$ in overtime to one of them.Get away with whatever.Its all a joke all the way to the top.

[@shaunmaurice19]

So if it wasn't for drug dealers he wouldn't have the car.🤔

[@adamelam6385]

Road pirates.

[@vandal1182]

it's only double the price of a standard patrol car.. big deal..

[@michaelmedrano1559]

It's actually 5 times the price. With the money spent they can get 5 new basic cars hahahaha

[@Haywood2]

I could send people to medical school without the college loan thing with 70k.

[@ameirenterprises2669]

Another cop crook.

[@georgefreeman867]

Shouldn't him use this money to give a better training to his cops?

[@tonydavis9185]

Suspected ???

[@johnjones1722]

is this a joke

[@stewart2238]

Or re route that money to the communities

[@rileyb4888]

I can’t believe this happend

[@duaneacarterii]

Wow that's crazy

[@tommysolis5060]

No different in Barrow county

[@michaelbarrow574]

WOW I MISS GWINETT COUNTY😉

[@FreedomExpress11]

We Protect and Profit! I say let his wife, Judge Carla Brown, rule if he should keep the car or not!

[@zackgovoski6830]

Lol for the beat the heat event, well dumb idea there… That’s the worst pick for that race, because it’s a dig race, meaning for a stand still, even with slicks it’s gonna make them look like dipsh*ts. When some kid in a evo or rs3 gaps that dodge

[@saintann5684]

well, he did get a good price. I think they are limited so he got one a citizen would have wanted but would have to pay a mark-up to a dealer. also it's not drug money, It's county money once seized.

[@mistresskeke]

Seized? More like stolen from lots of innocent people never charged or convicted of the "suspected" crime that police claim would warrant seizure of their property.

[@saintann5684]

yea seized is a corrupt government term for steal so they can charge people for something while committing the same offense

[@mistresskeke]

@@saintann5684 oh, they don't bother charging folks anymore. That'd require officers to conduct lawful searches so that property seized as evidence was admissible in court. They'd have to write up detailed, factual reports & testify under penalty of purjury as to the validity of their accusations. No, charging folks with crimes eats up valuable cash-grabbing time. Locking dealers up means less folks on the street with large sums of cash to seize (steal). That's no way to fight crime!

[@jeffstarnes3940]

It all sounds really sketchy to me,also stinks like rooting fish!!!

[@danielb3863]

70k on a Dodge? A Dodge? Wtf?

[@shanithan9573]

Daniel B a legendary dodge. Brands domt mean everything

[@danielb3863]

Vinisky I think most sane ppl would take an M3, Tesla or a Lexus RC. 70k for a hillbilly brand with ATROCIOUS resale is not for those with intellectual honesty and class in life.

[@shanithan9573]

Daniel B most people who get these caars domt care about resale

[@shanithan9573]

Again brands arent everything

[@rileyb4888]

This is a attraction. This is terrible

[@danielhill5377]

They got lost drugs money cops get them off roads okay

[@campkira]

Ha?

[@hansnews5270]

You could a car for just 20 k

[@DRACOFURY]

😅

[@FeatherFoot_VRC]

I think that Officers Deserve Cars with that much power and AWD and a bigger fuel tank. Those Hellcats Drink a ton of fuel with that Supercharged V8. Put like a 36 gallon tank it them. And make some marked units and unmarked units.

[@conflectiz]

So you’re running out of interesting stories?

[@serjeym]

Fox 5 stop with this bs, by ur standards everyone should ride a horse and buggy

[@Milo-1975]

As long as its not a red eye.

[@12345678971926]

Good buy

[@paulwatson4822]

The sheriff is a scammer