Three plead guilty in Sheriff’s Office fraud

Three men charged in an alleged scheme to defraud the Philadelphia Sheriff’s Office pleaded guilty today to wire fraud.

Robert Rogers, 44, Jackiem Wright, 29, and Reginald Berry, 29, all of Philadelphia, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Legrome Davis. Authorities claim co-defendant Richard Bell, a former employee in the Sheriff’s Office, wrote fraudulent checks to several individuals and companies and forwarded them for deposit. Bell admitted to cashing $400,000 in checks made out to him, while Wright and Berry deposited and tried to withdraw $147,000 in checks made out to one company. All four allegedly shared the proceeds.

Rogers is scheduled for sentencing on April 9, while Wright and Berry are set for April 16. Bell, who is also charged with filing a false income tax return, has yet to go to trial.

Authorities also say Bell helped an unnamed individual purchase property from the Sheriff’s Office for only 10 percent of the sale price. He allegedly received a fee from the buyer.