Police Officer Fakes Duty In Iraq To Get Paid Leave

[matcom]

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WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- A Delray Beach police officer surrendered to authorities on Thursday on charges he schemed the police department out of more than $8,000 by claiming he had been called to active duty in Iraq.

Vincent Balestrieri, 36, allegedly faked U.S. Navy documents that said he had been called back to active duty in January, a month after buying a home near the Lockheed Martin Information Technology Center in Tampa, where he had been working since Jan. 3. He continued receiving pay from the police department to make up the difference between his salary and his income as a U.S. Navy reservist.

Balestrieri was hired by the department in June 2005. The eight-month deception cost the city $8,769.87, authorities said.

Lockheed Martin spokesman Joe Wagovich said Balestrieri was hired as a civilian contractor. He said the company was cooperating in the investigation.

Balestrieri joined the Navy Reserve in 1998 and is an intelligence specialist attached to U.S. Central Command at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Navy spokeswoman Diane Perry said.

Perry said the Navy "will wait until the civilian process has taken its course" before taking any action against Balestrieri.

Balestrieri was held Thursday in the Palm Beach County jail on charges of felony organized scheme to defraud and grand theft.

His attorney, Stephen James Binhak, said his client will plead not guilty.

"He looks forward to addressing this situation in court," Binhak said.

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