US Magistrate Robert Mitchell announced moments ago that former Pittsburgh Police chief Nate Harper has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of conspiracy and tax evasion (4 counts). A warrant for Harper’s arrest was issued shortly after the indictment.
Nate Harper resigned last month amid a FBI and IRS investigation into misappropriation of funds from the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police’s special events department which handles special officer securty details at bars, events and more. Investigators accuse Harper of redirecting funds from the special events department into Police credit union accounts. Using the funds for lush condos for VIP’s during Pittsburgh’s G20 Summit, a party for an officer’s promotion, nights out on the town including visits to Silky’s gentlemen’s club in Mckee’s rocks as well as multiple other unexplained expenses.
Mayor Luke Ravenstahl’s body guards were also given debit cards from these credit union accounts. Harper is also accused of giving preferential treatment to friends when it comes to police contracts for new equipment in the police cruisers. The FBI and IRS will hold a press conference at 1 pm to discuss the charges.
In a press conference investigators told media that Harper failed to file taxes from 2008-2001, and used public funds to furnish his home, install a xm satellite radio for his car, and withdrew over $30,000 from the credit union for personal use. “These allegations represent the worst kind of corruption, these monies belong to the tax payers and were taken by theft.” said US Attorney Hickton. Harper has also made over $400,000 between 2008 and 2011. Mobile Broadcast News will bring you more on this story as it progresses.
