Former Durant cop arrested accused of embezzling thousands

DURANT, Okla. (KXII) - Former Lieutenant Billy Joe Jones is accused of embezzling money over a four-year period while he was employed by the Durant Police Department before he retired last year.

News 12 spoke with the special prosecutor, Assistant District Attorney Doug Elliot assigned to this case who shares how they believe Jones possibly spent that money.

“We do not know where the money is at this time,” Elliott said.

Oklahoma court documents show Jones, 47 is accused of embezzling about  $67,000 from monies seized while he was a narcotics officer with the Durant Police Department; funds he was entrusted to transfer to the Bryan County treasurer.

“It was taken out of the evidence log and taken to the Bryan County treasurer and it never got deposited with the treasurer,” Elliott said.

Jones is also accused of embezzling over $37,000 from the local Fraternal Order of Police with court docs showing he was taking the money via ATM withdrawals.

“There’s really no reason to use an ATM for that position, it’s done by check so that you have a record for what it’s used for,” Elliott added.

Durant Police say the “financial discrepancies” occurred when Jones served as secretary/treasurer for the FOP.

Police said they only discovered these “financial discrepancies” in May of 2022, four years after the initial alleged embezzlements started.

Jones retired from the police department three months prior to the investigation.

Prosecutors believe Jones spent tens of thousand here at the Choctaw Casino that he embezzled from both the police union and police evidence.

Jones was arrested Monday for two counts of embezzlement.

He was booked into the Bryan County Jail for thirty minutes according to a Bryan County jailer, before posting a $10,000 bond.

If convicted Jones faces up to eight years in prison and a $10,000 fine on each count, as well as restitution of the over $104,000 he allegedly stole.

Durant Police said this investigation is ongoing.

Prosecutors however cannot rule out if Jones acted alone.

He will appear in court for his preliminary hearing on May 15.

This is a developing story. Watch News 12 and check back for updates.

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