Former Tama police chief sentenced to two months in federal prison for stealing police property

CEDAR RAPIDS - A federal judge on Monday sentenced a former Tama police chief to two months in prison and ordered him to pay a $5,000 fine and victim restitution of more than $1,600 for stealing and pawning police property - firearms and vehicles - and lying to an FBI agent during the investigation.

Jeffrey Filloon, 48, of Toledo, who resigned from the Tama department in August 2015, pleaded guilty in February in U.S. District Court to one count of making a false statement in May 2016 and one count of possessing, selling and disposing of a stolen firearm in August 2013. The other two remaining charges were dismissed during sentencing Monday as part of a plea agreement.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Morfitt asked the court to sentence Filloon to 12 months in prison - the top of the guideline sentencing range. He pointed to the aggravating factors of Filloon being in a position of public trust as a police chief and officer.

Filloon, shortly after being appointed as chief in 2013, stole a 12 gauge shotgun that was in evidence from an investigation and pawned it at a Marshalltown shop for $200, the plea agreement shows.

Morfitt said Filloon also in August of 2013 stole and pawned another firearm that was a service weapon of a retired officer. In 2014, he stole an antique gun from evidence and pawned it, and in 2015 he took three vehicles from impound and sold those for $650. Filloon told the salvage yard to make the checks out to him instead of the police department, saying he owned them, Morfitt noted.

Filloon then lied to an FBI agent during the investigation into the missing police property, Morfitt said.

Christopher Clausen, Filloon's lawyer, asked the court for probation, saying Filloon has shown remorse and has pleaded guilty and taken responsibility for his crime. Clausen said probation is punishment with 'significant restrictions on his freedom.”

Filloon, during the hearing, apologized to 'everybody” involved.

U.S. District Chief Judge Leonard Strand said he agreed with Morfitt regarding the aggravating factors that warranted a sentence of prison. Filloon was in a position of trust and he didn't just steal and pawn items once but continued to do so off and on beginning in 2013.

Strand pointed out Filloon didn't have any criminal history, except for a misdemeanor in 1994, so what is 'confusing and puzzling” to him is why Filloon committed these acts because the personal gains were for small dollar amounts and he didn't seem to have financial issues. But that hasn't been answered or explained, Strand added.

He sentenced Filloon to two months in prison on each of the two charges and ran the sentences concurrently. He must also serve two years of supervised release following his term behind bars.

Strand also ordered Filloon to pay $1,625 in restitution to victims, including the city of Tama, and a $5,000 fine.

Filloon was appointed police chief in May 2013 and had been an officer since 2004. He also was a Toledo police officer before his time in Tama.

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