Boston police sergeant sentenced in overtime fraud scheme

A former Boston Police Sergeant was sentenced for overtime fraud on July 18, the District Attorney (DA) said in a statement published Tuesday. The judge sentenced George Finch to three years probation, six months home detention, and $11,310 in restitution. 

In 2021, Finch pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit theft concerning programs receiving federal funds and one count of aiding and abetting embezzlement of federal funds. The maximum sentence for these counts is up to 10 years in prison.

The DA says Finch submitted fraudulent overtime slips for shifts when he did not work at the BPD evidence warehouse. Between March 2015 and December 2016, Finch collected $16,151 for overtime hours he did not work.

“To date, over a dozen Boston Police officers have been charged in connection with committing overtime fraud at the Boston Police Department’s evidence warehouse,” the DA’s office said. “Finch is the fifth officer to be sentenced.”

Lawyers for Finch did not immediately respond to a request for comment.