Embezzlement—DEA Agent

Gregory Campion, a DEA agent attached to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, “has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of embezzling money as a federal officer, embezzling public money and money laundering.”^[1] He is scheduled to be arraigned before US Magistrate Judge Alan J. Baverman today.^[2]

According to prosecutors, Mr. Campion “on seven occasions in 2004 and 2005 … allegedly stole cash from the secure storage vault maintained by the [Atlanta Airport] Task Force.”^[3] These funds had been seized in drug arrests and “were subject to forfeiture to the United States.”^[4] In addition to the alleged theft, Mr. Campion is accused of allegedly engaging “in two transactions in excess of $10,000 with the proceeds of these thefts, relating to the purchase of real estate in Orlando, Florida.”^[5]

Mr. Campion, if convicted, could face a fine, more than 10 years in prison, or both.

When Mr. Campion goes before Magistrate Judge Baverman today, the Judge will have to determine whether Mr. Campion can be released. During this detention hearing, there is a presumption in favor of pretrial release, but a determination must be made whether he poses a flight risk or whether he endangers the safety of another person or the community.^[6] The first step of the detention hearing is determining whether the individual should be released on a personal recognizance or unsecured bond.^[7] If he is released under those conditions, he must not commit a Federal, State, or local crime during the period of release.^[8] The Magistrate Judge may decide that the individual should be released under a combination of conditions, including the posting of bond.^[9] These conditions may include travel restrictions, maintaining employment, or home detention, among others.^[10] Finally, if the Magistrate Judge feels that neither the first nor the second method of release is appropriate, he may decide to have the individual detained. This hearing is conducted like a mini-trial; the individual can be represented by counsel, he has the opportunity to testify, to present witnesses, to cross-examine witnesses, and to present evidence by proffers or otherwise.^[11] The Rules of Evidence that apply to full-fledged federal trials, however, do not apply, so hearsay evidence can be presented.^[12] The pre-trial detention of an individual can be ordered only if no condition or combination of conditions will reasonably assure the safety of any other person and the community.^[13]

---

[1] Atlanta Federal Agent Charged With Embezzlement, Atlanta Bus. Chron., Mar. 7, 2006.
[2] US Attorney’s Office, DEA Special Agent Indicted for Embezzling Seized Drug Money, Mar. 6, 2006.
[3] Id.
[4] Id.
[5] Id.
[6] 18 U.S.C. § 3142(b).
[7] Id. § 3142(a)(1).
[8] Id. § 3142(b).
[9] Id. § 3142(c).
[10] Id.
[11] Id. § 3142(f).
[12] Id.
[13] Id.