Former Cumming, Georgia, Police Officer Nathan VanBuren has been arraigned after being charged with wire fraud and computer fraud.
According to U.S. Attorney Horn, the charges, and other information presented in court: In July 2015, VanBuren, in his official capacity as a police officer, responded to a 911 call at a citizen’s home in Cumming, Georgia. The citizen was arrested. In July and August 2015, VanBuren and the citizen had additional communications. During those communications, VanBuren allegedly asked the citizen for a loan because his wages were being garnished and he had incurred financial debt due to his son’s medical and surgical expenses. In reality, VanBuren’s salary was not being garnished and his son was not ill. The citizen reported VanBuren’s actions and agreed to cooperate with law enforcement.
While cooperating with law enforcement, the citizen provided VanBuren $5,000 in response to VanBuren’s repeated requests for money. During that meeting, the citizen asked whether VanBuren would search a sensitive police database to determine whether an individual was an undercover police officer. In exchange for $1,000, VanBuren unlawfully accessed the law enforcement database and provided the results of that search to the citizen. VanBuren resigned before he was terminated by the Cumming Police Department.
Nathan VanBuren, 34, of Cumming, Georgia, was arraigned before United States Magistrate Judge Janet F. King. He was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 29, 2016.
Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Cumming Police Department and Forsyth County, Georgia, Sheriff’s Office assisted with the investigation.
Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey Brown is prosecuting the case.
SOURCE: U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Georgia