Harrisburg’s Top Vice Cop Strikes Deal to Plead Guilty to Stealing $22K

Cpl. Sean Cornick, former head of the Harrisburg Police vice unit, has struck a deal with federal prosecutors to plead guilty to stealing money from evidence lockers.

Prison time appears to be in the future for the former supervisor of the Harrisburg Police vice unit under a plea deal he just struck with federal prosecutors.

Cpl. Sean D. Cornick, 45, was charged in October with stealing more than $20,000 from the police.

The deal he reached with prosecutors this week calls for him to plead guilty to two federal charges that carry combined penalties of up to 11 years in prison and fines of up to $350,000.

The agreement doesn’t include a sentencing guarantee. It does, however, note that, given Cornick’s background, lack of a criminal record, amount of money stolen and other factors, the sentencing guidelines for his case call for a penalty of from 6 months to a year behind bars.

The deal won’t be final unless it is accepted by U.S. Middle District Judge John E. Jones III.

Cornick’s attorney, John Abom, declined comment Friday morning.

In updated charging documents filed this week, prosecutors accuse Cornick, a 19-year veteran of the city force, of stealing a total of $22,346.

Most of that involved money stolen from the police between October 2015 and October 2016, charging papers state. Another $300 came from the FBI, which filmed Cornick stealing the cash in October 2016.

The FBI became involved after city police conducted an internal affairs probe when the money was found to be missing. Police Chief Thomas Carter has said the feds and state police were called in to ensure the independence of the investigation.

Cornick has agreed to repay all of the stolen money, according to his plea agreement.

Source: http://www.pennlive.com/news/2017/09/harrisburgs_top_vice_cop_strik.html#incart_river_home_pop