SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. — Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office detectives have arrested Custody Sergeant Segun Ogunleye following an investigation that revealed significant timecard fraud.
Ogunleye, 34, was taken into custody at his Ventura residence on Thursday, January 29, 2026, on a felony warrant. He faces criminal charges including embezzlement of public funds, forgery, grand theft, and a white-collar crime enhancement.
The investigation began in October 2025 after irregularities were discovered in Ogunleye’s timecards. Detectives determined he fraudulently coded over $175,000 in earnings dating back to 2023 for shifts he did not work.
At the time of the alleged misconduct, Ogunleye was a Custody Sergeant in a supervisory role, responsible for reviewing and approving overtime—a position that made the alleged violations particularly concerning.
“This arrest is deeply troubling and disappointing,” said Sheriff Bill Brown. “The theft of public funds is a serious violation of the trust our community places in its peace officers. As a supervisor, this individual was entrusted with ensuring accountability and overseeing taxpayer dollars. Conduct like this not only violates the law, it undermines the integrity of our organization and will not be tolerated.”
Investigators said there are no additional suspects connected to the case and no evidence of similar fraud by other employees. A parallel administrative investigation is ongoing.
Ogunleye was booked into Ventura County Jail and is being held on $150,000 bail.
