Shawn Terel Barber should have known that the law would win. After all, he was once on the side he recently tried fighting.
The 44-year-old former Broward County, Fla. Sheriff's Office deputy was convicted of grand theft and filing a fraudulent insurance claim on Dec. 14.
Trial evidence revealed that Barber had planned to attend a Def Leppard concert at the Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood on March 29, 2008. Those plans were canceled, however, for lack of a baby sitter at his Palm Beach County home.
The tickets, a birthday gift from his wife, Wendy, cost $626.05, plus $24 for event ticket insurance. To compensate for the lost venture, Barber used his position as a police officer to obtain accident report forms, through the Sheriff's Office, to support a fake insurance claim. According to court records, the falsified report was used to claim exactly $626.05 for an auto accident that never occurred.
The insurance check was made out to Barber's friend, Sharyn Iaboni, who later confessed to her role in the fraud scheme.
The conviction comes after a lengthy, recognized law enforcement career. In 1994, Barber was selected as Officer of the Year for his work with the Oakland Park Police Department, according to television station NBC 6 Miami. Earlier that same year he was Officer of the Month for the courage and discretion he displayed in apprehending an armed felon during a carjacking.
Barber now faces up to 10 years in prison when sentenced Jan. 27.
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