Santa Barbara County Custody Sergeant Arrested for Fraud Following Investigation

on January 30, 2026

Santa Barbara, Calif. – Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office detectives arrested a Custody Sergeant following a criminal investigation that revealed significant timecard fraud.

On Thursday, January 29, 2026, detectives arrested 34-year-old Segun Ogunleye at his residence in Ventura on a felony warrant. Ogunleye faces criminal charges including embezzlement of public funds, forgery, and grand theft, along with a white-collar crime enhancement.

The investigation began in October 2025, after Sheriff’s Office staff identified irregularities in Ogunleye’s timecards spanning several months. As the investigation progressed, detectives determined that Ogunleye fraudulently coded more than $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 and served in a supervisory role. His responsibilities included reviewing and approving overtime usage, making the alleged violations particularly disturbing.

“This arrest is deeply troubling and disappointing,” said Bill Brown, Sheriff of Santa Barbara County. “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 the responsible use of taxpayer dollars. Conduct like this not only violates the law, it undermines the integrity of our organization and will not be tolerated.”

Investigators did not identify any additional suspects connected to this case, nor any evidence of similar fraudulent activity by any other employees. The investigation remains ongoing and there is a parallel administrative investigation underway.

Ogunleye was booked at the Ventura County Jail and is being held on $150,000 bail.