By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
The former president of the St. Joseph area Fraternal Order of Police has been placed on probation for defrauding the organization.
Michael Hardin has been sentenced by a federal judge to five years of probation. He has been ordered to repay $15,000 to the FOP.
Earlier, his wife, Sarah Hardin, had also been sentenced to five years probation and ordered to make more than $88,000 in restitution.
The Hardins pleaded guilty in April to three counts of wire fraud, confessing to use FOP debit cards for personal expenses at gas stations, stores, hotels, and restaurants.
Michael Hardin, a former St. Joseph Police Officer, served as FOP Lodge #3 president for nearly 10 years. Sarah Hardin, who served on the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Department, was FOP treasurer.