Christopher Hayes had a variety of ways to enrich himself illegally. But they all led to a conviction. On May 1, Hayes, former president of Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 8, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island to wire fraud in connection with his theft of $71,523 in funds from the Newport union. The former Newport police sergeant had been charged in March following a joint probe by the U.S. Labor Department and the Rhode Island State Police. Prosecutors had alleged that Hayes during August 2009-December 2014 had diverted funds to his own use with his union debit card and checking account, and with cash withdrawals and online credit card payments. Sentencing is set for July 21.
