Police officer pleads guilty to stealing Crime Stoppers money

by Cédric ‘BIG CED’ Thornton

October 18, 2024

Arica Hutchison was sentenced to six months in prison and two years of supervised release for fraudulent theft of $18,500.

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A police officer has pleaded guilty to fraudulently stealing nearly $20,000 in Crime Stoppers reward money.

According to WREGArica Hutchison, one of two officers assigned to the Crime Stoppers hotline to help sort out tips for investigators, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit robbery in a scheme receiving federal funds. She was recently sentenced to six months in prison and two years of supervised release.

The disgraced police officer was accused of manipulating the system to change data so that someone named “KB” could obtain an $18,500 reward from Crime Stoppers.

Records from August 2023 to February 2024 reveal that Hutchinson “used his position in law enforcement” to “enter fraudulent data” into the Crime Stoppers database. After that, she asked a person named “KB” to receive the rewards for tipping. The reward money details two incidents that occurred in late 2023, which resulted in reports for two separate crimes and were approved for Crime Stoppers reward money.

Before this reward was paid, Hutchison updated the information in the database.

On January 10, agents from the FBI’s Memphis field office conducted surveillance on the location where KB was to receive the payment. KB was seen going to the location to collect the reward for the two tips given.

State Police Board records show Hutchison was placed on leave in February. She resigned in April but was still under internal investigation. The law enforcement officer was charged in federal court on June 3. She pleaded guilty the same day to one count of conspiracy to commit theft in connection with a program receiving federal funds.

In addition to his prison sentence, Hutchison must also pay $22,000 in restitution while following a list of additional penalties. This includes mental health assessment and counseling, a financial literacy course, and drug and alcohol treatment.

Hutchison worked with the Memphis Police Department for 17 years before resigning.

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