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Former Aurora officer, alleged polygamist sentenced for stealing $65K from charities

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AURORA, Colo. — A former Aurora officer, allegedly married to two women at the same time, was sentenced Monday for stealing from two charities for which he served as treasurer.

An Arapahoe County Judge Monday gave Roland Albert a suspended prison sentence with 18 months in jail on work release.

Albert stole a combined $65,000 over a period of 15 months from the two charities — the Aurora Police Orphan Fund and the Brotherhood for the Fallen in Aurora.

Both funds help families of officers who died. The Brotherhood for the Fallen provides money for officers to attend funeral services and supports families of police officers who are killed in the line of duty.

Albert was the subject of a Denver7 investigation in 2018 after records showed Albert was allegedly married to two women at the same time, which is illegal in Colorado.

Albert resigned from the police force on Dec. 14, 2018. Aurora Police internal affairs officers were investigating Albert for the polygamy allegations when they discovered an issue with one charity and contacted the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff’s investigators found money missing from that charity beginning in December 2017. Knowing Albert was also treasurer of another charity, they looked there, as well. More money was found to be missing since May 2017 and a warrant was obtained for Albert’s arrest on Feb. 28, 2019.

Courts records say 95 percent of Aurora Police Department employees donate money to the Aurora Police Orphan Fund, often with automatic paycheck withdrawals.