$100K Bail for Sheriff’s Dept. Sergeant Busted for Falsifying Overtime
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY – August 6, 2026 – A months-long investigation into overtime records at the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s
Office has led to the arrest of a second custody sergeant accused of falsifying timecards
to collect pay for hours he allegedly never worked.
According to Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department Public Information Officer
Raquel Zick, Jeffrey Koeller, 39, of Santa Maria “fraudulently claimed more than
$93,000 in compensation” while serving as a custody sergeant at the Santa Barbara
County Northern Branch Jail.
The investigation grew out of the Sheriff Office’s broader review of overtime practices
following the January 2026 arrest of former Custody Sgt. Segun Ogunleye, who is
accused of "fraudulently collecting more than $175,000 through falsified timecards." In
response, the agency launched an extensive audit of 688 timecards containing overtime
entries.
”Following that arrest, the Sheriff’s Office conducted an extensive review of 688
timecards containing overtime entries,”, Zick said.
Detectives discovered evidence that
Koeller had fraudulently claimed and received more than $93,000 for time he did not
work while assigned to the Northern Branch Jail.
Koeller surrendered to detectives on August 6 at the Sheriff’s Office”s Santa Maria
substation after an arrest warrant was issued. Because of his employment at the
Northern Branch Jail, he was transported to the San Luis Obispo County Jail for
booking rather than being housed locally.
Koeller is charged with embezzlement by a public officer, grand theft and forgery, with
his bail set at $100,000.
– by F. Scott Faulkner
