Between 2019 and 2025, more than 45 major corruption cases have been reported across the United States and the United Kingdom, implicating government officials, elected representatives, and public administrators in offences such as bribery, fraud, embezzlement, money laundering, misappropriation of public funds, and abuse of authority.

Despite the recurring nature and scale of these scandals, no significant public unrest or political upheaval has followed in either country.

This report takes a look at the 45 key corruption cases that have emerged in the U.S. and U.K. over the past six years, offering an overview of patterns, legal outcomes, and the broader public response.

#1 Former Missouri Speaker’s Fraud (2025)

John Diehl, the former Missouri House Speaker, pleaded guilty to wire fraud on 11 September 2025. He was convicted for defrauding federal pandemic relief funds, diverting $379,000 for his personal use. This case highlighted the vulnerability of emergency funds allocated during the COVID-19 crisis to exploitation by trusted public officials. His guilty plea marked a significant fall from grace for a high-ranking state politician, underscoring how individuals in powerful positions manipulated programs designed to aid the public during a national emergency for their own enrichment.

#2 Bribery in Orange County (2025)

Andrew Hoang Do, a former Orange County Board of Supervisors member, was sentenced to five years in federal prison on 9 June 2025. He pleaded guilty to accepting over $550,000 in bribes in exchange for directing more than $10 million in COVID-19 relief funds to specific entities. The court also ordered full restitution and the forfeiture of assets, including a property. This case exposed a pay-to-play scheme at the heart of local government, where critical relief money was allegedly traded for personal financial gain during a time of public crisis.

#3 Congressman’s Multitude of Crimes (2025)

Former U.S. Representative George Santos was sentenced to 87 months (over 7 years) in prison on 25 April 2025. He was convicted on charges of wire fraud, money laundering, and theft of public funds. The court ordered him to pay $373,749.97 in restitution and to forfeit $205,002.97. Santos’s case became a national spectacle, detailing a pattern of deception and financial crimes committed both during and before his brief tenure in Congress, revealing significant flaws in candidate vetting and campaign finance oversight.

#4 Illinois Powerbroker Convicted (2025)

Michael Madigan, the former long-serving Illinois House Speaker, was found guilty on 12 February 2025, on multiple federal charges including bribery, wire fraud, and Travel Act violations. The charges stemmed from a years-long scheme involving the utility company ComEd, where Madigan used his powerful position to orchestrate bribes and favors. His conviction was seen as a landmark moment in Illinois’ long history of political corruption, demonstrating the pervasive nature of pay-to-play politics at the highest levels of state government.

#5 Senator’s Gold Bar Bribes (2025)

U.S. Senator Robert “Bob” Menendez was sentenced to 11 years in prison on 29 January 2025, after being convicted of bribery and honest-services fraud. The sensational trial revealed the senator had accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash, along with gold bars, in exchange for wielding his political influence. The sentence, which also included fines and forfeitures, represented one of the most severe penalties for a federal official in recent memory, highlighting a brazen abuse of power for personal enrichment.

#6 Chicago Alderman’s Racketeering (2024)

Edward “Ed” M. Burke, a former powerful Chicago Alderman, was sentenced to two years in prison and fined $2 million on 24 June 2024. He was convicted on charges of racketeering, bribery, and solicitation of business, using his official position to extort benefits from businesses seeking city approvals. The case was a classic example of Chicago’s entrenched corruption culture, where an alderman treated his office as a criminal enterprise, leveraging city hall influence for personal financial gain over many years.

#7 Houston City Liaison’s Bribe (2024)

William-Paul Thomas, a former Mayor’s Liaison to the Houston City Council, was sentenced on 5 February 2024, to one year and one day in federal prison for bribery. Thomas had accepted a $1,000 bribe, a case that, while smaller in scale, exposed corruption at the heart of city governance. He also received three years of supervised release and a $5,000 fine. The incident demonstrated that even lower-level officials with access to decision-makers could be targets for corruption, undermining public trust in municipal administration.

#8 Georgia Official’s Fraud Scheme (2024)

John Oxendine, the former Georgia Insurance Commissioner, was sentenced to 3.5 years in federal prison on 12 July 2024, for his role in a health care fraud and kickback scheme. The total fraud amount was $760,000, from which Oxendine personally gained $40,000. He was ordered to pay a fine and share restitution with a co-conspirator. This case showed a state regulator, tasked with overseeing industry integrity, becoming a participant in a criminal conspiracy, thereby betraying the public’s trust in his office.

#9 Illinois Lawmaker’s Tax Fraud (2024)

Former Illinois State Representative and Senator Annazette Collins was convicted on four federal tax counts on 21 June 2024. She was found guilty of willfully filing false tax returns and failing to file returns, causing a federal tax loss of approximately $86,000. The conviction continued a pattern of legal troubles for Illinois politicians, demonstrating a disregard for the very laws they were elected to create and uphold. She faced a potential prison sentence of up to three years for each felony count.

#10 Ex-Indiana Lawmaker’s Corruption Plea (2023)

In November 2023, former Indiana Representative Sean Eberhart agreed to plead guilty to a federal conspiracy charge. Court documents stated that Eberhart accepted the promise of a future, high-paying job from a gaming company, Spectacle Entertainment, in exchange for his official actions. While serving on the key House committee overseeing gaming, he allegedly advocated for and voted on legislation that provided massive financial benefits to the company. This included slashing a required transfer fee from $100 million to $20 million.

#11 Fred Plump Jr.’s League Fraud (2023)

Former Alabama State Representative Fred Plump Jr. was sentenced on 23 October 2023, for a wire fraud scheme that misappropriated $200,000 from the Jefferson County Community Service Fund. The funds, intended for the Piper Davis Youth Baseball League, were instead funneled as kickbacks to an assistant who was also his girlfriend. The fraud represented a profound betrayal of public trust, diverting resources meant for youth development. Plump received a severe sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 per charge, highlighting the judiciary’s stern stance on corrupt misuse of public resources intended for community welfare.

#12 Harish “Harry” Singh Sidhu’s Obstruction (2023)

The former Mayor of Anaheim, California, Harish “Harry” Singh Sidhu, agreed to plead guilty on 16 August 2023, to charges of obstruction of justice, wire fraud, and making false statements. Sidhu was implicated in a public corruption investigation where he attempted to secure a $1 million campaign contribution and evaded sales tax. Facing a potential 50-year prison sentence, his case exposed a pay-to-play culture in local government and demonstrated the application of federal laws to combat sophisticated attempts to obstruct justice and defraud the public.

#13 Joseph Harding’s COVID-19 Fraud (2023)

Former Florida State Representative Joseph Harding was sentenced on 25 July 2023, for fraudulently obtaining $150,000 in COVID-19 relief funds. His crimes included wire fraud, money laundering, and making false statements on federal applications. Harding resigned from the Florida House a day after his indictment, and his guilty plea underscored a national pattern of exploiting pandemic aid programs.

#14 Antonio Brown’s Bank Fraud (2023)

Former Atlanta City Councilman and mayoral candidate Antonio Brown was sentenced on 13 April 2023, for bank fraud after lying about his income to secure a $75,000 loan. In an outcome that drew scrutiny for its leniency, Brown received 18 months of probation, with the first eight months under house arrest, and no prison time as part of a plea deal.

#15 Robert Dennis “Denny” Altes’ Probation (2023)

Former Arkansas State Senator Robert Dennis “Denny” Altes was sentenced on 23 January 2023, after pleading guilty to an abuse of public trust. While the specific financial details were not disclosed, the conviction of a former legislator and candidate for county judge on such a charge pointed to a serious ethical breach. His sentence of one-year probation and a $250 fine was perceived by many as a notably light penalty for a public corruption case.

#16 José Huizar’s Pay-to-Play Scheme (2023)

Former Los Angeles City Councilmember José Huizar pleaded guilty on 20 January 2023, for operating a extensive pay-to-play scheme where he accepted over $1 million in bribes from real estate developers. The bribes included a $600,000 payoff to settle a lawsuit and $125,000 in cash seized from his home. Huizar agreed to forfeit $129,000 and faces a sentence of 9 to 13 years in federal prison, plus over $1 million in restitution.

#17 Lewis Reed’s Bribery Plea (2022)

Lewis Reed, the former President of the Board of Aldermen in St. Louis, pleaded guilty on 26 August 2022, to federal bribery charges and misuse of public office. Reed was found to have accepted approximately $18,000 in cash and contributions in exchange for official favors. His guilty plea marked a significant fall from grace for a high-ranking city official and demonstrated the ongoing efforts by federal authorities to root out corruption at the municipal level, even for sums that are relatively small compared to other political scandals.

#18 Keith Bee’s Tax Fraud (2022)

On 16 March 2022, former Arizona Justice of the Peace and state legislator Keith Bee was sentenced for filing false income tax returns. The case resulted in a court order for $343,133.05 in restitution, covering lost tax revenue and interest. Bee was sentenced to six months in federal prison and one year of supervised probation. The conviction of a former judge for tax fraud underscored the principle that those who oversee the legal system are not above the law themselves, though the prison term was less severe than those given for other types of fraud.

#19 Hawaii Bribery Scandal (2022)

Two former Hawaii lawmakers, Ty Cullen and J. Kalani English, pleaded guilty on 15 February 2022, to honest services wire fraud for accepting bribes to influence legislation benefiting a cesspool conversion company. English, a former Senate Majority Leader, agreed to forfeit $15,000 and Cullen $23,000, representing the cash they received. Prosecutors said they accepted money, Las Vegas hotel stays, and casino chips in exchange for shaping and later killing wastewater-related bills. Both Democrats resigned earlier this year and face up to 20 years in prison. Hawaii’s legislative leaders condemned their actions, vowing reforms to restore transparency and integrity in governance.

#20 Luis Arroyo’s Wire Fraud (2022)

Former Illinois State Representative Luis Arroyo was sentenced on 25 May 2022 to 57 months in federal prison for his role in a bribery scheme involving a sweepstakes gaming company, Collage LLC. Arroyo, 67, pleaded guilty to wire fraud for accepting thousands of dollars in bribes through his lobbying firm, Spartacus 3 LLC, in exchange for promoting sweepstakes-related legislation and influencing other lawmakers. In 2019, he offered a $2,500 bribe to a state senator, promising monthly payments for legislative support. U.S. District Judge Steven Seeger handed down the sentence, with prosecutors from the FBI and IRS highlighting Arroyo’s abuse of public office for personal gain.

#21 Brent Waltz’s Illegal Contributions (2022)

Former Indiana State Senator Brent Waltz pleaded guilty on 12 April 2022F to accepting about $40,000 in illegal contributions from Spectacle Entertainment for his unsuccessful 2016 congressional campaign and to making false statements to the FBI. His plea came a week before the trial of John Keeler; a former Spectacle executive accused of directing corporate contributions through straw donors. Waltz faces up to five years in prison per charge, while prosecutors dismissed three other counts and recommended a low-end sentence. The case arose from a long FBI investigation into Spectacle and its predecessor, Centaur Gaming, involving illegal campaign funding and financial misconduct.

#22 Isabel FitzGerald’s IT Bribery (2022)

Isabel FitzGerald, a former Maryland state IT secretary and Cabinet-level official, pleaded guilty on 7 June 2022, to bribery and extortion related to state IT contracts. FitzGerald, who served as CIO, deputy secretary, and state IT secretary from 2007–2015, admitted accepting bribes between 2011–2013 to direct contracts to certain vendors. Coffland used his relationship with FitzGerald to secure a high-paying IT role, with FitzGerald leveraging contract renewals to influence the company. FitzGerald also conspired to redirect subcontracting work for personal gain, collecting $35,000. FitzGerald faces up to 10 years and $40,000 restitution; Coffland faces up to 20 years. Sentencing is set for October 22.

#23 Jim Beck’s Multi-Million Dollar Embezzlement (2021)

Jim Beck, the former Georgia Insurance Commissioner, was sentenced on 12 October 2021, to 87 months in federal prison for 37 counts of wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, and tax fraud. Beck diverted over $2.5 million from the Georgia Underwriting Association to his personal accounts through multiple companies. Investigations began shortly after his 2018 election, and an eight-day trial ended with a swift guilty verdict. Beck claimed the funds paid contractors for data services, but prosecutors argued most went directly to him. He was removed from office automatically upon conviction, while Gov. Brian Kemp appointed John King as interim commissioner.

#24 Dean Alford’s Racketeering Sentence (2021)

Former Georgia State Lawmaker and University Regent Dean Alford was sentenced on 7 October 2021 to 15 years, with eight years in prison and the remainder on probation, for racketeering, fraud, and forgery. Alford faked contracts claiming his company, Allied Energy Services, was owed $2.2 million from universities, banks, and a solar firm. Arrested in 2019, he resigned from the University of Georgia Board of Regents after officials declared the invoices fake. The scheme involved selling rights to future income to lenders. The SEC also filed civil charges in 2020, alleging Alford fraudulently raised $23 million from investors, resulting in a $10.8 million restitution order.

#25 Edward Diana’s Fraud Plea (2021)

Former three-term Orange County Executive Edward Diana pleaded guilty on 21 June 2021, to charges in a corruption scheme involving the Orange County Industrial Development Agency (IDA). Diana admitted to filing a false document and hiding his employment with Cozzolino’s company, Galileo Technologies Group, while serving on the IDA board and voting on contracts benefiting the firm. Cozzolino and Villasuso acknowledged conspiring to defraud the IDA through payments to Galileo, with Villasuso employed by both entities while signing contracts. All three agreed to pay $1.2 million in restitution. The IDA board was subsequently overhauled amid investigations.

#26 Martin Sandoval’s Red-Light Bribery (2020)

Former Illinois State Senator Martin Sandoval pleaded guilty on 28 January 2020, to federal bribery and tax evasion charges tied to his support of the red-light camera industry. Sandoval admitted accepting over $250,000 in bribes from SafeSpeed and others, promising to use his office to benefit their business interests and oppose unfavorable legislation. He also filed a false 2017 tax return underreporting income. The plea guarantees his cooperation in a broader federal investigation involving Springfield lobbyists and special interests, including ComEd and video gambling operators. Sandoval faces 10–13 years in prison, was released on $10,000 bond, and is barred from leaving Illinois.

#27 Cheryl Diane Glenn’s Bribery (2020)

Former Maryland state delegate Cheryl Diane Glenn pleaded guilty on 22 July 2020, to accepting over $33,000 in bribes for legislative favors, including expanding medical marijuana grower licenses. Defense attorney William Brennan urged probation, home detention, and community service, citing Glenn’s age, health, and personal hardships, including financial struggles after her husband’s death. Glenn accepted five bribe payments in 2018–2019 for supporting bills benefiting out-of-state medical marijuana companies, creating liquor licenses, and lowering medical director experience requirements. Prosecutors argued her actions prioritized personal gain over public trust and required incarceration to deter political corruption.

#28 Catherine Pugh’s Fraud Conspiracy (2020)

Former Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh was sentenced in February 2020 to three years in federal prison and three years of supervised release for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to defraud the U.S., and tax evasion. She was ordered to pay $411,948 in restitution and forfeit $669,688, including property and campaign funds. Pugh ran her book company, Healthy Holly, to double-sell and misappropriate books, funneling proceeds into straw donations for her mayoral campaign and personal expenses. She also filed false tax returns. Her aide, Gary Brown Jr., aided the scheme and previously pleaded guilty. The investigation involved the FBI, IRS-CI, and other agencies.

#29 Christopher Collins’ Insider Trading (2020)

Former U.S. Representative Christopher Collins of New York was sentenced in January 2020 to 26 months in federal prison, one year of supervised release, and a $200,000 fine for insider trading and lying to the FBI. Collins learned in June 2017 that Innate Immunotherapeutics’ MS drug trial had failed and tipped his son, Cameron, who traded the stock and shared the information with others, helping them collectively avoid over $768,000 in losses. Collins also made false statements during FBI interviews. The conviction led to his resignation from Congress. The case was prosecuted by the SDNY Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force.

#30 Duncan D. Hunter’s Campaign Fund Theft (2019)

Republican U.S. Representative Duncan D. Hunter of California pleaded guilty on 3 December 2019, to stealing over $150,000 in campaign funds, which he and his wife, Margaret, used for personal expenses between 2010 and 2016. Misappropriated funds covered family vacations, luxury hotels, groceries, fast food, entertainment, and even airline tickets for their pet rabbits. Hunter repeatedly misrepresented personal expenses as campaign-related and provided his wife with a campaign credit card despite warnings. The couple also faced chronic financial mismanagement, with frequent overdrafts and high credit card debt. Hunter’s sentencing is set for March 17, 2020, as prosecutors emphasized the deliberate, years-long abuse of donor funds.

Cases From The UK

#31 Jason Zadrozny’s Multi-Faceted Crimes (2023)

Jason Zadrozny, the Leader of Ashfield District Council in the UK, was convicted on 18 August 2023, on a multitude of charges including fraud by false representation, money laundering, income tax evasion, and possession of cocaine. Arrested in November 2022 with five Ashfield Independents colleagues, Zadrozny has denied 22 offences. Alleged fraud involves over £10,000 in misused council funds between February 2018 and February 2021, while income tax evasion spans 2007–2022, and the drug charge relates to September 2021.

#32 Nathan Gill’s Bribery Guilty Plea (2025)

Nathan Gill, a Former MEP and Reform UK Wales Leader, pleaded guilty on 26 September 2025, to eight counts of bribery for accepting payments in 2018–2019 to make specific statements in the European Parliament and UK media outlets, including 112 Ukraine. The statements allegedly promoted narratives favorable to Russia regarding events in Ukraine. Gill admitted that he was instructed to act by Ukrainian politician Oleg Voloshyn of the pro-Russian Opposition Platform for Life party. Gill served as an MEP from 2014 to 2020, initially for UKIP and later the Brexit Party, and led UKIP Wales (2014–2016) and Reform UK Wales briefly in 2021 before resigning.

#33 Joe Anderson’s Liverpool Charges (2025)

Former Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson was charged on 7 March 2025, with bribery, misconduct over council contract awards from 2010–2020 under Operation Aloft. Anderson faces bribery, misconduct in public office, and conspiracy charges. Co-defendants include former deputy leader Derek Hatton, ex-council directors Nicholas Kavanagh and Andrew Barr, Anderson’s son David, and business figures Julian and Paul Flanagan. Other charges involve council-related misconduct. Anderson denied all allegations, criticizing the investigation’s length. The CPS confirmed charges after reviewing evidence, emphasizing defendants’ right to a fair trial.

#34 Derek Hatton’s Misconduct Charge (2025)

Derek Hatton, the former Deputy Leader of Liverpool Council, was charged on 7 March 2025, with bribery and one count of counselling or procuring misconduct in a public office as part of Operation Aloft, which investigates contract-related corruption between 2010 and 2020. Hatton, who gained national prominence in the 1980s for defying Margaret Thatcher’s budget cuts, later pursued a career in property development. He is among 12 defendants, including former mayor Joe Anderson, facing allegations of bribery and misconduct. Hatton’s wife, Sonjia Hatton, is also charged with misconduct in a public office. All defendants are scheduled to appear at Preston Magistrates’ Court on 28 March.

#35 Paul Flowers’ Bank Fraud (2025)

Paul Flowers, a former Labour Councillor and Chairman of the Co-op Bank, was sentenced on 27 February 2025, to three years in prison for fraud by abuse of position after misappropriating around £100,000 from a long-time friend’s estate. Appointed as sole executor of her will, which intended her funds for charity, Flowers instead spent the money on holidays, home improvements, events, and alcohol, including over £40,000 via cheques to himself. Most offences occurred in 2016–2017. The fraud was uncovered in 2019 by bank officials and investigated by GMP’s Economic Crime Unit. Detective Constable Kate Riley condemned Flowers’ exploitation of trust for personal gain.

#36 Michael Paterson’s £1m Embezzlement (2024)

Michael Paterson, a Tax Team Leader at Aberdeen City Council, was convicted on 5 July 2024, and sentenced to four years for embezzling over £1 million from 2006 to 2023. As council tax and recovery team leader, he exploited his unrestricted access to the refund system, issuing 622 fraudulent refunds totaling £1,087,444 into his own account. The scheme was uncovered in September 2023 when a colleague noticed an improper £2,899 refund. Paterson was suspended, later dismissed, and will face confiscation proceedings under Proceeds of Crime legislation to recover the stolen funds.

#37 Jagdeep Nagra’s IT Fund Misuse (2023)

Jagdeep Nagra, an Assistant Director and IT Chief at Newham Council, was charged on 30 October 2023, with seven counts of fraud by abuse of position for misappropriating £250,000 of council funds for personal IT purchases. Nagra pleaded not guilty, with a trial provisionally set for March 2025. Between May and July 2022, Nagra allegedly bought 135 mobile phones, 130 laptops, and 40 tablets, including Samsung handsets (£134,115), iPhones (£10,000+), Samsung tablets (£6,186), and Apple MacBook Airs (£106,408). He pleaded not guilty to seven counts of fraud by abuse of position at his first hearing in September 2023.

#38 Gemma King’s Charity Voucher Fraud (2023)

Gemma King, a Family Support Worker at Derbyshire County Council, was sentenced on 28 April 2023, for fraud, money laundering, and abuse of position after illegally claiming £90,000 in vouchers from the BBC Children in Need Emergency Essentials Programme between November 2018 and August 2019. She used the funds to buy household goods, sold some vouchers online, and transferred money to her ex-husband’s account. Her two-year prison sentence was suspended, and she was ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work with a three-month curfew. Her ex-husband, Jamie King, received an 18-month suspended sentence and 200 hours of unpaid work for concealing criminal property.

#39 Mohammed Ikram’s COVID-19 Fraud (2023)

Former Councillor Mohammed Ikram of Keighley Town Council was jailed for 2.5 years on 31 March 2023, for defrauding over £430,000 through the UK government’s Eat Out to Help Out scheme in August–September 2020. He made 19 fraudulent claims for eight food outlets, six of which were entirely fictitious or unconnected to him, while the others were only loosely linked. HMRC paid just over £189,000 into accounts held by his wife, with most of the funds later recovered. Ikram admitted cheating the public revenue, fraud by false representation, and money laundering. The judge noted that his actions were largely motivated by greed.

#40 Jared O’Mara’s Expense Misuse (2023)

Former Member of Parliament Jared O’Mara was convicted on 8 February 2023, on six counts of fraud for submitting nearly £20,000 in false expense claims to fund his cocaine habit while serving in Parliament from 2017 to 2019. The trial at Leeds Crown Court revealed that O’Mara was heavily indebted to a drug dealer at the time. He was found guilty on six counts of fraud for submitting fake invoices to the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, which oversees MPs’ business costs and pay. O’Mara had also been suspended from the Labour Party in 2017 over alleged inappropriate comments. Sentencing is scheduled for Thursday.

Tyler Evans, a former Birmingham City Council worker, was sentenced on 12 January 2023, after pleading guilty to fraud by abuse of position and money laundering, having stolen nearly £1 million. Employed from 2010 to 2014 in the highway permit team, Evans controlled refunds of payment bonds from contractors but diverted the funds into his own accounts and those of associates. The fraud was discovered after an audit in 2014, and Evans, who had moved to the U.S., was extradited back to the UK. Authorities have launched confiscation proceedings to recover the misappropriated funds.

#42 Natalie McGarry’s Embezzlement (2022)

Former Scottish National Party MP Natalie McGarry was convicted on 30 June 2022 and jailed for two years for embezzling £24,635 from two pro-independence groups. She misappropriated £19,974 as treasurer of Women for Independence between 2013 and 2015 and £4,661 from the Glasgow Regional Association of the SNP between 2014 and 2015. The court heard that Crowdfunder donations intended for WFI were transferred to her personal account. McGarry faced financial difficulties and borrowed money from friends, including Humza Yousaf. Sheriff Tom Hughes ruled her custodial sentence was inevitable due to her betrayal of public trust and misuse of donations.

#43 Owen Patterson’s Lobbying Scandal (2021)

Conservative MP Owen Patterson resigned on 4 November 2021, after it emerged that he received £500,000 to lobby ministers, breaching rules on paid advocacy and parliamentary interests. The government’s initial attempt to shield him—through a Commons vote and a proposed select committee dominated by Conservatives—sparked public outrage and accusations of undermining accountability.

#44 Muhammad Harun’s Housing Fraud (2019)

Former Tower Hamlets Councillor Muhammad Harun was jailed for 16 months on 14 November 2019, for a housing scam that defrauded the council of £125,000. Harun, 49, bid for hundreds of social rent properties while already owning a home in Barking purchased in 2007, and later acquired his parents’ house in Wapping using a Right to Buy discount. Social housing rules prohibit homeowners from applying, but Harun maintained low-rent accommodation for a decade, costing the council around £12,000 annually. The fraud was discovered seven months after his election in May 2018. He pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud and was ordered to repay costs and the stolen funds.

#45 William Rossetti’s Hardship Fund Abuse (2019)

Surrey County Council officer William Rossetti was jailed for two years on 8 July 2019, after pleading guilty for stealing nearly £94,000 from the Surrey Crisis Fund, intended to aid residents in need of essentials like food and heating. Between June 2014 and April 2017, he diverted money 316 times, loading pre-paid cards with up to £2,000 each, using the funds to buy gifts for his wife and repay personal debts. Rossetti implicated colleagues by using their usernames and fled to the US before returning. He pleaded guilty to fraud by abuse of position, computer fraud, and possessing articles for use in fraud, expressing remorse for his actions.

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