The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a second custody sergeant in connection with a widening investigation into fraudulent overtime claims. Jeffrey Koeller, a custody sergeant at the Northern Branch Jail, turned himself in at the sheriff’s Santa Maria substation on August 6 after an arrest warrant was issued. He was later booked at the San Luis Obispo County Jail on charges of embezzlement by a public officer, grand theft, and forgery. His bail was set at $100,000.

The arrest follows a months-long probe into timecard irregularities that began after the sheriff’s office launched a comprehensive review of overtime coding practices. That review was triggered by the January 2026 arrest of former custody sergeant Segun Ogunleye, who is accused of using falsified timecards to pocket more than $175,000 in earnings. At the time of his alleged crimes, Ogunleye held a supervisory role that included reviewing and approving overtime requests.

Following Ogunleye’s arrest, investigators examined 688 timecards containing overtime entries. The analysis uncovered only one additional timecard with significant anomalies, which led to the second criminal investigation and ultimately Koeller’s arrest. The probe determined that Koeller fraudulently claimed and received more than $93,000 in compensation for hours he did not actually work. He was serving as a custody sergeant at the Northern Branch Jail during the period of alleged misconduct.

Sheriff Bill Brown addressed the case, stating, “This employee’s actions betrayed the public’s trust and our agency. They do not reflect the character of our sheriff’s office, or the honest work performed every day by our employees.” Brown emphasized that the overwhelming majority of department personnel are dedicated public servants who operate with integrity and adhere to the law. “If one of our own violates the trust that has been placed in them, we will investigate thoroughly and hold them accountable to our policies and the law,” he added. “Furthermore, we will identify any supervisory shortcomings or blind spots and strengthen our systems to prevent any such misconduct from happening again.”

In addition to the criminal investigation, the sheriff’s office has implemented enhanced internal review controls and oversight measures. These changes are designed to strengthen accountability, improve timecard review processes by supervisors, and help prevent similar misconduct in the future. The office said the measures reflect a commitment to transparency and ethical conduct.

The case underscores the ongoing challenge of rooting out fraud within law enforcement agencies, where public trust is paramount. The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office continues to cooperate with prosecutors as the case against Koeller moves forward. Both Koeller and Ogunleye are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.