Ex-Cumming Police Sergeant Convicted Of Taking Bribes

CUMMING, GA — A former sergeant with the Cumming Police Department took bribes in exchange for giving sensitive law enforcement information to a person he had arrested, a federal jury has decided.

Nathan VanBuren, 35, was convicted on charges of wire services fraud and computer fraud.

"VanBuren broke the very laws he swore to uphold and enforce," said U.S. Attorney Byung J. "BJay" Pak. "Police officers are afforded respect, and are expected to model integrity and honesty. This former officer undermined the hard work of other officers who serve, as well as the community’s trust and respect for the police."

In July 2015, VanBuren, responded to a 911 call at a citizen's home in Cumming. That person was arrested.

In July and August, VanBuren continued to have contact with the person who was arrested. During those communications, he asked the person for a loan, saying his wages were being garnished and he had financial debt due to his son's medical and surgical expenses.

In reality VanBuren's salary was not being garnished and his son was not ill.

The citizen reported VanBuren's actions to the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office and agreed to cooperate with law enforcement. The citizen, in cooperation with law enforcement, then gave VanBuren $5,000. During that meeting the citizen asked whether VanBuren would search a police database to see whether a particular individual was an undercover police officer.

In exchange for $1,000, VanBuren illegally accessed the database and provided the results to the citizen. He resigned before he was fired by the Cumming Police Department and was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 29 of last year.

The case was investigated by the FBI and Georgia Bureau of Investigation, with help from the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office and Cumming Police Department. A date for VanBuren's sentencing hasn't been set yet.

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