Santa Barbara Custody Sergeant Charged with Time-Card Fraud

Segun Ogunleye is accused of logging more than $175,000 in earnings for shifts he did not work.

Feb. 4, 2026 at 1:23pm

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The Santa Barbara Sheriff's Office has arrested Segun Ogunleye, a 34-year-old custody sergeant at the county jail, for allegedly fraudulently logging more than $175,000 in earnings for shifts he did not work. Ogunleye, who was responsible for reviewing and approving custody deputies' overtime, has been charged with 114 criminal counts including misappropriation of public funds, grand theft, false entries in records, and money laundering.

Why it matters

This case highlights ongoing concerns about overtime abuse and lack of accountability within the Santa Barbara Sheriff's Office, which has faced intense scrutiny from the Board of Supervisors over its ballooning overtime costs. Ogunleye's alleged conduct undermines public trust and raises questions about supervision and oversight within the department.

The details

According to authorities, Ogunleye's alleged fraudulent conduct dated back to 2023. He is accused of misusing his supervisory role to improperly log overtime hours he did not actually work. A recent audit revealed widespread overtime abuse within the department, with nearly 25% of all workdays triggering overtime billing and some employees earning over $1,000 per pay period in overtime.

  • Ogunleye's alleged conduct dated back to 2023.
  • Ogunleye was arrested by the Santa Barbara Sheriff's Office last week.
  • Ogunleye appeared in court on Monday, but his arraignment was rescheduled for March 2.

The players

Segun Ogunleye

A 34-year-old custody sergeant at the Santa Barbara County Jail who is accused of fraudulently logging more than $175,000 in earnings for shifts he did not work.

Sheriff Bill Brown

The sheriff of Santa Barbara County who stated that Ogunleye's alleged conduct "not only violates the law; it undermines the integrity of our organization and will not be tolerated."

Craig Bonner

The undersheriff of Santa Barbara County who acknowledged that part of the overtime problem was custody deputies not filling out time cards correctly.

Steve Lavagnino

A 5th District Supervisor in Santa Barbara County who expressed frustration with the Sheriff's Office for consistently exceeding its overtime budget.

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What they’re saying

“This arrest is deeply troubling and disappointing. As a supervisor, this individual was entrusted with ensuring accountability and overseeing the responsible use of taxpayer dollars. Conduct like this not only violates the law; it undermines the integrity of our organization and will not be tolerated.”

— Sheriff Bill Brown

“This thing has kind of dominated our budget for the last 15 years. I think it deserves its own hearing.”

— Steve Lavagnino, 5th District Supervisor

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on March 2 whether or not to allow Segun Ogunleye out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing challenges the Santa Barbara Sheriff's Office faces in addressing widespread overtime abuse and lack of accountability within the department, which has strained the county's budget and eroded public trust.