Former Nashville cop stole more than $105K while searching for drugs, investigators say

A former Nashville police sergeant stole more than $105,000 while searching for evidence in drugs cases, using some of the money to buy himself an SUV, according to a federal indictment released Friday.

Police first launched an investigation into former Sgt. James Dunaway last fall after another officer reported suspicions that Dunaway had pocketed cash while searching a house for drugs.

As part of the investigation, the department set up a sting and sent Dunaway to search a hotel room that had been loaded with $28,000 and drugs. Police said they recorded video of Dunaway taking $5,860. He resigned in November soon after being arrested.

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A joint investigation by the FBI and police determined Dunaway had stolen money while executing at least four other search warrants, according to the indictment. All told, the indictment stated, Dunaway took about $105,910.

He used some of the money to buy a 2014 Toyota Sequoia, according to the indictment.

Dunaway, 43, was charged with two counts of theft from federal program funds and two counts of money laundering, according to an announcement from U.S. Attorney Don Cochran of the Middle District of Tennessee.

The indictment said Dunaway had taken money from five searches since 2015, including

a Nov. 18, 2015 search of a home where more than $100,000 was seized;

an April 10, 2017 search of a home where more than $500,000 was seized;

an April 26, 2017 search of a home where more than $182,000 was seized;

a Sept. 13, 2017 search of a home where more than $70,000 was seized; and

the Nov. 15, 2017 hotel sting.

If convicted, Dunaway faces up to 10 years in prison and $1 million in fines.