Former president of St. Joseph area Fraternal Order of Police sentenced to probation for defrauding organization

The former president of the St. Joseph area Fraternal Order of Police has been placed on probation for defrauding the organization.  

Michael Hardin has been sentenced by a federal judge to five years of probation. 

He has been ordered to repay 15-Thousand dollars to the FOP. 

Earlier, his wife, Sarah Hardin, had also been sentenced to five years probation and ordered to make more than 88-Thousand dollars in restitution. 

The Hardins pleaded guilty in April to three counts of wire fraud, confessing to using FOP debit cards for personal expenses at gas stations, stores, hotels, and restaurants. 

Michael Hardin, a former St. Joseph Police Officer, served as FOP Lodge #3 president for nearly 10 years. 

Sarah Hardin, who served on the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Department, was FOP treasurer.