Ex-SBA president Ed Mullins pleads guilty to defrauding the police union

Ed Mullins, the former controversial head of the New York City Police Department’s Sergeants Benevolent Association, pleaded guilty Thursday afternoon to federal charges that he defrauded the union.

In a proceeding before Manhattan federal district judge John Koeltl, Mullins admitted submitting false and inflated expense invoices in the amount of $600,000 to the SBA for reimbursement. He said he committed the fraud by inflating expense receipts and having the union pay some of his personal expenses.

Mullins charged his personal credit card for, among other things, hundreds of high-end meals, clothing, jewelry, home appliances and a relative’s college tuition, prosecutors said. He would then seek reimbursement for such items, purporting them to be legitimate SBA expenditures when in fact they were not, prosecutors stated.

He rarely included receipts. Some times, according to prosecutors, Mullins would also inflate bills he did submit for reimbursement and pocket the difference.

In one case, prosecutors said Mullins changed paperwork he submitted for reimbursement from the union from a $185.88 charge at a Long Island supermarket to cover a $685.88 charge at a Manhattan restaurant.

The former union president resigned from his SBA post soon after the FBI raided his union offices and home seeking evidence in the case.

Appearing thinner and sporting a short gray beard, Mullins, 61, of Port Washington, answered Koeltl various questions with short answers. He then read a statement to the court admitting defrauding the union from late 2017 until October 2021.

Mullins faces a maximum of 20 years in prison. But federal sentencing guidelines in his case call a prison range of 33 to 41 months. He also faces a forfeiture of $600,000 representing the fruits of his crime.

Koeltl set a sentencing date of May 25.

Mullins, who resigned from the SBA in October 2021, remains free until sentencing. He made no comment as he left the courthouse.

Outside the courthouse, defense attorney Thomas Kenniff said that his client took a big step to righting his wrong.

“We are hopeful in the end he will not be judged in the context of this case but in the context of his entire law enforcement career, the vast majority of which has done great things for the people of the city of the New York, great things for the NYPD and great things for the members of his union, aside form this very unfortunate incident,” Kenniff said.

Assistant United States Attorney Alexandra Rothman asked Koeltl to sign an order which required Mullins to forfeit $600,000 worth of assets. Koeltl said that Mullins faces a hefty fine in the area of hundreds of thousands of dollars and the prospect of making restitution to the union. Ultimately it will be up to Koeltl decide on the sentence.

Mullins was known for his acerbic, pointed comments as leader of the SBA.

In November 2021, after he resigned as SBA head, Mullins was found guilty at an NYPD departmental trial of using foul language against public officials and disclosing the arrest record of former Mayor Bill de Blasio’s daughter. He was docked 70 vacation days or about $30,000.

In 2020, Mullins made more than $220,000 from his job at the NYPD, according to public records: $88,757 from the union and $133,195 from the NYPD, The Associated Press reported.

The union also controls a $264 million retirement fund, according to AP.

By Anthony M. DeStefano

tony.destefano@newsday.comtonynewsday

Anthony M. DeStefano has been a reporter for Newsday since 1986 and covers law enforcement, criminal justice and legal affairs from its New York City offices.