We've got more details today in the case of Deputy April Myres, a 20-year veteran of the SF Sheriff's Department who was arrested, at work, by federal agents last week over an allegedly faked burglary at her Visitacion Valley home last year. Myres, 52, is accused of providing, through the alleged ruse of a robbery, a firearm to a convicted felon with whom prosecutors says she had a romantic relationship.
Following the story, ABC 7 reports that Myres is once again "on the outside," released Friday afternoon on a secured bond. KTVU has it that the bond was set at $1 million, and per the prosecution at her initial court appearance, Myres faces charges including mail fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy, and disposing of a firearm by giving it to a convicted felon.
Myres's attorney claims to ABC 7 that "She did not give that gun to him," referring to Antoine Fowler, 32, who was arrested on February 2 in Oakland and has been charged with possession of a weapon as a felon. Fowler was also arraigned in US District Court on Friday according to the Examiner.
Fowler served in County Jail from 2010 to 2016 for a conviction related to the manufacture, transport, and sale of assault weapons. According to Fowler's cellmate turned informant, Myres and Fowler began a courtship in June 2015, communicating through the bars, and meeting alone in the gym area. The cellmate says Fowler referred to Myres by the nickname "Scarlet Red" and allegedly divulged to the cellmate that she had offered to obtain a firearm for Fowler and planned to vacation with him in Hawaii.
After Fowler was released, he and Myres's son allegedly worked together to stage a robbery at her home so that Myres could file a false insurance claim. According to the criminal complaint, Myres's insurance claim, as retained by Farmers Insurance, lists her allegedly stolen items as follow:
Glock 17 9mm pistol (serial number BMP254, a bullet proof safety vest, a leather duty belt, a flat badge (custom), an OC spray canister, a Motorola hand radio, a Louis Vuitton Artsy MM shoulder bag, a Louis Vuitton wallet, a Louis Vuitton belt, a Louis Vuitton bracelet, a Louis Vuitton umbrella, a Yves Saint Laurent large-grained chain bag (red), a Yves Saint-Laurent lipstick print wallet, a Bony Levy Diamond Initial "A," Gucci rain boots, a Christian Louboutin Jennifer Perforate Napa Boots, a blue fox fur vest, a Versace leather logo clutch bag, a Manolo Blahnik snakeskin shows, a 12k diamond earrings, two California license plates and stickers, $3,500 cash, a Sentry safe electronic portable safe, a HP 17-inch Windows 10 Microsoft office laptop, seven sets of Victoria's Secret lingerie, an Olympus SZ-14 14MP 24x long zoom camera, a Jostens College ring 2 trillion cut diamonds with center garnet stone, a leather gun holster, and OC spray holder, a magazine holder, a flashlight holder, a flashlight streamlight, a baton holder, 4 belt keepers, a handcuff case, a handcuffs, a radio holder, a handcuff key, a mink jacket, a Louis Vuitton messenger bag, a Chanel large classic metallic calfskin bag, a Louis Vuitton baguette handbag, and a Louis Vuitton wallet.
The total value of personal items was $66,409, per Myres, who provided copies of receipts from online orders. Myres also claimed $637 in building damage.
However, prosecutors say surveillance footage from across the street shows Myres was at home during the time of the robbery, and several of the items from the above list were actually at the house when it was searched on February 2 by FBI agents, they claim.
Also per the complaint, Fowler, in a meeting with Myres's son at a San Francisco club, allegedly expressed resentment that Myres told the police of a break-in when he had a key and full access to the residence. At the time, Fowler supposedly said he was living at his mother's house. Another stand-out detail: In a previous argument with Myres's son at her house, a gun was allegedly discharged into a wall.
When Fowler was arrested, investigators say they found Myres's gun in his car. ABC 7 reports that Fowler initially denied having the gun, then told investigators that Myres had given it to him with $2,500 to dispose of it since it was fired by someone else at her home, perhaps a reference to that incident allegedly involving Myres's son.
Myres's attorney denies the notion to ABC 7 that she and Fowler had a romantic relationship and alleges that Fowler stole the weapon "absolutely without her knowledge." As a condition of Myres's release, she may not have contact with Fowler or her son. Fowler is set to appear in court tomorrow, February 7, and Myres on February 15. The case is being investigated by outside agencies.
Previously: SF Sheriff's Deputy Arrested By FBI On Insurance Fraud Charges Stemming From Faked Burglary