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A Syracuse police officer, Shaquille B. Muhammad, remains on paid leave following allegations of fraud. Muhammad, 32, is accused of stealing over $4,000 in merchandise from a Lowe's store in Syracuse. According to the New York State Police, Muhammad used his Lowe's credit card to purchase contractor-type merchandise over several days in January 2025. He then allegedly contacted the bank to report the purchases as unauthorized, resulting in a full refund to his account.
Muhammad was charged with third-degree grand larceny and first-degree falsifying business records. He turned himself in to the State Police on November 20 and was arraigned in Onondaga County CAP Court, where he was released on his own recognizance.
The Syracuse Police Department has placed Muhammad on administrative leave and is conducting an internal investigation. Sgt. Thomas Blake, a spokesperson for the department, stated, "We take all allegations of criminal conduct seriously."
The case remains under investigation by the State Police, who have been looking into the fraudulent transactions for the past four months. CNY Central reports that the investigation is ongoing.