(KAIR)--A former St. Joseph Police officer and his wife, a former Buchanan County deputy, pleaded guilty in federal court April 27 to a wire fraud scheme.

According to a release from the United States Attorney's Office of the Western District of Missouri, Michael and Sarah Hardin pleaded guilty in separate appearances to multiple counts of wire fraud. Between 2015 and 2019, the two used debit cards from the Fraternal Order of Police Northwest Missouri Lodge 3. He's listed as being 47-years-old while she's listed as being 43.

KQ2-TV reports Northwest Missouri FOP President Brad Kerns said he realized the audit books were wrong shortly after he took over as president in January 2020, adding that the FOP has worked to make sure a fraud scheme like this doesn't happen again.

The added safeguards include, improved accounting software, a board dedicated to yearly audits, as well as the addition of an assistant treasurer and assistant secretary to ensure checks and balances.

The Hardins' wire fraud scheme totaled nearly $100,000.

Sarah Hardin, a former deputy with the Buchanan County Sheriff's Department, was treasurer of Northwest Missouri FOP Lodge 3 for approximately 10 years. She specifically admitted to making hundreds of personal purchases using the lodge's debit card while serving as treasurer.

Michael Hardin, a former officer with the St. Joseph Police Department, was the president of the Northwest Missouri FOP Lodge 3 for approximately 10 years. He specifically admitted to using the debit card for payments to Hampton Inn and Life Lock Advantage.

The Northwest Missouri FOP is a charitable nonprofit organization. The Hardins used money the FOP would normally utilize to help the community. Kerns said the organization uses funds for events like Holiday with a Hero. It also uses funds to hold memorials for fallen officers and gives donations to the community, such as donations to take care of families of fallen officers.

Michael and Sarah Hardin are each subject to a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison without parole on each of the three counts of wire fraud.