Federal officials have handed down a criminal complaint against one former Polk County Sheriff’s Office deputy and an indictment against another.

Both stem from an investigation into a theft report filed by former sheriff’s deputy Kenneth Lane Gravett.

According to reports obtained by the Rome News-Tribune, the criminal complaint against Gravett includes insurance fraud, filing a false police report, and using a cell phone along with the U.S. Postal Service for insurance fraud across state lines.

The indictment against former deputy Michael Stephen Robinson includes actions from the alleged insurance fraud scheme, but also includes charges of illegal gun possession and sale as well as altering a car’s vehicle identification number.

According to federal papers filed by FBI Special Agent Robert Meadows, Gravett is accused of knowingly and willfully trying to defraud the insurers of his 2008 Harley Davidson Road King motorcycle.

The papers state Gravett had taken out insurance on the bike September 17, 2007, and the deputy had fallen behind on payments by the fall of 2008. He allegedly started working a deal around Nov. 16, 2008, to have the bike stolen in order to collect insurance money, according to the documents.

However, law enforcement already had a cooperating witness in the system since June 2008. This witness had a conversation in November 2008, with a co-conspirator who unveiled Gravett’s plan.

Gravett reported the bike stolen to the Polk County Police Department Dec. 3, 2008.

Documents state the cooperating witness bought the motorcycle Dec. 5 for $1500.

The co-conspirator was not named by federal officials in the criminal complaint but was identified as Robinson in his indictment. FBI agents interviewed the co-conspirator April 2009, according to the criminal complaint.

Papers state the co-conspirator told agents Gravett asked him to come get the motorcycle because he was behind on payments and he was going to collect insurance to cover his loan.

The co-conspirator told agents he took the bike from an unlocked door at Gravett’s house.

According to the paperwork, the co-conspirator then began assisting the FBI and the GBI in their investigation and his assistance including calling Gravett. The recorded telephone conversations reportedly include Gravett’s admission he knew the bike wasn’t really stolen and that he was having trouble collecting from the insurance company.

Gravett then allegedly used his cell phone to call American Modern Select Insurance Co., in Centre, Ala., and then mailed paperwork back to the out-of-state company through the U.S. Post Office. Both actions are tantamount to federal wire and mail fraud, according to the paperwork.

Robinson’s eight-count indictment alleges Gravett had told Robinson in November 2008, about his plans for a false theft in order to collect insurance money to pay off his loan.

It is also alleged in the document Robinson took the bike with Gravett’s knowledge and permission in order to defraud the insurance company and that Robinson sold the bike to a third party, which turned out to be the agent’s cooperative witness.

Specifically, the charges against Robinson include insurance fraud, two counts mail fraud, and wire fraud which all stem from Gravett’s suspected actions of calling the insurance company and sending the company claim paperwork.

Other charges against Robinson include receiving and possessing an illegal firearm, which was a Rock River Arms semi-automatic rifle, not registering the gun and illegal sale of the gun.

The final charge was for allegedly altering the identification number on a 2007 Chrysler 300M car.

Gravett was arrested earlier in the year on insurance fraud and wire and mail charges. However, he and Robinson were arrested last week in a sting operation aimed a car theft ring at local chop shops.

Both remain housed in a jail facility outside Polk County.