Conyers Police Department lieutenant arrested on theft charge following GBI Investigation

CONYERS, GA–The GBI has arrested and charged Conyers Police Department Lieutenant Jesus Cadena, 36, of Loganville, GA, with Theft by Deception.   

Cadena turned himself in on Tuesday, Nov. 25, about 12:00 a.m. Cadena was booked into the Rockdale County Jail. 

The investigation originated from an Oct.16, 2025 request from the Conyers Police Department (CPD) for the GBI Atlanta Regional Field Office to conduct an investigation into a possible theft incident involving a CPD officer.  

Lieutenant Cadena used his position with the police department for the purpose of obtaining a charitable donation of property(a wood chipper) from The Home Depot in Conyers under the pretext that the donation was for the police department.  

CPD personnel later learned of the transaction and confirmed that CPD had no knowledge of the donation and had not received the property. A search warrant executed at Cadena’s Gwinnett County home resulted in the recovery of the property obtained from The Home Depot, which had been converted to personal use. 

Cadena has been placed on administrative leave, pending the outcome of the internal investigation. He was hired by Conyers Police Department in January 2022, Conyers, said CPD Captain Quantavis Garcia, Public Information Officer.  

Chief of Police Scott Freeman issued the following statement: 

“We expect every member of this department to uphold the highest standards of integrity and accountability. When concerns emerge, we address them openly and collaborate with our state investigative partners. Our commitment is to maintain the trust of our community,” Chief Freeman said. 

The investigation is active and ongoing. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the GBI Regional Investigative Office in Atlanta at (770) 388-5019. Anonymous tips can also be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS(8477), online at https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online, or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app.

Once the investigation is complete, the case file will be given to the Rockdale County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution, the GBI said.

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