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St. Paul, Minn.

Financial crimes task force is leaderless

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(AP) - Minnesota's investigative task force for identity theft is in limbo after its commander was removed and two investigators quit, a state senator said Friday.

Sgt. Chris Abbas, who led the Minnesota Financial Crimes Task Force, was recalled to the Minneapolis Police Department, his home agency. Detective Jack Talbot said he resigned after learning that Abbas was gone. Another investigator also left in the wake of the reassignment.

Sen. Satveer Chaudhary, DFL-Fridley, alleged that Public Safety Commissioner Michael Campion was behind Abbas' removal.

Chaudhary, who sits on the oversight council for the task force, held a Capitol news conference to call for Abbas and the investigators to be reinstated.

Campion said in a prepared statement that Chaudhary's allegations "falsely mischaracterized the situation" and that Abbas' reassignment was handled properly and legally.

Chaudhary said he wants to more information before the Senate Judiciary Committee holds a confirmation hearing for Campion, who has led the Public Safety Department since June 2004.

That hearing was set for Tuesday, but Senate Judiciary Committee Chairwoman Mee Moua said Campion had a conflict and the hearing would be rescheduled. Moua said she had heard no complaints about Campion until Friday, but would consider Chaudhary's concerns.

Anoka County Attorney Robert Johnson, who heads the Minnesota Financial Crimes Oversight Council, said the group aims to have a new commander within a month.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)