A former Polk Sheriff’s deputy pleaded guilty to mail fraud in federal court Friday in relation to submitting a fraudulent insurance claim regarding a falsely reported stolen motorcycle, via the U.S. postal service.

Kenneth Lane Gravett, 42, of Cedartown -- a 17-year law enforcement veteran -- waived his rights to have the charge presented to a grand jury when entering his guilty plea.

By pleading guilty to a felony charge Gravett will no longer be able to seek employment as a law enforcement officer and could receive up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. He also may be ordered to pay restitution in the case.

“If the court accepts this plea of guilty for you, you’re going to lose your post certification,” Judge Robert L. Vining told Gravett. “That’s quite frankly the worst punishment I can give you short of prison.”

Gravett acknowledged he understood.

However, Vining said the court generally looks favorably on those who take responsibility for their actions and that could be reflected in his sentence.

According to information presented in court:

In 2008, Gravett fell behind on his loan payments for a Harley Davidson motorcycle and then on Dec. 3, 2008 falsely reported to the Sheriff’s Office that the bike was stolen from his garage.

Gravett reportedly used the insurance proceeds to pay off the delinquent loan and on Dec. 4, 2008 another co-conspirator sold the motorcycle to an FBI informant for $1,500.

He then reported the theft to his insurance carrier American Modern Select Insurance Company, mailing the fraudulent police report to the company, reportedly in order to obtain funds to pay off the motorcycle.

During his hearing Gravett alluded to the court that previous media reports concerning were incorrect. Gravett declined to comment as to what he meant.

In court Gravett’s attorney Giles Jones told the court that his client disagrees with some of the information presented in the plea, but felt the government could prove its case in regard to mail fraud.

Sentencing is scheduled for January 21, 2010, at 10 a.m., before United States District Judge Robert L. Vining, Jr.