Court convicts officer for using fake identity to wire money

A St. Paul Police officer has been convicted of a felony for using a fake identity to send money to her boyfriend in jail.

Ruby Diaz, 38, was convicted of felony electronic identity theft in Ramsey County District Court Friday, but was acquitted of two forgery charges. Diaz admitted using her friend's name to wire $1,500 to Ramone Smaller, a 22-year-old known gang member imprisoned for attempted murder.

Diaz's sentencing is scheduled for February. She has been on paid leave from the St. Paul Police Department pending the outcome of her case.

Chief Thomas Smith tells the St. Paul Pioneer Press he'll soon make a decision about her future with the department. Minnesota law says an officer convicted of a felony has his or her license automatically revoked.

Diaz met Smaller about 10 years ago while working as a school resource officer at Humboldt Secondary School, where Smaller was a seventh-grader. Their relationship turned romantic in 2013.

Diaz admitted she used the name of her best friend, Mao Lee, to set up accounts with Western Union and the Minnesota Department of Corrections in order to send Smaller money at St. Cloud Prison. Diaz testified she didn't intend to defraud the department or Western Union, but wanted to avoid harassment from colleagues for being involved with a felon.

Smaller is currently in state prison in Rush City, serving a sentence for attempted murder.