{"id":115890,"date":"2018-01-17T22:00:53","date_gmt":"2018-01-18T03:00:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/breaking911.com\/?p=115890"},"modified":"2018-01-17T15:38:21","modified_gmt":"2018-01-17T20:38:21","slug":"deputy-sheriff-3-cohorts-arrested-drug-trafficking-scheme","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/breaking911.com\/deputy-sheriff-3-cohorts-arrested-drug-trafficking-scheme\/","title":{"rendered":"Deputy Sheriff, 3 Cohorts Arrested in Drug Trafficking Scheme"},"content":{"rendered":"
LOS ANGELES<\/em>\u00a0\u2013 A Los Angeles County deputy sheriff who allegedly agreed on two occasions to oversee the delivery of narcotics and other contraband in exchange for cash payments was arrested this morning, along with three other men, on federal narcotics charges.<\/p>\n Special agents with the Federal Bureau Investigation this morning arrested Deputy Sheriff Kenneth Collins and the other three after they arrived in Pasadena, allegedly to provide \u201csecurity\u201d for the transport of nearly 45 pounds of cocaine and more than 13 pounds of methamphetamine. During the FBI\u2019s undercover investigation, Collins allegedly agreed that he and his team would accompany the narcotics and take calculated steps to prevent legitimate law enforcement from intercepting the drugs \u2013 in exchange for cash payments as high as $250,000.<\/p>\n Collins and two other men were charged in a federal criminal complaint filed last week. Collins and these two co-defendants allegedly provided security in November for the transport of what they thought was six kilograms of methamphetamine, as well as marijuana and counterfeit cigarettes.<\/p>\n In justifying the high fees for his services, Collins allegedly told an undercover FBI agent \u201cwe\u2019re cops\u201d and \u201call of our transports make it through.\u201d<\/p>\n Those named in the complaint are:<\/p>\n The fourth man arrested this morning \u2013 Maurice Desi Font, 56, of South Los Angeles \u2013 is expected to be charged by federal prosecutors in a second criminal complaint later today.<\/p>\n The four defendants \u2013 who are charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances \u2013 are expected to make their first court appearances this afternoon in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles.<\/p>\n \u201cDeputy Collins sold his badge to assist an individual he thought was a drug trafficker,\u201d said United States Attorney Nicola T. Hanna. \u201cThe deputy allegedly used his status as a law enforcement officer as a guarantee when he promised safe travels for large quantities of illegal narcotics. This case is part of our long-standing and ongoing commitment to root out corruption, particularly when it involves sworn law enforcement officers.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDeputy Collins used his position of trust and appropriated his authority to conduct lucrative criminal activity with others at the expense of Los Angeles County residents,\u201d said Paul Delacourt, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI\u2019s Los Angeles Field Office. \u201cThe FBI and the Los Angeles County Sheriff\u2019s Department address many crime areas jointly and share the goal of identifying and addressing internal problems when they arise. Sheriff McDonnell, who continues to reform the Los Angeles County Sheriff\u2019s Department, cooperated fully with the investigation. While our investigation continues to determine whether others may have been involved, this should not be viewed as an indictment of the many dedicated servants at the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, some of whom brought this unlawful activity to our attention. Today\u2019s arrest exemplifies the FBI\u2019s commitment to weeding out corruption by public officials and restoring trust in our law enforcement professionals.\u201d<\/p>\n The affidavit in support of the complaint filed last week outlines a scheme in which Collins agreed to accept tens of thousands of dollars in cash in exchange for his \u201cteam\u201d providing security during the transportation of large quantities of drugs from the Los Angeles area to Las Vegas, Nevada.<\/p>\n On November 14, after Collins negotiated a $25,000 payment in exchange for providing security during the transport of contraband, Collins, Easter and Valencia participated in a caravan that traveled to Las Vegas.<\/p>\n The trio was arrested this morning after allegedly agreeing to provide security for the transport of 20 kilograms of cocaine, six kilograms of methamphetamine and cash from Pasadena to Las Vegas, in exchange for $250,000. During negotiations, Collins said he would bring a larger team than used during the November transport, and those additional members would include other law enforcement officers. When the team arrived this morning at the pre-determined location, Font was the fourth member of the team.<\/p>\n According to the affidavit, the FBI had been investigating Collins in relation to a scheme to accept cash payments in exchange for providing security for illegal marijuana grow facilities, as well as assisting in the distribution of controlled substances.<\/p>\n An undercover FBI agent \u2013 who was posing as a family member of a wealthy investor looking to finance an illegal marijuana grow house \u2013 first met with Collins in August 2017. Collins offered to provide security for an illegal marijuana grow house and claimed to have three \u201cteams\u201d that already provided security for drug operations across San Bernardino and Los Angeles counties.<\/p>\n During one of the August meetings, Collins displayed his Sheriff\u2019s Department badge and lifted his shirt to reveal a firearm hidden in his waistband, which investigators believe was to emphasize that he was a law enforcement officer and his services therefore were more valuable to a drug organization. According to the affidavit, this meeting concluded with the undercover agent paying Collins $5,000 in \u201cgood faith\u201d money for future services.<\/p>\n Over the course of several meetings, Collins also offered to \u201cfix problems\u201d for the undercover agent, including by physically assaulting people, in exchange for cash. According to the affidavit, Collins claimed to have a very \u201cprofessional\u201d \u201cteam\u201d comprised of \u201ccops\u201d who \u201ctravel…with guns.\u201d He described how he and two others recently \u201chandled\u201d a situation for a \u201cclient\u201d in Boston by setting a luxury truck on fire.<\/p>\n During a meeting in September, the undercover agent told Collins that he was having an \u201cissue\u201d with a person in Northern California, and, in exchange for $2,000, Collins performed and delivered a \u201cwork-up\u201d on that person, which included obtaining that person\u2019s home address and driver\u2019s license number, according to the affidavit. When Collins delivered the \u201cwork-up\u201d in early October, the deputy sheriff allegedly said that he could provide additional services in relation to the Northern California person: \u201cWe can definitely, you know, kind of impact him a little bit.\u201d<\/p>\n As part of negotiations with the undercover agent, Collins also facilitated the sale of two pounds of marijuana to the agent, which Easter delivered. If this smaller \u201ctest run\u201d sale of marijuana went well, Collins offered to facilitate the sale of up to $4 million worth of marijuana every month to the agent, according to the affidavit.<\/p>\n In relation to the November transport of what Collins and his co-conspirators understood to be methamphetamine and marijuana, Collins provided a team of three \u2013 one of whom drove ahead of the transport vehicle to scout for law enforcement, one of whom accompanied an undercover agent driving the drug transport vehicle, and Collins in a follow car. According to the affidavit, Collins and his team received a total of $25,000 for this transport.<\/p>\n Following the success of the November transport, Collins discussed with the primary undercover agent another, larger shipment. During a meeting on January 5, Collins agreed to bring Easter and Valencia \u2013 as well as other team members \u2013 to oversee the transport of 20 kilograms of cocaine, six kilograms of methamphetamine and cash. Although the undercover agent initially offered $75,000 as payment to Collins and his team, according to the affidavit, Collins pushed for more, saying that his \u201cguys\u201d are used to providing security for \u201cbigger loads.\u201d Collins ultimately agreed to provide his team\u2019s services in exchange for $250,000.<\/p>\n When they arrived at the agreed-upon location this morning where the drug transport was to begin, FBI agents arrested Collins and the other three men without incident.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" LOS ANGELES\u00a0\u2013 A Los Angeles County deputy sheriff who allegedly agreed on two occasions to oversee the delivery of narcotics and other contraband in exchange for cash payments was arrested this morning, along with three other men, on federal narcotics charges. Special agents with the Federal Bureau Investigation this morning arrested Deputy Sheriff Kenneth Collins […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5409,"featured_media":115891,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":[]},"categories":[54],"tags":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n