MIAMI — A Miami law enforcement officer was arrested immediately after currently being accused of pulling above motor vehicles suspected of carrying drug trafficking suspects and then getting their medicines and cash, in accordance to court files.
Broward County Sheriff’s Office environment
Frenel Cenat, 40, was arrested Thursday by U.S. marshals. The suspect is going through a number of costs, including theft of governing administration funds, attempted possession with intent to distribute cocaine and Hobbs Act extortion underneath coloration of formal correct and attempted Hobbs Act extortion under colour of official proper.
The suspect appeared in court Friday in Fort Lauderdale federal court docket but it was not instantly very clear if bond has been set in the scenario.
The Miami Herald noted that Cenat has been on the city’s pressure considering that 2008 and worked in the department’s evidence room.
In a written assertion, Miami law enforcement Chief Manuel Morales stated: “The Miami Police Office is fully commited to doing work with our law enforcement associates to be certain the integrity of our company is over and above reproach. The arrest of Officer Cenat is the consequence of a joint procedure centered on figuring out corrupt cops, and it is really an instance of the repercussions when a single of our individual betrays their oath of place of work and tarnishes their badge.”
In accordance to the 15-website page grievance, FBI brokers explained they were tipped off about the officer’s activities in September by a resource beneath investigation for drug trafficking things to do.
The tipster accused Cenat of sporting his uniform and using his police-issued vehicle during the alleged targeted traffic stops, in accordance to federal charging documents.
Authorities stated the officer explained to the resource he normally done the traffic stops even though off duty and exterior his jurisdiction for the reason that “on responsibility they (MPD)bought personal computers on and can observe you,” he allegedly claimed.
Following acquiring the tipster’s information and facts, authorities set up an undercover sting to focus on Cenat on Nov. 3 with FBI officers posing as drug traffickers exchanging cocaine and $52,000 when in the parking ton of Stadium Hotel in Miami Gardens, the federal grievance states..
The officer pulled about the undercover FBI agent and demanded a backpack with the income from the agent, who was instructed to hand over the bag or go to jail. Immediately after getting the bag made up of the funds, the complaint says the Miami officer returned to his dwelling in Boynton Beach.
The felony criticism lays out an additional sting on Nov. 16 that occurred in the parking large amount of a Deerfield Beach Fairfield Inn.
In that incident the accused officer allegedly pulled above a gray Toyota Tacoma and confiscated a blue duffle bag that contained prop cocaine and $80,000 in cash. When he went to split the proceeds with the undercover resource, Cenat was taken into custody by FBI brokers.
