A Miami police officer was on Thursday arrested and slapped with a number of fees after he was allegedly caught stealing money and medicines from suspects throughout visitors stops.
Miami Police Division Officer Frenel Cenat, 40, was arrested following an undercover operation by FBI brokers who posed as drug sellers that Cenat allegedly tried to extort, according to the Justice Department.
A federal prison grievance was filed charging Cenat with tried extortion underneath colour of official proper, theft of presidency funds, and tried possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
In line with the prison grievance, through the first visitors cease on November 3, Cenat pulled over a driver he believed was transporting medicine however was truly an spy posing as a drug trafficker.
Cenat recognized himself as “Officer Martez” of the “Miami PD – Dade County Narcotics Unit,” and informed the motive force that he had been investigating him, after which gave the motive force the choice of giving Cenat the backpack crammed with $52,000 in $100 payments or going to jail. Cenat then took the bag of cash, let the motive force go away, and met up with the person who informed him concerning the deal, giving him $13,000 and preserving the opposite $39,000.
Later that month, on Nov. 16, officers carried out a second sting. As soon as once more, Cenat pretended to have been investigating the motive force and gave him the choice to both give Cenat cash and medicines or danger going to jail, in keeping with the grievance.
“Cenat then took the duffle bag containing $80,000 in $100 payments and seven kilograms of faux cocaine and allowed the motive force to depart. When Cenat arrived on the location organized for the break up of the proceeds, he was arrested, and the 7 kilogram-shaped packages and a big amount of $100 payments have been present in his official MPD car,” court docket paperwork mentioned.
He’s set to face a Fort Lauderdale federal choose on November 28.
The costs have been introduced by U.S. Lawyer Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, amongst others.
“The U.S. Lawyer’s Workplace and our legislation enforcement companions are dedicated to rooting out corrupt officers,” acknowledged Lapointe.
“We’ll proceed to research and prosecute corrupt officers, to incorporate legislation enforcement officers, that breach the general public’s belief by finishing up prison acts. The U.S. Lawyer’s Workplace is grateful for the invaluable help supplied by FBI, DEA, and Metropolis of Miami Police Division on this matter.”
