A 42-year-old Drug Enforcement Administration agent has allegedly fallen outside of legal jurisdiction after the field office in Little Rock alleged he accepted bribes, as well as conspired to distribute controlled substances. The agent appeared on the afternoon of Dec. 20 before a U.S. Magistrate in Arkansas, and was henceforth detained. If he is found guilty of the drug crimes of which he is accused, he will likely face severe consequences.
Since 2016, the officer was working as a group supervisor in the field office in Little Rock. He was arrested after a federal complaint asserted that he accepted cash payments from a known drug dealer between the years of 2016 and 2018 in exchange for information the DEA says was beneficial to the dealer. It is unclear from this report whether the agent is thought to have assisted in drug distribution activities, but the activity is included in his charges.
If he is found guilty of the bribery charge, the offense is punishable by anywhere up to 15 years in a federal penitentiary. More disturbingly, the distribution charge could fetch a sentence of up to life in prison. The case is still being investigated by the FBI at this time, and two assistant U.S. attorneys will prosecute.
For a law enforcement officer, a mere allegation of drug crimes could spell the end of his or her career, especially if that agent worked in the capacity of drug enforcement. This is why the importance of a criminal defense attorney cannot be overstated. An attorney will represent the accused in federal criminal court in Arkansas court to fight the allegations against him in the strongest way possible while also seeking to protect all of his legal rights.