Salt Lake City (AP) According to court filings, two Department of Homeland Security officers in Utah engaged in an illegal conspiracy that generated up to $300,000 in revenue by selling drugs that had previously been confiscated as evidence through an informant.
According to an FBI affidavit submitted in the case, the agents sold a confidential informant an illegal synthetic drug known as bath salts once or twice a week starting last spring and ending in early December. Usually, $5,000 was paid for one ounce (28 grams) of the narcotic, which the informant would subsequently resell for a higher price.
During his incarceration, federal agents persuaded the informant, who has a long criminal background, to work for them after his release. However, the affidavit stated that the informant claimed he was forced to engage in criminal sales by the agents in addition to carrying out lawful controlled purchases from suspected drug dealers.
Special Agent David Cole of Homeland Security Investigations was detained in Salt Lake on Friday and charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled drug in U.S. District Court.
During his initial court appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dustin Pead on Monday, he was ordered to be held.
According to court filings, a second Homeland Security special agent who was only identified as Person A sold drugs to the informant. However, it wasn’t immediately apparent if that agent might also be charged.
Alexander Ramos, Cole’s lawyer, stated that he was still gathering facts about the matter and declined to explicitly address the criminal accusations.
Dave is a highly regarded member of the federal law enforcement community and has served his community for many years as an exceptional agent with HSI, according to Ramos. He went on to say that he was eager to address the accusations in court.
Authorities claim that ingesting synthetic bath salts, often referred to as Alpha-PVP or cathinone, might cause strange behavior like paranoia and tremendous strength, comparing it to the effects of cocaine, methamphetamine, or ecstasy. They have nothing to do with real bathing products.
According to the affidavit, investigators found approximately $67,000 in cash, an unknown amount of alleged bath salts, and other evidence during searches of the agents’ residences, government cars, work cubicles, and a safety deposit box.
According to FBI Special Agent Tristan Hall’s court affidavit, Cole and Person A are believed to have made between $150,000 and $300,000 in unlawful earnings based on an average of one or two narcotics purchases each week, each comprising 25 grams of bath salts and costing $5,000.
After the informant’s defense lawyer informed the U.S. Attorney in Utah in October that Cole and the second agent had forced him to perform potentially illegal activities, the inquiry got underway. According to the affidavit, the informant then worked with the FBI for financial gain and out of concern for his own safety.
According to the affidavit, the informant claimed that Cole and the second agent obtained the drugs they sold him from evidence found during a previous Homeland Security investigation. The affidavit stated that officials were still confirming the informant’s claims and that the second agent seemed to have evidence custodian responsibilities.
According to the affidavit, additional information provided by the informant was verified by surveillance and other sources.
According to court filings, Cole may spend up to 10 years or more behind bars if proven guilty. Federal prosecutors expressed grave concerns that Cole may attempt to impede the case by tampering with witnesses, hurting himself, or escaping in a petition to detain him.
Sandra Barker, an FBI spokesman, would to comment on the case or if there were any other people under investigation.
The document states that Cole and the second agent were suspended from their Homeland Security investigation credentials but were not terminated. Emails for response from the Department of Homeland Security on Tuesday were not answered.
Cole’s arraignment is set for December 20 in Salt Lake City.
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From Billings, Montana, Brown reported.
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