Miami Cop Stole Cash, Drugs During Traffic Stops, FBI Says

A Florida police officer has been arrested and hit with a slew of fees for allegedly stealing money and medicines from suspects throughout visitors stops.

Miami Police Division Officer Frenel Cenat, 40, was arrested Thursday following an undercover operation by FBI brokers who posed as drug sellers that Cenat allegedly tried to extort, based on the Justice Division.

Authorities acted on a tip from a confidential supply that mentioned Cenat routinely pulled over folks identified to have purchased or bought medication and stole these medication together with their cash.

On Nov. 3, Cenat pulled over a driver he believed was transporting medication however was truly an spy posing as a drug trafficker, based on a legal criticism. Cenat falsely recognized himself as “Officer Martez” and informed the motive force he would let him go if he gave Cenat his backpack with greater than $50,000. After allegedly taking the cash, Cenat let the spy go.

Later that month, on Nov. 16, officers performed 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, based on the criticism.

“You wish to go house tonight or spend 30 years in…federal jail?” Cenat informed the undercover officer, based on the criticism.

The spy gave Cenat a duffle bag full of $80,000 and seven kilograms of pretend cocaine. Cenat then requested for his telephone quantity.

“You’re employed for me now,” Cenat mentioned, based on the criticism. “If I name you and also you don’t reply…I’m coming for you.”

Cenat was arrested later that day.

In September, two former Cleveland officers had been sentenced to jail for stealing greater than $14,000 from six victims that they’d pulled over throughout visitors stops. Each former officers had been sentenced to 2 years in jail.

Cenat has been charged with tried Hobbs Act extortion, theft of presidency funds, and tried possession with intent to distribute cocaine. His subsequent court docket look is Nov. 28.