Officer Caught by DEA Allegedly Selling $2,600 Worth of Drugs While on Duty

A police officer from Raleigh, North Carolina, is facing charges after he was caught allegedly selling an informant more than $2,600 worth of cocaine from his vehicle while on duty and in uniform.

Keven Rodriguez, 33, who was arrested and charged on Wednesday evening, is a field operations division officer for the Raleigh Police Department, and appeared in court for the first time Thursday morning.

During a press conference on Thursday afternoon, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina Michael Easley said a federal criminal complaint was filed by a U.S. magistrate judge this week.

The officer has been charged with the distribution of a quantity of cocaine and possession of a firearm.

"I want to be clear that a complaint is merely an allegation and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty," Easley emphasized during the press conference.

According to the complaint, the investigation was launched after members of the Raleigh Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) received information about Rodriguez from two confidential sources, who alleged that he was distributing controlled substances. Immediately upon hearing this, the DEA, Raleigh PD, and U.S. Attorney's Office launched an investigation into Rodriguez in November, according to officials.

As part of the investigation, a confidential informant arranged to meet with Rodriguez on January 24 at an abandoned car dealership. Rodriguez drove to the meeting location in his marked patrol car. He was also in uniform and had his service weapon on him, according to the affidavit.

A confidential informant is a secret source used by police and other agencies to obtain information during investigations. Confidential informants are commonly used for drug busts because the source is able to remain undercover and is not a part of the police.

The informant handed Rodriguez $2,600 in cash and was given a substance that was confirmed by the lab to be cocaine. According to the complaint, there were 56 grams of cocaine, making it a federal crime.

"In summary, this complaint alleges that an on-duty Raleigh Police Department officer, in his police cruiser, with his gun, dealt drugs," Easley said during the press conference.

He also commended the Raleigh Police Department and Chief Estella Patterson for spearheading the investigation.

During the press conference, Patterson said she wanted to ensure transparency in order to maintain the public's trust and said the arrest would not have been possible without the federal agencies.

"Today is an occasion that no head of a law enforcement agency desires for their department. The arrest of Mr. Rodriguez is a disappointment to me, the Raleigh Police Department and the citizens and residents of our community," she said.

If convicted, Rodriguez can face a minimum sentence of five years and a maximum of life in prison. He is currently on administrative leave without pay.