This Week's Corrupt Cops Stories

A North Carolina cop was acting like a gangster, a Florida deputy let his habits get the best of him, jail guards go wild, and more. Let's get to it:

In Gainesville, Florida, a Dixie County sheriff's deputy was arrested December 6 for using drugs and giving local drug dealers information about who police were investigating. James Yakubsin, 41, went down after the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) began hearing allegations that he was buying and using methamphetamine, Adderall, and Suboxone. Yakubsin warned his drug dealers to "stay away" from another drug dealer he knew was being investigated and searched law enforcement databases to ensure there were no investigations or warrants for the drug dealers he used. He is charged with purchase of a controlled substance, conspiracy to purchase a controlled substance, unlawful use of a two-way communications device and misuse of law enforcement databases.

In Gretna, Louisiana, a Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office corrections officer was arrested December 10 when he tried to sneak drugs into the Gretna jail. Guard Christopher Thomas, 30, brought the unspecified drugs into the jail but was detained before he could make contact with an inmate. He faces charges of malfeasance in office, drug possession and possession of contraband in a correctional center. And he is now no longer a prison guard.

In Gastonia, North Carolina, a former Gastonia police officer was arrested last Tuesday on numerous charges including selling marijuana and fentanyl, using a work computer to run searches for warrants and license plates and giving that information to others, and buying guns for others. Former officer Xana Dajanae is facing 32 felonies counts.

In Milford, Pennsylvania, a Pike County jail guard was arrested last Friday after detectives observed him retrieved a box that had been placed at a drop location at his direction, followed him to the prison, and found contraband and currency in his car when they searched it. Guard Michael Spensieri, 39, faces charges of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, according to the Pennsylvania State Police at Dunmore.

In Honolulu, a former Oahu Community Correctional Center guard was sentenced last Tuesday to more than four years in prison for smuggling drugs into the facility. Richard Ascencio, 52, a 20-year veteran went down after agreeing to smuggle meth into the prison in exchange for cash. Ascensio received the drugs from conspirators outside the jail, hid them in his backpack, then attempted to smuggle them behind bars. The FBI and Honolulu Police were waiting for him and found 11 packets of meth on him. He pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.