This Week's Corrupt Cops Stories

Submitted by Phillip Smith on (Issue #1216)
Drug War Issues

A Miami cop had a habit of ripping off drug dealers, a Baltimore cop was trading pain pills and confidential information for cocaine, and more. Let's get to it:

[image:1 align:right]In North Braddock, Pennsylvania, a former Braddock police officer was arrested June 30 for allegedly peddling cocaine and providing privileged police information to a drug trafficker. Former officer Craig Gibson went down during an FBI investigation into drug trafficking in the area, which found that he was running cocaine for a dealer and providing the dealer with police information that could help him evade detection by law enforcement. Gibson is charged with felony corrupt organizations, delivery of cocaine, hindering prosecution, and other offenses. He was released on a non-monetary bond.

In Coldwater, Michigan, a Lakelands Correctional Facility guard was arrested Monday on drug charges. Guard Mark Everett Goodlock, 43, went down after the state Department of Corrections asked the State Police to investigate him. He was searched upon arrival at work and then arrested for felony drug possession. No further details are available.

In Boston, a former state prison guard was sentenced June 20 for trying to smuggle drugs into the Middleton House of Corrections. Former guard Gregorit Sanchez went down when he was searched upon arrival at work and found to be carrying a package containing 33 grams of fentanyl pills, one gram of crack cocaine, 14 grams of powder cocaine, and Suboxone sublingual films, as well as cigarettes and a SIM card for a contraband cellphone. He was subsequently charged along with 20 other people in a multi-state cocaine and fentanyl trafficking conspiracy and pleaded guilty to the charges. He got five years' probation, with the first year served on home detention.

In Baltimore, a former Baltimore police officer was sentenced Monday to 2 ½ years in federal prison on drug and firearms charges. Former officer Steven Umberto Angelini admitted in court to conspiring with a local drug dealer, providing him with prescription opioids in return for cocaine, and checking confidential police records for the dealer in the investigation into the killing of the drug dealer's supplier. Angelini admitted he turned a video related to the killing over to the dealer purely in exchange for cocaine. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine and oxycodone and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

In Miami, a former Miami police officer was sentenced Tuesday to more than 11 years in federal prison for using his law enforcement position to illegally stop drivers and steal what he thought were drug proceeds and 15 pounds of cocaine. Former officer Frenel Cenat, 41, went down after an informant told police Cenat had previously conducted traffic stops of individuals known to have engaged in drug transactions to steal the drugs and/or money those individuals were transporting. On Oct. 16, 2023, a friend introduced Cenat to the snitch at a meeting in Broward County, during which the three of them discussed an opportunity for Cenat to use his police officer position to stop an individual immediately following a drug transaction and steal approximately $50,000 in drug proceeds that the individual would have in their vehicle. Cenat indicated that he conducts the traffic stops outside of his jurisdiction and while off duty. On November 3, 2023, he watched two drivers in a Miami Gardens parking lot do what appeared to be a drug deal, stopped one of the drivers, and seized a backpack containing $49,000 in cash, letting the driver go. He did it again on November 16, 2023. But in both cases, the drivers were actually FBI agents, and after the second ripoff, agents arrested Cenat. He had $80,000 in cash and 15 pounds of fake cocaine, as well as $2,000 from the earlier ripoff.

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