Former Raleigh Police Officer Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking and Firearms Charges

Strategic Insights -

Keven Rodriguez, a former Field Operations Division Officer with the Raleigh Police Department, has pled guilty to three drug trafficking and firearms charges for distributing cocaine while on duty. As part of his plea agreement, Rodriguez will permanently surrender his law enforcement certification and be barred from any law enforcement certification in North Carolina. Rodriguez faces at least ten years in prison when sentenced later this year. The case highlights the severity of internal corruption within law enforcement agencies and the importance of maintaining the public's trust.

Key Takeaways:

  • Keven Rodriguez, a former Raleigh Police Department officer, pled guilty to three drug trafficking and firearms charges for distributing cocaine while working on duty.
  • Rodriguez sold 56 grams of cocaine to a confidential informant while in uniform with his duty-issued firearm on January 24, 2022.
  • The officer sold cocaine to the informant on two other occasions, February 2, 2022, and February 8, 2022, while still employed with the Raleigh Police Department.
  • Rodriguez was arrested on February 23, 2022, and while awaiting trial, he was found in possession of smoking paraphernalia in his jail cell.
  • As part of his plea agreement, Rodriguez will permanently surrender his law enforcement certification and be barred from any law enforcement certification in North Carolina.
  • The case was part of an Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force Operation (OCDETF), which is a multi-agency approach to disrupting and dismantling high-level drug traffickers.
  • The prosecution of Rodriguez was led by the DEA and the Raleigh Police Department, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly L. Sandling prosecuting the case.
  • The DEA encourages parents and children to educate themselves about the dangers of legal and illegal drugs through their interactive websites.

Statistics:

  • 56 grams of cocaine were sold by Rodriguez to a confidential informant on one occasion.
  • Rodriguez sold cocaine to the informant on three separate occasions within a two-week period.
  • 500 grams or more of cocaine were the subject of the conspiracy charge to which Rodriguez pled guilty.
  • At least ten years in prison is the minimum sentence Rodriguez faces when sentenced later this year.
  • The case was prosecuted as part of an OCDETF Operation, which is a multi-agency approach to targeting high-level drug traffickers.

Sources:

  • [U.S. Department of Justice: "Ex-Officer Pleads Guilty in Major Drug Trafficking Case"]
  • [City of Raleigh: "Raleigh Police Officer Arrested on Federal Charges"]
  • [DEA: "Former Police Officer Pleads Guilty to Narcotics and Firearms Charges"]
  • [Raleigh News and Observer: "Ex-Raleigh police officer pleads guilty to selling cocaine"]