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A Miami police sergeant who authorities say planted cocaine on a suspect and stole drugs and money from dealers has been convicted of civil rights violations, narcotics distribution conspiracy and obstruction of justice, the United States Attorney's Office said Friday.
Raul Iglesias, 40, who was with the Miami Police Department for 18 years, was found guilty by a jury after a two-week trial before U.S. District Judge Cecilia Altonaga, the Attorney's Office said.
"A law enforcement badge brings with it privileges and responsibilities," U.S. Attorney Wifredo Ferrer said in a statement. "Although it bestows on the bearer the trust and respect of the community, the bearer is expected to preserve that trust through his actions: by following the law, doing what is right, and seeking to do justice."
Ferrer said that Iglesias "did just the opposite: he broke the law by planting drugs on a private citizen, distributing drugs, obstructing justice, and making false statements."
Iglesias ran the Central District's Crime Suppression unit, which targeted drug traffickers. Rick Diaz, the attorney who represented Iglesias, had defended his client, accusing undercover detectives and FBI agents of setting up Iglesias by planting incriminating evidence on him in a sting.
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An indictment cited at least four dates when Iglesias allegedly stole or planted drugs, or lied to investigators. One date was Jan. 27, 2010, when Iglesias allegedly ordered two of his officers to search a man, and when no drugs were found, Iglesias allegedly asked his officers for some "throw-down dope" to plant on the man.
Iglesias was convicted of eight counts, including two civil rights violations, conspiracy to possess and possession with the intent to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine, obstruction of justice and making false official statements, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.
Iglesias' sentencing is scheduled for March 28. He faces a maximum of up to 20 years in prison.
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Cops. They have little education and a lot of times show their stupidity by actions like this. And, don't go to sleep tonight thinking this is just a Miami problem. Cops have quotas. That's how they get promoted. The cop might think he or she is dealing with a bad guy. They find nothing to charge them on so they plant evidence. The steal from evidence lockers so they have something to drive around with to plant on people they can't find anything on. Then the Blue Shield goes up so they get away with it. I don't cry and moan when cops get shot. Sometimes it's Karma.
Only 20 years? I wouldn't feel safe with this person back on the street, even as an older man.
I'm 58 years old. I still remember when I was in about 2nd grade the police coming to our school and telling us "the policeman is your friend." I mentioned this to my Dad, a nice Southern Gentleman, and he turned around and said, "they are not your friend, never trust a cop." I do believe the old man was right. He also told me to not trust the government.
That is very sad indeed, that a father would say that to his son but trusting the government is another story altogether.
If you want to see really bad cops, go no further than Chicago.
For every bad Cop, there are probably hundreds of bad guys. Lets not through the baby out with the bath water. This guy was convicted, not all cops are bad.
My next door neighbor is a cop and every time he walks out the door to do his job, his wife and kids have to face the reality, he may not return.
The liberal use of the terms "down drugs" indicates that Miami's entire police department is corrupt. Obviously planting evidence is a normal practice in Miami.
Why didn't his police department come under fire? No cop can do this much evil without help, corruption and coordination from the Top.
If this type of corruption, double standards and just total chaos doesn't stop.
Some states will have to declare Martial LAW to clean up all the corruption.
Florida is not a Law and Order State. It never has been, with its piratical past. In modern times drug running has replaced bootlegging but the attitude is the same.
In Latin American societies police are poorly paid, poorly equipped and get little respect. They are presumed to be corruptible, favoring the wealthy and treating the poor with brutality.
Power corrupts. I am surprised that this officer was found guilty....he must have angered someone with power. Miami, and FL in general, is an outlaw town...no one there really respects the law. Sure, everywhere people criticize the law...but when I lived down there...the people (citizens and the police) didn't seem to respect laws. Laws were seen merely as obstacles that should be avoided whenever possible...police work down there is just a job...they do it for money and respect, not necessarily to enforce laws.
I guess, historically speaking, FL was a place outlaws and rejects (slaves, debtors, outcasts) fled to. It has always been more lawless and foreign down there. Nice weather though.
Congress can make no law based upon false premise
Congress can not enact law that was based upon false premise
Congress can not enforce any law that was based upon false premise
The Federal Data Quality Act, removes qualified immunity of law enforcement agents when they enforce laws that can not meet the standard of the DQA which requires verification of the scientic premise for No medicinal Use Schedule 1 moniker given to marijuana. Therefore anyone arrested for marijuana can file tort against those who incarcerated or participated in the illegal incarceration.
Nevertheless the duplicity of our Justice Department prevents forward movement against illegal legislation, followed by the presidential signature of the NDAA and the Patriot act.
Good news! there is nowhere you can hide from the impacts of Drone "due process elimination techniques". USA rule of law is invinceable, and Justice is truly spelled Just Us in the USA! Oy veh!
El jibaro de Lytle Creek
I think that's El Loco De wherever.
The Data Quality Act of 2001 has nothing whatever to do with drugs.
Please tell me:
1) That you are back on your medication, and
2) That neither you not any member of your household or immediate family owns an operable firearm.
dirty communists!!
Another example of how the war on drugs is failing the American Tax payer. Another example of how easily the money and power associated with the War on Drugs can claim another victim to self enrichment greed through the power of the law enforcement shield. Corruption run amok!
Were they good in the beginning and somewhere down the line turn bad or were they bad in the beginning?
Mohammad worship the "Moon God", wow no wonder Obama has his head in the clouds. The Koran is a mudereous book of hate.
@Carlene Brown...Obama's a Christian take your subtle birther racism elsewhere .
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=8c7_1292783989
Has Anyone ever seen where a Cop has been charged with Murder ???
Do cops have a license to kill ??
Did Crockett and Tubbs make the arrest?
This officer was expressing the frustration that many motorists and pedestrians are feeling toward discourteous, obnoxious cyclists. They blantantly ignore traffic rules/laws while wheeling around in their spandex panties. I have no doubt the cyclist in question here was in the wrong traffic lane heading in the wrong direction. Cyclists are increasingly rude and oblivious to their ridiculous superiority complexes.
Every year in this country around 19,000 cyclists are killed or injured in reported road accidents, including around 3,000 who are killed or seriously injured.
Cyclist Casualties, 2011
Killed
107
Seriously Injured
3,085
Slightly Injured
16,023
Total
19,215
These figures only include the numbers of cyclists killed or injured in road accidents that were reported to the police. It is well established that many cyclist casualties are not reported to the police, even when the cyclist is inured badly enough to be taken to hospital.
@Over-the-Top
Cyclist Casualties, 2011
How many were shot dead by police feeling threaten by their dress and attitude?
I agree people that ride these European style multispeed bikes and wear the latest fashion gear including the stoopid brain buckets are a nuance and distraction.
These Homocyclists should be curbed and restricted to up-hill paths only in the woods.
There is a joke that, in an effort to respond to American demand for "political dissidents in Cuba" to be released, and to deal with the chronic American insults regarding Cuba's lack of political freedom, Castro sent a whole bunch of "criminals, crooks and crazies" to the United States. As that character in Scarface says, "Who you callin banana boat? I am a poleetikkul reffugee! Okkai?"
And no doubt many cartels are moving north. Soon we'll have a safe secure Mexico and a lot of drug cartels and drug related violence in the US.
"NOT" taken into custody? Why because he is so trustworthy? Giving him a chance to go back to his 3rd world hovel and start over?
MIAMI--A place located in the south--red neck cops---you drug users stop conplaining---The Miami cops do a good job
Actually Miami is not a "redneck" area of FL, it's Latin. The "redneck" areas of Florida are inland or closer to the bordering states of GA and AL.
Just another example of out-of-control police in a police state. Welcome to Amerika, land of the imprisoned and home of the corrupted.
If you do not like America--move to Haiti or back to Africa or back to corrupt Samoa
The really sad part is this happens all over and people dont even realize it......
Back when I was younger, I had a relative that was a sheriff deputy. At Christmas time when my aunt and uncle would throw their Christmas party, my relative would come over, on duty, in the police car,stay about an hour, during which time he would have 5 or more, rum & cokes. When it would come time to leave he and his partner would laugh and say, well, time to go and arrest those damn drunk drivers. I also know for a fact that alot of cops abuse their wives and they almost all have girlfriends on the side. Especially nurses at the hospitals that the cops spend alot of time. I don't trust any of the cops, and they wonder why we all get nervous when they get behind us when we are driving and not even doing anything thing wrong.
When I was younger, I had a relative that was a Sheriff deputy. At Christmas time my aunt & uncle would throw a Christmas party. Sure enough, in would come my relative and his partner on duty. They would stay about an hour and in that time they would drink around 5 or more Rum & Cokes. When it would be time to leave, they would laugh and say, well time to go and arrest those damn drunk drivers. That really gave me a great out look on cops. I also knew that my relative had a girlfriend and was also married. Plus, I know that he and other cops abusive to their wives, and many have girlfriends on the side. Especially nurses, I suppose because the cops spend alot of time at the hospitals due to accidents and stuff. The cop's of today act like they are above the law. They want to pull you over just hoping that they will get an arrest. You know, it's sad that the cops can't figure out why we are so nervous if we are pulled over. Heck, I get nervous just having a cop behind me, and I didn't even do anything wrong. And then there is the Gun issue, well I guess that will be at another time. Be safe out there.
For the morons that are painting a broad brush over all of Law Enforcement are beyond ignorant and this happens in every profession and actually much much more. So don't be stupid and dumb and think that all officers are planting drugs, you are ignorant! 99% are out there saving lives and doing the right thing, 100's of thousands. The 1% need to go to jail or prison if they do this unbelievable BS. The majority of the comments are ignorant, shut your pie holes and you probably have been arrested and don't like LE!! See how a broad brush works, I think all of you have been arrested and are losers, get it!!
I have never seen a cop do anything except write speeding tickets and suck up good overtime pay from the cities they work in for events like fairs, festivals, security at sporting events etc......never seen them save anyone..maybe a cat or something...just sayin'...
oh yeah....eat dougnhuts...cant forget to add that to the list of things they do...
Only a moron leads and ends his diatribes in insults. Rant much dude? I worked with and was former law enforcement and it isn't as rosy as you pain it. Sure there's hundreds of thousands out there who are honest and who save lives, and protect, but at least 1 in 10 or higher is corrupt or dishonest. Face facts that police are human like the rest of us and are prone to lie, and make up facts like you just did. I would seriously get a mirror if I were you then stare long and hard in it.
We would to have you in the KGB---See the shirt I am wearing--If the south would have won the war of 1861--1865--there would be no dishonest police--But the south lost the Civil War because Honest Abe sent newly arrived immigrants south ( New York ) to kill--rape--burn--killing men-women-children--Now Americans are being killed--raped by illegals from Mexico and illegals from South American countries--Now Obama has gave the United States to Mexico---over 20,000,000 and counting
Dirty Harry 101---You must have your gun loaded--Did you ever finish the 1st grade--Salute our Confederate flag and our southern heritage--yor are a Obama zombie--I can tell by your gramnar
Not surprising...this is the city that had dead people casting votes for Mayor about 15 years ago....corrupt as Chicago...