A federal prosecutor has revealed this week that nine former and current police officers in Northern California are confronting extensive corruption charges.
These charges arise from their involvement in suspected wrongdoings, which span over several years. The alleged misdeeds include wire fraud, destruction of evidence, and the planning of racially-motivated police brutality.
Following a series of FBI raids carried out across three states, the arrest of the nine officers took place on Thursday. Ismail J. Ramsey, the U.S. Attorney for California’s Northern District, commented that the accused individuals, who have been named in four separate indictments, exhibited behavior that suggested they considered themselves exempt from the law.
Among the accused are officers from police departments in Antioch and Pittsburg, two cities located in the San Francisco Bay Area. These officers also face accusations of falsifying records to secure salary increases, conspiring to unlawfully distribute drugs, and violating the civil rights of citizens.
In addition, authorities have reported incidents in which officers intentionally deployed police dogs to cause harm to individuals. These instances reportedly occurred on approximately twenty-four occasions.
The alleged crimes involved a total of nine defendants—five from Antioch’s police force, four from Pittsburg’s police force, and one from Antioch’s community service unit. These acts are said to have taken place across Contra Costa County, situated just east of San Francisco.
The Mayor of California has made an announcement regarding a police investigation. The City Council in California has initiated an audit of the Antioch Police Department following protests sparked by racist text messages.
Over 100 Fbi Agents Have Conducted 9 Arrests Across 3 States
Beginning on Thursday morning, more than 100 agents executed arrest warrants for nine former officers in Texas, California, and Hawaii. This operation, described by Robert Tripp, the special agent in charge of the FBI’s San Francisco Field Office, as the outcome of two years of meticulous and methodical efforts.
Additionally, it was reported that the arrest of a 10th officer is currently pending.
The FBI has pinpointed the defendants and their corresponding charges in the case as follows:
- Morteza Amiri – Resides in Antioch.
- Brauli Rodriguez Jalapa – Associated with the Pittsburg and Oakland Housing Authority.
- Patrick Berhan – Located in Pittsburg.
- Ernesto Juan Mejia-Orozco – Based in Pittsburg.
- Samantha Genoveva Peterson – Serves as an Antioch community service officer.
- Amanda Carmella Theodosy (also known as Nash) – Connected to Pittsburg.
- Eric Allen Rombough – Resides in Antioch.
- Devin Wenger – Located in Antioch.
- Daniel Harris – Based in Antioch.
- Timothy Manly Williams – Resides in Antioch.
The Indictment: ‘College Degree Benefits Fraud’
Ramsey termed the initial indictment as the “college degree benefits fraud indictment.” He stated that its six defendants had collaborated to deceive the Antioch and Pittsburg police departments, extracting taxpayer funds by falsely claiming they had earned college credits towards degrees. They achieved this by hiring individuals to attend classes and take exams on their behalf.
The accused individuals, namely Amiri, Jalapa, Berhan, Mejia-Orozco, Peterson, and Theodosy, face charges of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
As outlined in the indictment, the policies of their former police departments allowed reimbursement for tuition expenses and granted salary increases to officers who obtained college degrees. Ramsey noted that all of them conspired to defraud their respective departments, seeking financial gains without putting in the necessary effort.
Indictment for Distributing Steroids
In the second indictment, Wegner and Harris are charged with:
- Conspiring to distribute and possessing with the intention to distribute anabolic steroids.
- Attempted possession with the intent to distribute anabolic steroids.
- Possession with the intent to distribute anabolic steroids.
- Destroying, altering, and falsifying records during federal investigations.
The indictment states that the two individuals worked together to unlawfully distribute the drugs. Additionally, one of them tried to erase evidence of the plan from their cellphone before giving it to the authorities.
The Accusation of Obstruction
Williams appears as the only person accused in the third indictment. He faces charges related to the destruction, alteration, and falsification of records during federal investigations, obstructing official proceedings, and violating rights under the guise of the law.
The indictment provides specifics on how the former Antioch officer was tasked with overseeing a wiretap. He used his personal cell phone to contact an individual who was under surveillance, aiming to prevent the conversation from being recorded during the wiretap.
Ramsey pointed out that the violation of civil rights originates from a situation in which Williams supposedly took someone’s phone and deliberately damaged it. This act was allegedly done to prevent any potential evidence from being disclosed.
‘Indictment for Violation of Rights’
The comprehensive 29-page indictment outlines a troubling series of civil rights infringements committed by three Antioch officers: Amiri, Rombough, and Wegner. The accusations against them involve the improper deployment of a police dog and weapons with the intent to harm individuals residing in and around Antioch.
Ramsey stated, “The defendants not only engaged in illegal use of force but also exchanged text messages wherein they bragged about it amongst themselves.” Additionally, he noted that they shared images depicting the injuries sustained by their victims and collected souvenirs such as spent ammunition from the incidents.
‘Indictment for Violation of Rights’
The comprehensive 29-page indictment outlines a troubling series of civil rights infringements committed by three Antioch officers: Amiri, Rombough, and Wegner. The accusations against them involve the improper deployment of a police dog and weapons with the intent to harm individuals residing in and around Antioch.
Ramsey stated, “The defendants not only engaged in illegal use of force but also exchanged text messages wherein they bragged about it amongst themselves.” Additionally, he noted that they shared images depicting the injuries sustained by their victims and collected souvenirs such as spent ammunition from the incidents.
In Certain Cases, Pleas of Not Guilty Have Been Submitted
Ramsey mentioned on Thursday that court appearances were in the process of being scheduled.
According to The Mercury News on Friday, Amiri, Rombough Berhan, Peterson, Jalapa, and Mejia-Orozco had already entered not guilty pleas for the charges against them, and the majority had posted bail.
If they are found guilty of the charges, the defendants might potentially face lengthy prison sentences in accordance with federal law.
‘Bound by the Law’
In a press release issued to USA TODAY on Friday, Joe Vigils, the Acting Chief of Police for Anticoh, expressed his dismay over the arrest of current and former officers from the department. He stated that this development is disheartening and has the potential to weaken the remarkable efforts put forth by the staff on a daily basis.
Vigils emphasized that any police officer who breaches the public’s trust must be held accountable. He highlighted that the effectiveness of the police force greatly hinges on the confidence and support they receive from the community.
He remarked, “Our administration has been fully cooperative with these agencies from the outset of this investigation, and we will continue to do so. No individual, not even a police officer, is exempt from the reach of the law.”
The Chief mentioned that he is unable to provide additional details concerning the ongoing criminal and internal inquiries.
Pittsburg police did not promptly respond to the inquiry made by USA TODAY.
Bullhorns and a Flash Bang Incident
A defense attorney representing Michael Rains, one of the defendants, informed NBC Bay Area that the raid had been “completely unnecessary.”
Reportedly, FBI agents, including some from Southern California, employed a flash bang and bullhorns during the forceful apprehension of his client. The attorney added that if asked, his client would have surrendered willingly.
According to the lawyer, certain officers were currently being held in a federal detention center in Oakland.
A Somber Occurrence
Antioch Mayor Lamar Thorpe released a statement on Thursday, characterizing the day as a somber one in the history of the city. He expressed that the individuals entrusted with upholding the law had allegedly violated that trust, leading to their apprehension by the FBI. Thorpe referred to these arrests as “the commencement of the conclusion of a lengthy and challenging process.”
Thorpe further defended himself against accusations of being anti-law enforcement earlier in the year when he announced the city’s intention to launch an independent investigation into a text-message case.
Thorpe asserted, “For those who have accused me and others of harboring anti-police sentiments due to our efforts to reform the Antioch Police Department, today’s arrests highlight the longstanding issues that have plagued the department for decades. Seeking to reform the Antioch Police Department is not an anti-police stance; rather, it is a stance in favor of our residents and the officers who have dutifully served and continue to serve with distinction.”
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