SAN ANTONIO — A four-year FBI investigation ended with 10 law enforcement officers in handcuffs, all accused of either theft or accepting payoffs to protect alleged drug shipments.
Eight San Antonio police officers, a sheriff's deputy and a Bexar County constable were arrested Thursday, said Roderick Beverly, the special agent in charge of the FBI's San Antonio division. Some were in uniform when they were taken away in handcuffs.
San Antonio Police Chief Al Philippus said the department was "sickened and shocked by the inexcusable actions of these officers."
"They have hurt this department."
The FBI began investigating in 1997 after hearing rumors that officers in the area had been working with drug dealers.
Over a four-year period, federal agents posing as drug dealers offered the officers money to protect fake drug shipments from rival dealers and from police intervention, Beverly said.
He said nine of the officers were paid up to $6,500 to move what they thought was up to five kilograms of cocaine from a bus station and airport to hotels. Some were in uniform and carrying department-issued weapons at the time, Beverly said.
"These officers believed they were involved in a real drug deal," said U.S. Attorney Bill Blagg. "We paid for their badges and guns."
Nine of the officers, all in their 20s and 30s, and two civilians were charged with conspiracy and attempting to possess with intent to distribute cocaine. U.S. Magistrate Judge John W. Primomo ordered them held without bond pending bail hearings next week. They could face 10 years to life in prison if convicted.
The Bexar County Sheriff's deputy, Richard Buchanan, 44, was charged with breaking into a car and stealing $2,000 of public money. His bond was set at $25,000.
Attorney Hilda Valadez, representing San Antonio Police Sgt. Conrad Fragozo, 36, said she was surprised by the arrest.
"I know him to be an exceptional officer," she said. "Excellent."
All the police officers charged were placed on administrative leave without pay, and the department will investigate whether the officers' supervisors should be disciplined, Philippus said. The department has more than 1,800 employees.