Baltimore police officer indicted on crack, heroin, pot, and gun charges

[Jeebus]

A federal grand jury indicted Baltimore police officer Kendell L. Richburg Thursday on gun and drug conspiracy charges.

In an indictment unsealed Friday, federal prosecutors allege that between January, 2011 and October, 2012 Richburg, 36, was involved in a conspiracy to distribute heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine and marijuana. He is further accused of being in possession of at two hand guns to further the alleged drug dealing.

"Corrupt police officers insult the many honorable officers who serve with integrity," said U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein in a statement. "Any officers who may be tempted to abuse their authority should be on notice that we have the power and obligation to hold them accountable."

Baltimore Police Commissioner Anthony W. Batts called the charges "deeply disturbing".

Hopefully the new chief can weed out more corruption in the city PD.

[Jeebus]

By looking out for the informant while carrying a service weapon, however, federal prosecutors say Richburg became an armed participant in a drug trafficking conspiracy. On Monday, the 13-year veteran pleaded guilty to two charges and now faces a minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum of life.

Richburg admitted in his plea, however, that he skimmed some of the department funds that he paid the unidentified informant. The investigation began when the FBI received information that Richburg was selling stolen property. Agents later used a source to purchase goods from Richburg, including iPads and iPhones.

As Richburg conspired with the informant, the two discussed plans to set up innocent people. In one recorded phone call in September 2012, Richburg directed the informant to plant a gun in the vehicle of an unlicensed cabdriver, known as a "hack," so that Richburg could arrest him on a firearms violation, according to court records. Prosecutors said the plot was not carried out.

"You get in a hack and drop the burner in the hack," Richburg was recorded saying, according to his plea agreement. "Get a hack for three blocks. Drop it. We got to think outside the box to get this done."