20 Defendants, Including 14 Officers, Charged in Bribery Scheme

Jackson, Mississippi – Fourteen current and former law-enforcement officers face charges alongside 20 defendants in Mississippi and Tennessee. They are accused of accepting bribes from drug traffickers, which officials call "a monumental betrayal of public trust." The investigation culminated in arrests following a multi-year effort by federal agents posing as narcotics dealers.

The sting operation was initiated after complaints from real drug traffickers emerged about paying bribes to law enforcement officers for police protection. US Attorney Clay Joyner for the Northern District of Mississippi highlighted that the original complaints came from those involved in drug trafficking, which led to the federal operation.

The bribery network reportedly extended from the Mississippi Delta region into Memphis, Tennessee, and as far as Miami, Florida. Some officers are alleged to have received bribes ranging from $20,000 to $37,000, according to the prosecutor. These officers believed they were dealing with fake narcotics that represented substantial amounts of cocaine.

FBI Deputy Director Andrew Bailey criticized the accused officers, stating, "They sold out the public." He emphasized that they betrayed the trust placed in them, disgraced their badges, and undermined the efforts of genuine law enforcement professionals in the region.

The arrests coincide with ongoing US airstrikes in South America targeted at alleged drug traffickers, further emphasizing the government’s commitment to combating drug-related crime.