According to a press release from the U.S. Department of Justice, Byron Whitaker, 32, a former patrol officer with the Florida A&M Police Department pleaded guilty to federal charges of conspiracy to distribute marijuana and making false statements to a federal agent on Monday.
During the plea, Whitaker admitted that between January and May of last year, he purchased marijuana from a local drug supplier for distribution. At the time Whitaker was employed as a uniformed officer for the Universities police department. Whitaker even made a deal while on duty in his patrol car, but U.S. Assistant Attorney Karen Rhew-Miller says, “We have no evidence that Whitaker sold drugs to students.”
In August of last year, when DEA agents questioned Whitaker, he lied and stated he had not personally seen the supplier with drugs and had not received or purchased drugs from the supplier on any occasion.
“Whitaker turned himself in to the U.S. Marshals at the federal courthouse in Tallahassee in November of last year” said Rhew-Miller. “Evidence was developed against him as part of a larger drug investigation.”
U.S. Attorney Pamela Marsh commends the joint investigation work of the DEA, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Florida Highway Patrol, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Florida Highway Patrol, and the Florida Department of Transportation. The investigation is still ongoing.
“This case presents the disturbing scenario in which an officer sworn to uphold the law is actually found to be intentionally violating the law,” said U.S. Attorney Marsh. “When public officers violate the trust of our community, we will take every step to fairly and uniformly bring them to justice.”
Whitaker had been employed on force for seven years. He did not have any previous police experience before working for the FAMU police department and was dismissed in December of last year when information was first announced.
“I am very, very, very disappointed by the conduct by someone who has sworn to uphold the law, it’s even more disappointing when one of your own crosses the line especially in the manner which he did.” FAMU Chief of Police Calvin Ross said. “When there is an officer that tarnishes his or her badge, they will be dealt with just as any other criminal. But this is no reflection on the quality or integrity of officers of this department.”
Whitaker is facing separate sentences up to five years’ imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute, and a maximum of five years for making false statements. It has not has not been determined how much marijuana he is accused of pushing but will be made at the time of his sentencing in March. Whitaker has been released on bond.
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