2 Miami Police Officers Arrested
MIAMI — Authorities Friday provided details in the arrests of two Miami police officers accused of extortion and drug trafficking.
Officer Geovani Nunez and Detective George Hernandez were arrested Thursday by the FBI.
Nunez and Hernandez, both 13-year veterans of the Miami Police Department, are accused of conspiring and attempting to commit extortion by accepting bribes to protect and facilitate criminal activities, including the transportation of stolen goods and cocaine.
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Authorities said the officers provided a variety of illegal services to an individual who represented himself as being involved in a number of criminal activities for which he was looking to recruit police officers to protect and facilitate his illegal operations. In reality, however, the individual was a cooperating witness working with FBI undercover agents. The alleged criminal activities were all staged operations done as part of the investigation.
According to the criminal complaint filed Friday, Nunez and Hernandez escorted a truck carrying stolen computers through portions of Interstate 95 for which Nunez received $4,000 and Hernandez received $2,000. They allegedly did the same for a truck carrying stolen unspecified merchandise for which Nunez received $3,000 and Hernandez received $2,000.
In addition, according to the complaint, Nunez and Hernandez protected a truck carrying six kilograms of cocaine through portions of U.S. Highway 441 for which each officer received $6,000.
The complaint indicates Nunez conducted numerous other similar criminal activities on his own.
Authorities said Nunez received a total of $28,000 and Hernandez a total of $11,500 for their services. Authorities said all meetings were video and audio recorded.
The charges follow an eight-month undercover investigation conducted by the United States Attorney’s Office and the FBI.
“These officers sold their badges and their loyalty to the highest bidder, disgracing themselves in the process,” Miami Police Chief John Timoney said. “However, their actions do not negate the tremendous police work done day in and day out by the men and women of the Miami Police Department. The Miami Police Department will be a better organization without them.”
Both officers were suspended with pay. They were expected to be released from jail on bond Friday evening.
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Comments
Comment from steven-s fla
Time: June 24, 2008, 6:55 am
I actually know Nunez along with many other City of Miami PD officers. This is not something I could see most of these guys doing, but wasn’t suprised when I found out about Nunez. They actually have 1 or 2 FBI officers undercover as uniform cops working there at all times. It’s kind of sad that they missed this and the State Attorneys Office didn’t!
Comment from blue4631
Time: July 13, 2008, 5:56 pm
I went to High school with Mr. Nunez. Haven’t had that friendship with him since about 1991 or 1992. I knew him as having a good heart, unselfish, and had a decent upbringing. Where do they go wrong?? It hurts me to see someone putting himself in these situations. He through his life away for what??? The comment from robert above– its not a third world police force– don’t generalize–there are very good officers in that force–that if you are in the wrong place at the wrong time could save your life–then you might think of that force differently– or the way some humans are, you might not!
Comment from robert smith
Time: June 3, 2008, 9:33 am
well, well, well. what can you expect from a third world police force. china has nothing over miami.