Miami Police Sergeant Indicted for Civil Rights Violations and Obstruction of Justice

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida; Jeffrey C. Mazanec, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office; and Manuel Orosa, Chief, City of Miami Police Department (MPD), announced the indictment of Raul Iglesias, 40, of Miami, Florida, a City of Miami Police sergeant, on nine counts, including conspiracy to commit a violation of civil rights; civil rights violations; conspiracy to possess and possession with the intent to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine; obstruction of justice; and making false official statements.

The indictment alleges that the defendant, in his capacity as a supervisor of an anti-narcotics unit in the City of Miami Police Department, planted cocaine on a subject, stole drugs and money from other subjects, obstructed justice, and made false statements to federal investigators.

The defendant is expected to make his initial appearance in federal court before U.S. Magistrate William C. Turnoff on Friday, July 20, 2012. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum statutory maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison.

The indictment is the result of a joint investigation by the City of Miami Police Department’s Internal Affairs Unit and the FBI’s Public Corruption Squad. Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the FBI and the City of Miami Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ricardo Del Toro and Michael Berger.

An indictment is only an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls.