April 30, 2014

West Palm Beach Police Officer Pleads Guilty to Selling Controlled Substances While in Uniform and on Duty

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida; George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office; David W. Bourne, Special Agent in Charge, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Office of Criminal Investigations, Miami Field Office; and Brian Kummerlen, Interim Chief, West Palm Beach Police Department, announce that Dewitt McDonald, 45, of Wellington, pled guilty to a one-count information charging him with knowingly carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A). Sentencing is scheduled for July 18, 2014 at 9:00 a.m. in Fort Lauderdale before U.S. District Judge James I. Cohn.

According to the stipulated statement of facts filed with the court, the defendant was a police officer with the West Palm Beach Police Department. While employed as a police officer, the defendant operated two businesses: Prime Performance Wellness Centers, Inc., located in Lake Worth, and Prime Health and Rejuvenation Clinic, located in Wellington, through which he unlawfully distributed anabolic steroids and other prescription drugs. The stipulated statement of facts further states that on March 5, 2013, while on duty and carrying his Smith & Wesson MP40 pistol, the defendant made a delivery of these drugs to another officer of the West Palm Beach Police Department.

The defendant faces a minimum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum statutory sentence of up to life in prison.

Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the FBI and FDA Office of Criminal Investigations. Mr. Ferrer also thanked the West Palm Beach Police Department for their cooperation and assistance in this matter. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeffrey N. Kaplan, Paul F. Schwartz, and Lawrence D. LaVecchio.