Former Philadelphia Police Officer Convicted in Cover-Up
| U.S. Attorney’s Office January 24, 2014 |
PHILADELPHIA—Robertito Fontan, 42, a former narcotics officer with the Philadelphia Police Department, was found guilty today of two counts of making false statements to federal investigators concerning his romantic relationship with one of the police department’s confidential informants.
In 2003, Fontan recruited Person #1 to become a confidential informant and recommended her as a confidential informant to other law enforcement officers. Several months later, Fontan became intimately involved with Person #1. During their relationship, Fontan gave gifts and money to Person #1. In 2007, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) began investigating Person #1’s former paramour, a suspected drug dealer, and Fontan was assisting with the investigation.
In 2008, the FBI began investigating a suspected leak of information in the DEA investigation. As part of the leak investigation, the FBI interviewed Fontan about his intimate relationship with Person #1. The jury found that Fontan lied to agents about his relationship with Person #1 and about giving gifts and money to Person #1.
Fontan faces a maximum possible sentence of 10 years in prison. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for April 28, 2014.
The case was investigated by the FBI and the Philadelphia Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Neuman Leverett.