Ex-Wilson County deputy gets 18 years for trying to sell drug probe information www.privateofficer.com

 

Nashville TN May 3 2012 A federal judge sentenced a former Wilson County sheriff’s deputy, working on a federal task force, to 18 years in prison for attempting to sell information about a drug trafficking investigation.

John Patrick Edwards, 39, of Mt. Juliet pleaded guilty in February to corruptly obstructing justice for his efforts to sell information about a large-scale federal wiretap investigation to the targets of the probe.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Drug Enforcement Agency conducted the investigation into cocaine and marijuana trafficking. The case included members of a Mexican drug cartel.

After a three-hour hearing that lasted until 9 p.m. Friday, U.S. District Court Judge William Haynes sentenced Edwards to 18 years and four months, agreeing with prosecutors that the term should be above the federal sentencing guidelines.

U.S. Attorney Jerry Martin said the vast majority of law-enforcement officers are honorable and perform very difficult jobs.

“But we can’t let rogue agents and officers taint the rest of us,” he said. “This sends a powerful message to everyone that no one is above the law.”

The maximum Edwards could have faced was 20 years in prison. The sentencing guidelines for Edwards, which are advisory, ranged from nine to 11 years.

Prosecutors asked Haynes to consider the stiffer penalty but did not request the maximum because no law enforcement officers were harmed as a result of Edwards’ actions.

Martin said FBI agents stopped Edwards from carrying out his plan. Federal prosecutors take obstruction of justice seriously, especially if someone’s actions could harm a law enforcement officer, he said.

Had Edwards been successful, his actions could have led to the deaths of agents working the drug case, Martin said.

Edwards had worked on the federal investigation in 2010 and 2011 and had details of the probe, including the name of the confidential informant. In April 2011, Edwards sought to sell the names of the informant and the two lead agents on the case. He wanted $100,000 and a Range Rover in return.

An attorney for Edwards did not return a message Monday seeking comment.

source-the tennessean

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