FBI investigating Miami police street-crimes unit

The FBI is investigating one or more members of a Miami Police Department undercover squad in connection with allegations that they stole money and drugs from street dealers, according to sources familiar with the probe.

Mayor Tomas Regalado confirmed that federal authorities had launched an investigation, but said he was unaware of the details.

Police Chief Miguel Exposito declined to talk about the inquiry, but said his department had opened an internal probe.

``There's an ongoing investigation by us,'' Exposito told The Miami Herald.

Police spokeswoman Kenia Reyes said the internal investigation involves one officer. She said she could not provide a name. Sources said the officer has been relieved of duty with pay.

Word of the FBI investigation began to spread earlier this week. Several officers have received subpoenas to testify before a federal grand jury, according to sources.

The probe is focusing on the department's Central District crime-suppression unit, a group of cops who do undercover street work.

The FBI is looking into whether any of the plainclothes officers or their supervisor pocketed cash from drug dealers or took it and gave some to informants without properly accounting for it, according to sources. Agents also are checking allegations that officers stole drugs from dealers.

The FBI did not return calls for comment. Alicia Valle, special counsel to the U.S. attorney, declined to comment.

The police department's elite street-crime unit was scarred by scandal a decade ago when 13 officers were charged in a conspiracy to plant guns in four questionable shootings from 1995 to 1997 and lying to investigators. Two men were fatally shot.

The plainclothes officers were known as the ``Jump-Out Boys'' for their aggressive tactics fighting street crime.

Seven of the officers were convicted, four were acquitted and two received probationary sentences for cooperating with federal prosecutors.

The gun-planting shootings were the biggest Miami police scandal since the early 1980s.

Folks we all have to come together and bring pride and trust back to this department enough is enough!!!!! Leave the go Egoes at the door and work together

FBI how about catching some of these crooked politicians that committed armed robbery on the citizens of Miami? How did we go from a surplus to bankrupt in two years?

I agree. Manny Diaz and his band of thieves need to be put away.

Some of the money went to his buddies, with projects such as the Marlin Stadium, the Adrienne Arsche PAC, and the Fire Fee fiasco, but some of it just evaporated in thin air, out of everyone's sight.

FBI how about catching some of these crooked politicians that committed armed robbery on the citizens of Miami? How did we go from a surplus to bankrupt in two years?

No arsehole! FBI get the corrupt crap out of this police department....Let's clean up our own house before diverting blame elsewhere. This is another g-d damn embarrassment.

If you worked in SIS and IA, you know that many of these investigations begin in-house and the Feds are brought in for overtime expenses and jurisdiction.

I suspect that this went federal to avoid the fiasco caused by the refusal by the local State Attorneys office to file two of the cases worked recently by IA.

Only time will tell.

No arsehole! FBI get the corrupt crap out of this police department....Let's clean up our own house before diverting blame elsewhere. This is another g-d darn embarrassment.


THANK YOU!great post..

Funny how no one knows what is going on, yet certain officers are already being accused of wrongdoing....get the facts first, then accuse and critize all you want........

What do you expect from these politicos who have noidea how to supervise, manage and lead. Do you expect that SERGEANT, SEIGLE, SERGEANT ALVAREZ SERGEANT CABRERA ARE COMPETENT TO LEAD? NO WAY IN HELL THESE FOLKS CAN DO IT. THESE ARE DUMBNUTS WITH OAK LEAVES AND STRIPES, NOTHING MORE THAN POLUITAICAL CRONIES OF REGALADO AND EXPOSITO.

THE STATE ATTORNEY AND THE US ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IS GETTING READY FOR A VERY BUSY SEASON FOCUSING ON POLITICAL CORRUPTION, AND CRONYNISM. OUR CHIEF HAS STATRTED A FIGHT WITH KATHY AND THEY HAVE EMBARRASSED THE FBI.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE OFFICERS WHO PROVIDED THE INFORMATION TO THE FBI, WATHCH YOUR BACK FROM THE ADMINSITRATION.

What do you expect from these politicos who have noidea how to supervise, manage and lead. Do you expect that SERGEANT, SEIGLE, SERGEANT ALVAREZ SERGEANT CABRERA ARE COMPETENT TO LEAD? NO WAY IN HELL THESE FOLKS CAN DO IT. THESE ARE DUMBNUTS WITH OAK LEAVES AND STRIPES, NOTHING MORE THAN POLUITAICAL CRONIES OF REGALADO AND EXPOSITO.

THE STATE ATTORNEY AND THE US ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IS GETTING READY FOR A VERY BUSY SEASON FOCUSING ON POLITICAL CORRUPTION, AND CRONYNISM. OUR CHIEF HAS STATRTED A FIGHT WITH KATHY AND THEY HAVE EMBARRASSED THE FBI.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE OFFICERS WHO PROVIDED THE INFORMATION TO THE FBI, WATHCH YOUR BACK FROM THE ADMINSITRATION.

EXCELLENT POST!. IN ADDITION THE FBI DIND'T REQUESTED THE ASSISTANCE FROM THE MIAMI POLICE TO CONDUCT THE INVESTIGATION. THIS SHOWS HOW MUCH THE FBI TRUST THE CURRENT STAFF.