Four former LCSO Deputies are talking to FBI about alleged corruption at LCSO

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Four former deputies of the Lee County Sheriff's Office are talking to the FBI about alleged corruption.

And the former head of internal affairs said he had several conversations with Sheriff Mike Scott about those corruption allegations, but nothing ever came of them.

In October, The News-Press received documents involved in a federal investigation implicating at least one sheriff's deputy in offering protection to a known drug trafficker, but a News-Press investigation found that's old news to some former members of the sheriff's office.

More than two years ago, the then-head of internal affairs told The News-Press he was investigating a sheriff's deputy and his alleged connection to a drug trafficker, and three other former deputies filed a complaint with the FBI about the same situation.

But nothing ever came of the sheriff's investigation or the FBI complaint, and the FBI agent who did not investigate is now working for the sheriff's office earning less money.

RELATED: Fort Myers police, Lee County sheriff deputy implicated in corruption, documents show

The News-Press emailed questions for Sheriff Scott Monday morning, Dec. 18, to the department's public information office, as requested. Sgt. Anita Iriarte acknowledged receipt of the questions, but despite two additional requests, they were not answered as of Friday afternoon, Dec. 22.

This all started with a review of the Fort Myers Police Department earlier this year, which confirmed reports of heavy-handed policing as well as accused Fort Myers officers of leaking information and protecting drug dealers known for killing witnesses. The News-Press obtained additional documents associated with that review as the result of a legal battle with the city of Fort Myers in October.

And those documents, while heavily censored, shed light on Fort Myers and Lee County law enforcement's alleged connection to drug trafficking.

“It was reported that (censored) sell narcotics under the protection of a Deputy (censored),” the report shows. In another area, it reads, “(censored) reported that the Deputy allowed (censored) to use an LCSO vehicle to transport the narcotics.”

Mike Hollow, who served as commander of Lee sheriff's office internal affairs from 2014 to 2016 and recently lost a bid for Cape Coral mayor, said he was investigating the allegations in early 2015. The FBI contacted Hollow shortly after The News-Press published the documents implicating a sheriff's deputy, Hollow said.

Hollow declined to comment further, citing the active federal investigation.

Sheriff's office records from March 2016 show three former sheriff’s office deputies – Kevin Calderone, George Schwing and Mike Zaleski — filed a complaint about corruption with then-FBI agent James Rankine.


The trio, who at the time were leading the Lee County Deputies Association, met with Rankine in May 2015, Zaleski told The News-Press. He said part of their complaint involved:

Opiates seized as evidence in past cases went missing from the evidence room, and evidence showing criminal intent was either ignored or destroyed.

A high-ranking member of the sheriff’s office was protecting a known drug trafficker.
The News-Press requested documents associated with these allegations but was told they no longer existed, while others weren't provided.

A Lee County sheriff's spokeswoman said a completed internal investigation into a deputy accused of stealing narcotics had been destroyed as allowed by state law. That law requires law enforcement agencies to keep internal investigation records for one year if unsubstantiated and only five years if substantiated.

After almost two months of repeated public records requests, the sheriff's office has not provided personnel files for deputies involved with these allegations.

Zaleski made it clear that he, Calderone and Schwing were not witnesses to the alleged violations. They were receiving complaints from other law enforcement and went to the FBI on behalf of the union, he said. (Records also show the trio are involved in an active lawsuit filed on behalf of the union in 2014 against Sheriff Scott stemming from contract negotiations.)

The FBI has no record of the May 2015 complaint by the three deputies.

Rankine retired from the FBI in February making $152,000 a year, and accepted a new job for $100,000 a year with the sheriff's office — the same agency he declined to investigate, deeming the trio’s information unworthy because it was third-party information, records show. The sheriff's office did not respond to questions about Rankine.

RELATED: Name of dead man surfaces in investigation of Fort Myers police

But the U.S. Attorney's Office has a different opinion. Records show the allegations of a deputy accused of protecting a drug dealer is now part of a federal investigation.

Zaleski told The News-Press about a scene that had been described to him where a sheriff’s deputy conducted a traffic stop and found this dealer in possession of drugs while driving an undercover sheriff's office vehicle. But a higher-ranking deputy reportedly ordered the drug dealer to be released without any charges, he said.

“Further allegations suggested that there was a prolonged, inappropriate relationship between the deputy and the dealer,” Zaleski said in an email.

All four former members pointed to problems at the sheriff's office as the reason for their departure, among other personal issues and desires, and most are now running their own business.

Zaleski, Calderone and Schwing all declined to name the high-ranking deputy and the dealer, saying that information was given to the FBI two years ago and they are going back to talk again.

"We cannot comment on the appropriateness of failing to investigate the allegations provided to us by sworn law enforcement officers," Zaleski said.

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The key word is former. Since those rejects have left this agency there has been raises, starting pay has been increased and a step plan is being discussed.

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REALLY, this is old news won’t go anywhere. These old has been cops that leave LCSO disgruntled will NEVER get the last laugh. Calderon was screwing his supervisor and beating his wife, Schwing ate all our Christmas cookies and Hollows girlfriend(s) are talking to get ahead! Enjoy your Christmas cards explaining your mishaps with proof.

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Hollow had a memo come out just because of his ex girlfriend in communications. Yes she shared with a buddy which we all know doesn’t take long to get to everyone! “TS”

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Merry Christmas Mike Scott from Kevin C , Mike H, and several others. Happy New Years in Prison

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Merry Christmas Mike Scott from Kevin C , Mike H, and several others. Happy New Years in Prison

Since FBI is in town they can check out the Airport Cops. Chief Shawn, Captain Brian, Captain Gardner, Lieutenant Katie, Sergeants Carlos and Bob, Officers Eric, Ashley, John, Chris will all make good bed fellows. Most of them are sleeping together on duty anyways.

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Once again no one cares about the fake airport cops. Your glorified armed security and no one cares. Stay off treeline too, that’s where the real police work.

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Since FBI is in town they can check out the Airport Cops. Chief Shawn, Captain Brian, Captain Gardner, Lieutenant Katie, Sergeants Carlos and Bob, Officers Eric, Ashley, John, Chris will all make good bed fellows. Most of them are sleeping together on duty anyways.

Yeah I hear you guys are having real problems with samsonite luggage ... get real .... luggage & shampoo cops

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The key word is former. Since those rejects have left this agency there has been raises, starting pay has been increased and a step plan is being discussed.

Step plan has been discussed since 1989. Never will come to fruition. Just discussion

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Can help but notice that guy that likes to call everyone troll and grammar nazi are extremely quiet, perhaps there busy online ordering Vaseline and KY for their stint in the Gray Bar Inn.