Uniformed Officer of San Diego Police Department Charged with Misuse of Position to Obtain and Pass Sensitive Information
United States Attorney Karen P. Hewitt
announced that Juan Hurtado Tapia, a uniformed officer
of
the San Diego Police Department, was arraigned today
in federal court in San Diego by United States
Magistrate Judge Leo S. Papas on a criminal complaint
charging him with misuse of his status as a law
enforcement officer to obtain and pass sensitive information
to associates who were involved in drug
trafficking crimes. Mr. Tapia was arrested by FBI and
DEA agents on September 2, 2008.
The complaint alleges that during the
course of a long-term drug trafficking investigation
being
conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the
Drug Enforcement Administration, and the San Diego
Police Department, investigating agents became aware
in May 2008 that the targets of their investigation
were
in contact with Juan Hurtado Tapia, a patrol officer
employed by the San Diego Police Department.
According to the complaint, information obtained through
court-authorized wiretaps uncovered that Tapia
was utilizing his position as a law enforcement officer
to run criminal history checks on behalf of people
involved in illegal drug trafficking. The complaint
further alleges that Tapia passed on to those same
individuals specific sensitive information regarding
the then-ongoing drug investigation that he had obtained
through the course of his official duties.
The individuals to whom Tapia passed
the information were arrested in July 2008 and have
since been
charged along with several others in the Southern District
of California in a criminal indictment in Case No.
08CR2642JAH.
Tapia is scheduled to be in court next
on September 16, 2008, before Magistrate Judge Papas
for a
preliminary hearing.
DEFENDANT Case No. 08mj2665
JUAN HURTADO TAPIA, aka Corrupto
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Count 1: Obstructing, Influencing, or Impeding an Official
Proceeding, in violation of
Title 18, United States Code, Section 1512(c)(2)
Count 2: Fraud and Related Activity in Connection with
Computers, in violation of Title
18, United States Code, Section 1030(a)(2)
Counts 3-4: False Statement, in violation of Title
18, United States Code, Section 1001
PARTICIPATING AGENCIES
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Drug Enforcement Administration
Internal Revenue Service
Immigration and Customs Enforcement
San Diego Police Department
Chula Vista Police Department
A complaint itself is not evidence that the defendants
committed the crimes charged and like all
defendants are presumed innocent until the Government
meets its burden in court of proving guilt
beyond a reasonable doubt.
