ATLANTA - Charles F. Hubbard has pleaded guilty to extortion and drug trafficking conspiracy charges. The defendant was an officer with the Auburn, Georgia, Police Department who used his law enforcement position and his patrol car to intercept and steal drugs and money.
“Hubbard assisted drug traffickers for his own financial gain,” said U. S. Attorney John Horn. “He used his position as a police officer to perpetrate his scheme while betraying his community and the honest law enforcement officers who serve honorably every day.”
“It is deeply disappointing when an officer betrays his oath.” said Jack Killorin, Director of the Atlanta-Carolinas High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area. “What should be heartening to the community is that a task force of Federal, State and local police responded by upholding theirs.”
According to U.S. Attorney Horn, the charges and other information presented in court: Hubbard, while an officer with the Auburn Police Department, conspired with at least five other people to steal money and transport drugs. For example, in January 2015, one of Hubbard’s conspirators ordered six kilograms of cocaine. Hubbard used his Auburn police vehicle to intercept the drugs. Afterward, federal court authorized wiretaps exposed Hubbard agreeing to conduct a traffic stop on an individual carrying drugs in exchange for a $5,000 payment.
Then, on April 4, 2016, wearing clothing identifying himself as a police officer, and using his official police vehicle, Hubbard seized the confidential source's money. Hubbard provided the confidential source with a receipt purporting to be from the “East Metro Drug Task Force,” a non-existent entity, so that the seizure would look official. Hubbard then released the confidential source and met with two conspirators to split the money. Hubbard was taken into custody and, upon searching his vehicle, law enforcement officers found additional unused blank property sheets in the name of the non-existent East Metro Task Force that Hubbard had manufactured.
Sentencing for Charles F. Hubbard, 51, of Loganville, Georgia, is scheduled for November 7, 2016, before U.S. District Judge Leigh Martin May.
This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Atlanta-Carolinas HIDTA, and the Georgia State Patrol.
Assistant United States Attorneys Elizabeth M. Hathaway and Vivek Kothari are prosecuting the case.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Atlanta recommends parents and children learn about the dangers of drugs at the following web site: www.justthinktwice.com.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.