Post by officer1 on Jun 24, 2011 16:03:55 GMT -5
Tallahassee, Florida - June 24, 2011 -
A Florida Department of Corrections (DOC) employee was arrested on drug trafficking charges today in Tallahassee as a result of a joint investigation between the DOC’s Inspector General’s Office and the Leon County Sheriff’s Office.
Correctional Officer Eric James, 34, was arrested by deputies from the Leon County Sheriff’s Office in a parking lot on West Tennessee Street this afternoon, when he attempted to purchase 56 grams of cocaine, with an estimated value of $5,600.00 from undercover officers. He expected to purchase a much larger amount. James has been charged with trafficking narcotics, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute or sell, and official misconduct.
The investigation was launched when IG Senior Inspector Julie Mader was tipped off by an anonymous source. She worked closely with LCSO Sgt. Brice Google throughout the investigation.
“I’d like to commend Sr. Inspector Mader and Sgt. Google for an outstanding job. There are a lot of men and women doing exceptional work at DOC, and this incident should not detract from the professionalism of those individuals,” said DOC’s Inspector General Terrance Edmonson. “This type of behavior endangers our employees and the citizens of Florida, and it will not be tolerated.”
James had worked for the Department since 2006, most recently at Liberty Correctional Institution. He is currently being held at the Leon County Jail. DOC is pursuing his dismissal.
A Florida Department of Corrections (DOC) employee was arrested on drug trafficking charges today in Tallahassee as a result of a joint investigation between the DOC’s Inspector General’s Office and the Leon County Sheriff’s Office.
Correctional Officer Eric James, 34, was arrested by deputies from the Leon County Sheriff’s Office in a parking lot on West Tennessee Street this afternoon, when he attempted to purchase 56 grams of cocaine, with an estimated value of $5,600.00 from undercover officers. He expected to purchase a much larger amount. James has been charged with trafficking narcotics, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute or sell, and official misconduct.
The investigation was launched when IG Senior Inspector Julie Mader was tipped off by an anonymous source. She worked closely with LCSO Sgt. Brice Google throughout the investigation.
“I’d like to commend Sr. Inspector Mader and Sgt. Google for an outstanding job. There are a lot of men and women doing exceptional work at DOC, and this incident should not detract from the professionalism of those individuals,” said DOC’s Inspector General Terrance Edmonson. “This type of behavior endangers our employees and the citizens of Florida, and it will not be tolerated.”
James had worked for the Department since 2006, most recently at Liberty Correctional Institution. He is currently being held at the Leon County Jail. DOC is pursuing his dismissal.
