Drug Rake-Off Probe Involves Nine More Deputies, Two Others

Nine more Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies, a retired deputy and an officer with another law enforcement agency have been implicated in an investigation into the theft of money from drug sales, sheriff’s officials announced today.

The nine active deputies and the officer from the other agency have been relieved of duty pending the outcome of the investigation, which was made public last month with the suspension of an entire nine-member sheriff’s narcotics unit, Deputy Van Mosley said.

Eight of the newly suspended deputies were assigned to sheriff’s narcotics units, Mosley said. The other two had worked as narcotics investigators in the past, he said.

None of the deputies’ names were released.

In addition, 20 search warrants were served today in connection with the probe by the Sheriff’s Department, FBI and Internal Revenue Service, Mosley said.

The warrants were served at four businesses “either associated with or owned by some of the persons under investigation,” Mosley said.

Two warrants were served at homes in Arizona, including at a home belonging to a deputy in the suspended “majors” unit, Mosley said.

Another warrant was served at a Central California location, Mosley said.

Charges have not been filed in the case.