Justice Dept. Probes DEA Agent’s Actions

The Department of Justice’s Office of the Inspector General is now investigating whether a Drug Enforcement Administration agent tried to flex his federal muscle to help his son in an Arcadia arson case, officials said.

Normally the DEA would examine allegations against one of its agents, but the agent, Johnny Phelps, was formerly the head of the department’s internal affairs investigations, said James McGiveny, chief officer of public affairs for the DEA.

“We want to avoid any appearance of impropriety,” McGiveny said. He said DEA investigators have been in contact with the inspector general’s office.

Phelps faxed a letter in November, asking Santa Anita Municipal Judge Carol Elswick to consider rehearing the case of his son, Steven Phelps, more than a week after she sentenced him to 45 days in jail.

In the letter, Johnny Phelps mentioned his position and connections to other law enforcement officials several times.

Phelps wrote, “Not a DEA matter” on the cover sheet of the fax and has denied any wrongdoing.

But other DEA agents criticized Phelps, whom they described as “an extremely hard individual” in his own enforcement of the rules with other agents.

“Why did he fax the letter from the DEA office?” said one agent, who wished not to re named.

“Why wouldn’t he just go to Kinko’s, if he was so sensitive to appearing improper?”