Miami-Dade cop accused of smuggling cocaine gets $500,000 bond

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Miami Herald

Posted on Monday, 04.14.14
Miami-Dade cop accused of smuggling cocaine gets $500,000 bond

By Jay Weaver

[e-mail]


In a rare concession, a veteran Miami-Dade police officer charged with smuggling loads of cocaine, buying weapons for traffickers and directing a murder plot against rival drug dealers was granted a bond Monday as he awaits a federal trial in New Jersey.

Lt. Ralph Mata, 45, was allowed to post a $500,000 bond under an agreement struck between the U.S. attorney’s office in Newark and the officer’s defense attorney — but with heavy strings attached. Mata must make a nonrefundable down payment of $37,500 on one half of the bond, and a refundable payment of $25,000 on a second half to ensure his appearance at trial.

Mata, as part of the terms, must prove that both down payments are clean — not from drug proceeds. He could be released later Monday or Tuesday.

His arrest last Wednesday shocked the law enforcement community because he was known as a strait-laced police officer, who most recently worked in Miami-Dade’s internal affairs unit investigating cops suspected of wrongdoing.

Mata, who was relieved of duty with pay, was charged with conspiring to smuggle more than five kilos of cocaine into the United States. If convicted, the offense carries up to life in prison. Normally, defendants charged with that crime receive no bond before trial.




Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/04/14/4059087/miami-dade-cop-accused-of-smuggling.html#storylink=cpy

[agbdf]

1. I've been seeing a lot of these types of stories in recent years

It's disturbing to see so many instances these days of police misconduct and criminal activity.

[2banon]

4. our beloved country has a very loong history of police misconduct, nothing new here.

[agbdf]

5. Some studies support an increase in police corruption and brutality

I recently read a couple of studies on point and I recall a USA Today poll last year which found the public generally thinks these problems in police departments have increased in recent years.

[2banon]

6. If the point is public perception vs reality, that says a lot about the state of remedial education

regarding U.S. History. So much of it is white washed no thanks to the Corporate Media.

Surprise would be that there is any mention of it at all, these days.

[KamaAina]

2. Wow, that Jay Weaver's a busy guy!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014780240

[Skittles]

3. disgusting