US

DEA Supervisor Bungled Investigation By Allegedly Having Sex With Paid Informant

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A federal court case against four alleged drug-dealers, reveals allegations of a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) supervisor having sex with paid informants Monday.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Shirley Padmore Mensah oversaw a hearing where a paid DEA confidential informant alleged she had a sexual relationship with her supervisor in exchange for free rent. The informant moved closer to the DEA supervisor while she was on the federal payroll.

While the court case is being tried in St. Louis, Mo., the alleged misconduct took place in Atlanta, Ga. The DEA supervisor allegedly paid one of two informants with whom he was sexually involved $212,000.

Lawyers for the defense claim the confidential informant was used as an excuse by DEA agents to pursue illegal leads that came their way, by claiming she told them about the relevant information. It is the possibility that the informant utilized illegitimate means to go after the defendants that prompted Monday’s “Franks hearing,” which is meant to “focus on such allegations.”

For helping to cover up the malfeasance of her DEA supervisor by agreeing to remain silent, the informant was handsomely rewarded with not one, but two DEA bonus payments, at $80,750 and $55,000.

Two of the defendants in the case, Dionne L. Gatling, and Andre Alphonso Rush were also indicted for two murders: one in 2010 and another in 2013, both related to the illicit drug trade.

The hearings reveal that the DEA is conducting its own internal investigation regarding the alleged misconduct of the Atlanta-based supervisor. No DEA agent has yet been charged with a crime.

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