Jeff Alan Poole, Civil Rights Violation, Florida 2014
A Broward County Sheriff's Deputy has been sentenced to prison for violating the civil rights of an attorney's ex-wife. Jeff Alan Poole, 47, of Weston, was sentenced to one year and one day in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, commended the investigative efforts of the FBI, IRS-CI and BSO. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lawrence D. LaVecchio, Paul F. Schwartz, and Jeffrey N. Kaplan.
On May 8, 2014, Poole pled guilty to conspiracy to violate civil rights, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 241. At the time of the offense, the defendant was employed by BSO as a detective.
When he entered his guilty plea, the defendant admitted that he utilized his position within BSO unlawfully to arrest the ex-wife of an attorney who was engaged in a child custody dispute with her at the request of BSO Lt. David Benjamin. Poole also agreed at his guilty plea that this request emanated from Scott W. Rothstein, a former attorney who is now serving a 50-year sentence in connection with a Ponzi scheme which he had operated.
The investigation led to the sentencing of another BSO official, Lt. David Benjamin, on July 21, 2014, to a prison term of five years in connection with the Rothstein case.
The defendant was also ordered to pay $22,071.02 in restitution. Poole's actions were a clear violation of the public's trust and a betrayal of the oath he took as a law enforcement officer.
The case is a reminder that public officials will be held accountable for their actions, and that the Department of Justice will continue to protect the rights of all citizens.
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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