A former Rohnert Park police officer has been found guilty of a string of serious crimes, including conspiracy to commit extortion, impersonating an ATF agent, and falsifying records in a federal investigation.
Joseph Huffaker, 40, of Rohnert Park, was convicted on six counts of conspiracy to commit extortion, extortion, conspiracy to falsify records in a federal investigation, falsifying records in a federal investigation, conspiracy to impersonate a federal officer, and impersonating a federal officer.
The guilty verdict comes after a week-long trial before Senior U.S. District Judge Maxine M. Chesney.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Huffaker conspired with his co-defendant, fellow police officer Brendan Jacy Tatum, to pull over drivers they suspected of possessing significant amounts of marijuana and extort the drivers’ marijuana by falsely claiming to be ATF agents and threatening arrest if the drivers contested the property seizures.
The jury found that Huffaker conspired with Tatum to obstruct justice by creating a false police report two months after their extortions and sending that report to the FBI.
Huffaker faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine for each count of conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official right.
The sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 15, 2025, before Judge Chesney.
Huffaker is currently released on bond.
Key Facts
- State: California
- Category: Public Corruption|Violent Crime|Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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