Lorenzo Gatti, a 52-year-old former FBI Task Force Officer and Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Deputy, has pleaded guilty to making materially false, fictitious, and fraudulent statements in official FBI reports. Gatti’s guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez.
Gatti, who resides in Delray Beach, Florida, faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. According to the plea agreement, on July 27, 2013, Gatti was involved in an automobile accident at an intersection in Boynton Beach, Florida.
At the time of the accident, Gatti was assigned to the FBI as a task force officer, and was also a Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Deputy. A few days later, in two separate FBI reports, Gatti stated that he was on official business at the time of the accident. Specifically, he claimed that the accident occurred after he had conducted a 24-mile surveillance on a target of a federal investigation.
However, records indicate that the target of the federal investigation did not, on the date of the accident, drive anywhere near the surveillance route that Gatti said he had followed. This means that Gatti knew his claims about conducting surveillance were false when he made them.
The case against Gatti was investigated by the U.S. Office of the Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Sean P. Shecter and Ilianys Rivera Miranda.
Gatti’s guilty plea marks a significant development in the case, and serves as a reminder of the importance of honesty and integrity in law enforcement. The full extent of Gatti’s actions and motivations will be revealed during his sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled.
In the meantime, the public can expect a thorough investigation into Gatti’s conduct, and a just outcome for the victims of his alleged wrongdoing.
Mandatory Facts:
Defendant/Respondent: Lorenzo Gatti
Criminal Charges: Making materially false, fictitious, and fraudulent statements in official FBI reports
City and State: West Palm Beach, Florida
Exact Date: July 27, 2013
Sentence or Outcome: Maximum penalty of five years in federal prison
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: Public Corruption
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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