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Convicted: Miami Cop Vital Frederick in Extortion Scheme
A former City of Miami police officer has been convicted of a brazen extortion scheme that left authorities stunned. Vital Frederick, 27, was found guilty of all seven counts against him, including four counts of interference with commerce by extortion, one count of access device fraud, and two counts of aggravated identity theft.
Frederick, who was a member of the City of Miami Police Department, was convicted after a five-day trial in federal court. The jury delivered the verdict on all counts, dealing a severe blow to the officer’s reputation and leaving the public seeking answers.
The investigation, led by the FBI and the City of Miami Internal Affairs Section, revealed that Frederick provided protection and security for an illegal check cashing scheme in exchange for cash and personal identifiers. He exploited the police databases to steal identities and sell them, believing they were to be used to commit tax fraud.
On four separate occasions between August 2012 and September 2012, Frederick provided protection for a courier who was cashing fraudulent government checks at a check cashing store. He did so while in full uniform and driving his marked City of Miami Police Department vehicle.
In exchange for providing security for the courier, Frederick took receipt of approximately $800 cash. The investigation also revealed that Frederick sold the personal identifiers of 52 individuals to a second cooperating source after accessing City of Miami Police Department databases.
U.S. Attorney Wifredo A. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the FBI and the City of Miami Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robin Waugh and Michael Davis.
The verdict marks a significant win for the authorities in their efforts to root out corruption within the police force. The City of Miami Police Department has vowed to continue its efforts to maintain the trust of the public and ensure that its officers act with integrity.
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Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: Public Corruption|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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