Southern Command Intelligence Specialist Charged
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – An intelligence specialist at U.S. Southern Command is in trouble for allegedly accepting bribes and helping steal drug proceeds.
The US Attorney's office announced Jose Emmanuel Torres, 37, of Cooper City has been charged.
Torres was arrested in February and arraigned Friday in Fort Lauderdale.
Authorities said Torres was assigned to the Department of Defense collecting intelligence regarding people allegedly involved in terrorism and drug trafficking.
The US Attorney's report stated Torres told a confidential informant (CI) that he had used his influence to have him arrested on immigration charges and that if the CI did not give him money, he would do it again. The CI paid Torres $6,000 for Torres to use his influence to assist the CI with immigration proceedings. Those alleged crimes took place in 2012 and 2013.
Also, the report stated Torres assisted with accessing a computer database to steal half-a-million dollars in drug proceeds.
If convicted, Torres could go to prison for 20 years and face a fine of $250,000.
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