Former Hialeah police chief steals over $600,000 in drug funds

In Hialeah, Florida, a major scandal erupted involving the former police chief, Sergio Velazquez, who served from 2012 until his suspension in 2021. Following a state investigation, Velazquez was arrested for allegedly siphoning off at least $600,000 from narcotics funds and seizing cash from ongoing drug investigations. Investigators revealed that millions of dollars had gone missing from two significant narcotics funds, raising serious concerns about Velazquez’s integrity and trust as a law enforcement officer. The investigation was initiated after the current police chief discovered discrepancies in the department’s financial records. Upon opening a safe, he found evidence bags with cash that had been connected to drug seizures, but significant amounts were unaccounted for. The subsequent three-year investigation conducted by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement uncovered that cash regularly disappeared from safes inside Velazquez's administrative area, originating from a city-funded petty cash account and money seized through civil asset forfeiture. From 2020 to 2021, financial discrepancies revealed that more than $300,000 was missing while Velazquez had requested funds for narcotics operations totaling $2.8 million during his tenure. Official records indicated that investigators could only verify about $200,000 linking to legitimate expenses. They additionally highlighted that $1 million was also reported missing from court-awarded civil asset forfeitures aimed at enhancing narcotics operations. As a result of these findings, the former chief was charged with felony grand theft, organized fraud, and structuring transactions to avoid federal reporting obligations. He entered a not guilty plea in court, asserting his right to a fair trial, while his attorney emphasized these legal protections. The unfolding case reflects broader conversations about transparency and accountability within police departments, particularly regarding the use of civil asset forfeiture, which has been criticized for creating perverse incentives for officers.