I-Team

• Jan 25, 2007 8:58 pm US/Eastern
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  BPD Patrolman Indicted On Fed Corruption Charges

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BPD Patrolman Indicted On Fed Corruption Charges

By Maggie Mulvihill, I-Team Producer and Joe Bergantino, I-Team Reporter

BOSTON (CBS4) ― In another embarrassing blow to the Boston Police Department, veteran patrolman Edgardo Rodriguez was indicted on federal corruption charges late Thursday stemming from alleged steroid distribution and other potential crimes within the force.

"It is a gross betrayal of an officer's duty," said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Sullivan in a statement after perjury and obstruction of justice charges were handed down by a federal grand jury.

Calling it a "sad time" for the department, Police Commissioner Ed Davis announced he was suspending Rodriguez without pay as the department continues to root out any other officers who may be involved in drug use.

The BPD is already reeling from two other scandals - missing drugs from the Hyde Park evidence warehouse and the corruption case federal prosecutors are building against three other officers accused of protecting cocaine shipments and other alleged crimes.

The I-Team reported earlier this month that Rodriguez had been warned by police brass to quit the force as federal and department investigators continued to scrutinize his role in the on-going drug-related criminal probe that has engulfed his fellow officers.

Roberto E. Pulido, Nelson Carrasquillo and Carlos A. Pizarro denied any wrongdoing after they were arrested in July by undercover FBI agents in Miami and accused of protecting massive cocaine shipments coming into Boston.

Investigators learned Rodriguez was allegedly using and distributing steroids during their 2 1/2 year probe of the trio, while other Boston officers have been notified their voices have also been picked up on federal wiretaps, the I-Team has reported.

Rodriguez, an 11-year-veteran, has worked in Dorchester, Roxbury, East Boston and the Mobile Operations Unit.

Rodriguez is accused of in the six-count indictment of lying to a federal grand jury about whether or not anyone else in the department has possessed or distributed steroids.

Rodriguez is also accused of three counts of perjury and one count of obstruction of justice. If convicted of all charges he could face a maximum of 35 years in prison. His attorney, Philip A. Tracy, did not immediately return a telephone call seeking comment.

(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)