U.S. Attorney Announces Sentencing of Ex-Miami Officer for Attempted Cocaine Trafficking & Extortion

On July 2, 2024, Frenel Cenat, a former police officer with the City of Miami Police Department (MPD) was sentenced to 135 months in prison, to be followed by 5 years of supervised release, by Senior U.S. District Judge James I. Cohn in Fort Lauderdale. Cenat previously pled guilty to attempted Hobbs Act extortion under color of official right and attempted possession with intent to distribute cocaine. The charges arose from the use of his police position and authority, and his unmarked MPD-issued vehicle and equipment to conduct two illegal traffic stops to steal what he believed were drug proceeds and seven kilograms of cocaine from the drivers.

U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida (USAO-SDFL), Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Miami Field Division, and Chief of Police Manuel A. Morales of the City of Miami Police Department (MPD) announced the sentence imposed at a press conference in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Read the full press release: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl/pr/...

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