The LA County Sheriff’s Deputy who taught life skills to the previously imprisoned through a community program is now suspected of cooperating with a former student to ship 45 pounds of cocaine and 13 pounds of methamphetamine from Pasadena to Las Vegas.

According to the Department of Justice Deputy Sheriff Kenneth Collins, of Chino, and three others supposedly agreed to take $250,000 from an undercover FBI agent in exchange for providing safety for the caravan. Their arrest near the Rose Bowl Tuesday followed two other faked drug shippers that were part of the same sting.
Collins allegedly told the agent: “We’re cops. All of our transports make it through.”

Sheriff’s Deputy Among Multiple Arrests

Collins’ arrest came alongside David Easter, 51, of LA, Maurice Desi Font, 56, of Los Angeles, and Grant Valencia, 34, of Pomona. All the arrests are on suspicion of conspiracy to distribute controlled materials.
In a statement, U.S. Attorney Nicola Han

In addition, Hanna also added more in the statement. “Deputy Collins sold his badge to assist an individual he thought was a drug trafficker. The deputy allegedly used his status as a law enforcement officer as a guarantee when he promised safe travels for large quantities of illegal narcotics.”

Officials confirmed that Collins was a 15-year member of LASD. Later, he joined to the County Services Bureau. Following his arrest, the department placed him on administrative leave. The department has launched a process to suspend him without pay.

“The allegations presented are very serious and of great concern”, said an LASD statement released Tuesday afternoon.
Officials said in the statement: “When allegations of criminal activity involve law enforcement, we have systems in place to root out misconduct in the organization and any Department member who chooses to violate the law and public trust.”