DEA Agent Charged with Corruption, Perjury

A veteran DEA agent was charged recently with an array of federal charges, including perjury and stealing thousands of dollars in drug money, according to the Department of Justice.

Chad Scott, 49, a federal narcotics agent known for leading a series of drug busts along Louisiana’s Interstate 12 corridor, pled not guilty to the charges.

According to the indictment, Scott is charged with three counts of obstruction of justice, two counts of perjury, one count of falsifying records in a federal investigation, one count of seeking and receiving an illegal gratuity, one count of unlawful conversion of property by a government officer or employee, one count of removing property to prevent seizure and one count of conspiracy to commit conversion to remove property to prevent seizure.

“Special Agent Scott is a dedicated and award-winning law enforcement professional who has given his entire adult life to combating crime,” Scott’s lawyer, Matthew Coman, said in a statement, according to the Associated Press. “For those heroic efforts, Special Agent Scott now faces the prospect of losing his career and freedom as a result of baseless allegations.”

Last year, two officers from Scott’s team pleaded guilty to federal charges, prompting Scott to lose his badge and gun and be suspended. A third member, Rodney Gemar, was indicted along with Scott.

According to court documents, prosecutors say Scott lied on the witness stand, falsified witness testimony to secure a conviction, and pocketed money from criminals.

Scott was released on $300,000 bail, with a trial scheduled for later this month.