Two Department of Homeland Security agents in Utah sold drugs that were previously seized as evidence through an informant in an illegal scheme that brought in up to $300,000, the Associated Press reports. The agents sold an illicit synthetic drug commonly known as “bath salts” to a confidential informant once or twice a week beginning last spring through early December, according to an FBI affidavit. The transactions typically involved one ounce of the drug for $5,000 that would then be sold by the informant at a higher cost. The informant, who has a lengthy criminal history, had been recruited while in prison by federal agents to work for them upon his release. In addition to conducting legitimate controlled buys from suspected drug dealers, the informant said he was compelled by the two agents to engage in illegal sales, the affidavit said.
Homeland Security Investigations agent David Cole was arrested in Salt Lake on Friday and charged with a single count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. A second Homeland Security special agent — identified in court documents only as “Person A” — also sold drugs to the informant. It was not immediately clear if that agent could face charges. Cole’s attorney, Alexander Ramos, said, “Dave has many years of service to his community as an outstanding agent with HSI and holds a great reputation among the federal law enforcement community,"
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