Former Police Officer Sentenced to 30 Months

Department of Justice Press Release, For Immediate Release
August 10, 2009 United States Attorney's Office, Southern District of California - Contact: (619) 557-5610

Former Police Officer Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison

United States Attorney Karen P. Hewitt announced that today Juan Hurtado Tapia, a former uniformed officer of the San Diego Police Department, was sentenced to serve 30 months in federal prison by United States District Court Judge Roger T. Benitez based upon his guilty in federal court in San Diego to offenses resulting from the misuse of his status as a law enforcement officer to obtain and pass sensitive information to associates involved in drug trafficking crimes. Tapia entered his guilty plea on April 28, 2009. According to the plea agreement, Tapia admitted that in May 2008 he misused his position as a San Diego Police officer and ran a criminal records check on an individual on behalf of two others. He also admitted that, on both July 9, 2008 and July 11, 2008, when he was asked by federal agents about the reasons why he ran the records check, he knowingly lied to them. In addition, he admitted that at the time he lied to agents on July 9, 2008, he knew that the questions were in reference to a federal drug-trafficking investigation, and he was attempting to impede that investigation. Tapia was immediately remanded into custody to begin serving his prison sentence.  DEFENDANT Case Number: 08cr3281BEN, Juan Hurtado Tapia Age: 39 Imperial Beach, California

SUMMARY OF CHARGES - Count 1: Obstructing, Influencing, or Impeding an Official Proceeding, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1512(c)(2) (Felony) Maximum Penalties: 20 years’ imprisonment and $250,000 fine - Count 2: Fraud and Related Activity in Connection with Computers, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1030(a)(2) (Misdemeanor) Maximum Penalties: 1 year imprisonment and $100,000 fine: Counts 3-4: False Statement, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1001 (Felony) Maximum Penalties: 5 years’ imprisonment and $250,000 fine per count. PARTICIPATING AGENCIES: Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Service, U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, San Diego Police Department, Chula Vista Police Department