A former Miami police officer convicted of shaking down drug dealers for hundreds of thousands of dollars in coke and cash is facing at least a 10-year prison sentence Tuesday morning following his guilty plea to an off-duty extortion scheme.
Frenel Cenat, 41, who had worked in the police department’s property room protecting evidence used in criminal investigations, admitted that he used his badge and unmarked police-issued vehicle to stop drug-trafficking suspects in Broward County. His M.O.: stealing cocaine and money from the suspects while threatening to put them in jail.
“By these actions, the defendant completely betrayed the trust placed in him by the [Miami Police Department] and the community he was sworn to serve and protect,” federal prosecutor Edward Stamm said in a sentencing memo, recommending an 11-year prison term.
Stamm said the police officer took a total of $132,000 in cash that was represented to be drug proceeds and seven kilos of what was represented to be cocaine, in exchange for allowing the drivers of those vehicles to leave and not be arrested.