A former law enforcement officer from North Georgia will spend some time in federal prison for his role in an extortion ring that targeted drug traffickers.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Atlanta, Charles Hubbard of Loganville was sentenced to nine years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on Monday, July 30. Hubbard was a former police officer with the Auburn, Ga. Police Department.
U.S. Attorney BJay Pak said Hubbard entered a guilty plea to his role in the extortion ring in March 2016. Six other people also are implicated in the crimes.
The indictment in the case indicated from 2009 until 2016, Hubbard partnered with the other defendants to identify, extort and rob drug dealers. After an investigation that lasted several months, federal drug agents executed a plan with a confidential source to catch Hubbard and his associates.
The operation got underway on March 30, 2016, according to court testimony:
"A confidential source approached co-defendant Morgan with a plan to steal money from purported drug dealers who were going to give the confidential source $60,000 for a kilogram of heroin. The confidential source proposed that Morgan elicit Hubbard’s help, a sworn police officer with the Auburn, Georgia, Police Department, to conduct a fake traffic stop of the source and seize the money for the participants to split. That same day, Morgan presented the plan to Rosendary who, in turn, presented it to Hubbard. Hubbard agreed to participate in the robbery and extortion plan.
"On April 4, 2016, DEA agents gave the confidential source $40,000. The source drove to an apartment complex where Hubbard, wearing a tactical police vest and police badge, approached the source and took the money. Hubbard, Rosendary, and Morgan met briefly, divided the money, and departed. DEA agents then arrested all three, but not before Rosendary led the agents on a high-speed chase which ended after Rosendary lost control of his vehicle. Morgan, who was the passenger in the vehicle, fled on foot and was tracked down by a canine. When the dog found him, Morgan had $10,000 in his pants and another $10,000 nearby. Hubbard was found with $20,000 in his vehicle."
On August 17, 2017, Hubbard pleaded guilty to conspiracy to obtain property by extortion under color of official right and conspiracy to possess cocaine with the intent to distribute.
Pak's office said the other defendants pleaded guilty as follows:
Martin Rosendary, 47, of Atlanta, Georgia pleaded guilty to conspiracy to obtain property by extortion under color of official right, conspiracy to possess cocaine with the intent to distribute, and conspiracy to commit robbery by force on September 2, 2016. Rosendary is scheduled to be sentenced on August 15, 2018.
Shane J. Mattadeen, 41, of Lilburn, Georgia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to obtain property by extortion under color of official right and conspiracy to possess cocaine with the intent to distribute on July 10, 2018. Mattadeen was sentenced to eight years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release on February 12, 2018.
Wilfred Rivera, 38, of Sugar Hill, Georgia pleaded guilty to conspiracy to obtain property by extortion under color of official right and conspiracy to possess cocaine with the intent to distribute on March 5, 2018. Rivera was sentenced to seven years, eight months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on June 4, 2018.
Michael L. Henley, Jr., 32, of Alpharetta, Georgia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery by force on February 26, 2018. Henley was sentenced to six years, three months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on June 7, 2018.
Shaeib H. Morgan, 42, of Stone Mountain, Georgia pleaded guilty to conspiracy to obtain property by extortion under color of official right and distribution of heroin on August 18, 2016. Morgan was sentenced to three years, 10 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on May 28, 2018.
Clem C. Williamson, 43, of Lawrenceville, Georgia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to obtain property by extortion under color of official right and conspiracy to possess cocaine with the intent to distribute on August 29, 2017. Williamson was sentenced to one year, six months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on April 24, 2018.
The case was investigated by the Atlanta-Carolinas High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Program, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the Georgia State Patrol and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
