Thursday March 28th, 2024 1:03PM

Gwinnett County deputy charged with alleged drug theft

By AccessWDUN Staff

A former Gwinnett County Sheriff’s deputy faces charges of stealing cocaine and methamphetamine before securing the drugs as evidence. 

Antoine Riggins, 40, of Loganville, who was also a federally-deputized task force officer with Homeland Security Investigations, allegedly used his position to steal drugs, officials with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia said in a release Tuesday. 

“Riggins’ alleged theft of previously seized drugs is shocking,” U.S. Attorney Byung J ‘BJay’ Pak said.

Riggins allegedly fabricated documents and made false statements in order to prevent the arrests and prosecutions of the drug trafficking suspects from whom the drugs were seized in attempt to cover his tracks, the release stated. 

As a deputy and task-force officer, Riggins’ duties included investigating drug trafficking cases with HSI agents and other law enforcement officers, assisting Gwinnett County authorities to prosecute local drug cases, transporting seized drugs from HSI crime scenes to the Gwinnett County evidence vault and obtaining arrest warrants for drug traffickers.

February 23, 2017

Three kilograms of cocaine were seized in an HSI investigation following a high-speed chase and car crash on I-285. The owner of the drugs was identified; however, the suspect was reported to have fled the scene and was not apprehended. Riggins was assigned to transport the cocaine into the evidence vault, but the next day he checked only one kilogram. Riggins failed to secure a warrant for the arrest of the drug trafficker. 

According to the press release, Riggins allegedly falsified documents and statements in relation to the cocaine theft to cover his tracks. The indictment alleged Riggins created and submitted a falsified evidence form to the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office, presented a false court order to the Magistrate Court of Gwinnett County and made two false statements to HSI agents to prevent prosecutors from discovering the missing drugs.

July 15, 2017

Six kilograms of methamphetamine were seized from an Atlanta hotel room during an HSI investigation. Riggins was asked to transport the meth to the Gwinnett County evidence vault, but none of the drugs were checked into evidence. 

Riggins’ role at HSI ended in early 2018. His employment with the GCSO ended after the alleged actions were brought to the attention of law enforcement. He faces charges of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, unlawfully removing property to prevent government seizure and making false statements and documents. 

“Riggins engaged in conduct that betrayed the oath he took to faithfully serve the people of Gwinnett County.  His behavior should not take away from the outstanding work done each day by the vast majority of law enforcement professionals around the country,” the Department of Homeland Security - Office of Inspector General’s Acting Special Agent in Charge Ronnie Tippett, said in a statement Tuesday. 

The case remains under investigation by the FBI, DHS OIG, GBI and Gwinnett County District Attorney’s Office. 

  • Associated Categories: Local/State News
  • Associated Tags: Crime, drugs, gwinnett county sheriff's office, homeland security
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