Select statements from the official FBI "criminal complaint" filed in U.S. District Court in Atlanta:
“Mathis told the CS during that visit that he sells marijuana, and stated that he does not worry about the police pulling him over because he drives safely and flashes his police credentials to get out of tickets if he is stopped.”
“On April 25, 2013, at approximately 4:48 p.m., the CS met in person with MATHIS. The CS told MATHIS that he/she was purchasing marijuana for a friend. MATHIS arrived in his marked patrol car. He exited his patrol car wearing his NCSO uniform and firearm. During this meeting, MATHIS provided the CS with approximately one ounce of marijuana, and the CS paid MATHIS $100. MATHIS told the CS to tell the CS's friend that he "did her right, I gave her a little extra." This meeting was recorded with both video and audio recordings.”
“On May 17, 2013, the CS met with MATHIS. MATHIS was in his NCSO patrol car and wearing his uniform. The CS purchased approximately one quarter-pound of marijuana for $300.00 from MATHIS. During this transaction, MATHIS was wearing his firearm and carrying a black plastic bag containing marijuana. MATHIS dropped the bag inside of the CS's car and accepted $300.00 from the CS. The meeting was photographed, video and audio recorded.”
“On June 7, 2013, UC #1, acting in an undercover capacity, traveled to MATHIS's apartment in Lithonia, Georgia, to purchase $1,000.00 worth of marijuana from MATHIS. After UC #1 arrived at MATHIS's apartment complex, UC #1 was instructed by MATHIS during a cellular telephone conversation to travel to a specific building, where MATHIS would be waiting for UC #1. Once UC #1 arrived at the building, UC #1 observed MATHIS sitting in his vehicle, the same red or maroon Dodge Charger identified in paragraph 9, above. Once UC #1 arrived, MATHIS exited his vehicle, and both MATHIS and UC #1 walked up stairs to the third floor of the building. This meeting was video recorded by law enforcement agents who were outside of the apartment building. UC #1 also audio recorded the meeting. During this meeting, MATHIS told UC #1 that he is a police officer.”
"On August 8, 2013, UC #1, acting in an undercover capacity, again traveled to MATHIS's apartment in Lithonia, Georgia, and purchased approximately one pound of marijuana from MATHIS for $1,000.00. Once UC #1 purchased the marijuana from MATHIS, UC #1 placed the purchased marijuana in the trunk of UC #1’s vehicle. UC #1 and MATHIS were then planning to travel to a restaurant in East Point, Georgia, to meet with another undercover FBI agent ("UC #2). UC #1 told MATHIS that UC #2 was UC#1’s cocaine supplier and a potential marijuana purchaser for MATHIS. Prior to leaving MATHIS's apartment to meet with UC #2, MATHIS stated that he wanted to grab his badge and gun, "just in case."
“During the meeting with UC #1 and UC #2, MATHIS told UC #2 that he is a police officer, and showed UC #2 his Deputy Sheriff badge. After seeing UC #2's reaction to the badge, MATHIS stated, "Don't worry, I'm on your side." Later in the conversation, MATHIS told UC #2 that he could supply any amount of marijuana that UC #2 requested. MATHIS also agreed to transport marijuana or cocaine from Alabama to North Carolina for UC #2.”
A Newton County Sheriff’s Office deputy was arrested Thursday on drug trafficking charges in Atlanta by the FBI and has been terminated, Sheriff Ezell Brown said late Friday.
Deputy Darrell Mathis, who has been with the NCSO since December 2008, was arrested for allegedly selling marijuana to an undercover law enforcement agent and an FBI confidential source on multiple occasions. He was charged with distributing marijuana and using and carrying a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, according to the FBI’s press release.
Brown said there is no suspicion that any other Newton County deputies are involved in illegal activities.
"We’re going to do a thorough background investigation to include talking with his peers and so forth here among the organization," Brown said Friday.
In a statement, Brown called Mathis' arrest "an embarrassment to the Newton County Sheriff’s Office, as well as law enforcement in general," later adding "...I guess this is a proven point here that no matter how much teaching or training you give an individual, I guess greed forced them to break the very law that they have held to uphold."
While Mathis was originally placed on paid administrative leave, Brown said the sheriff's office's "personnel policies allow us to make that decision" to fire an employee.
Capt. Keith Crum said the sheriff's office saw no indication of Mathis' alleged illegal activity.
“There’s been no indication of this type of activity in the past. He went through a POST (Peace Officer Standards Training) background check; this is something that came out of the blue," Crum said.
Mathis, 40, initially invited the FBI source to his Lithonia apartment for a social visit in April, where the source saw several large bags of marijuana, according to a sworn statement by an FBI agent filed in federal court in Atlanta.
During the initial sale on April 25, Mathis exited his patrol car wearing his NCSO uniform and gun and allegedly sold the source $100 in marijuana, according to the FBI statement; he allegedly sold marijuana to the source and an undercover agent on multiple occasions.
Mathis was arrested Thursday when he allegedly had one pound of marijuana on him and met with the undercover agent.
“This defendant used his position as a police officer to openly violate the very laws that he was sworn to uphold,” said United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates in an FBI press release. “Selling marijuana out of his police car while wearing a badge and uniform is outrageous. This case is a reminder that no one is above the law.”
Mark F. Giuliano, special agent in charge at the FBI Atlanta Field Office, said “allegations of criminal conduct by law enforcement officers to be a priority investigative matter and we continue to ask the public to contact their nearest FBI field office with information concerning such activities.”
The charge of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of marijuana carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking offense carries a maximum term of life in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
Mathis made his initial appearance court appearance Friday and was released on $25,000 bond; a lawyer was appointed to him.
