A second Department of Homeland Security agent has been charged in federal courtroom with utilizing a confidential informant to promote illicit medication that have been seized as proof.
Nicholas Kindle, a particular agent in Utah tasked with investigating unlawful narcotics trafficking, was arrested three weeks after his alleged co-conspirator, particular agent David Cole. Both face a felony drug distribution conspiracy cost, and Kindle faces an extra cost of conspiracy to transform property of the U.S. authorities for revenue.
On Thursday a Justice of the Peace choose set Kindle’s preliminary courtroom look for Jan. 21 in Salt Lake City. If convicted he faces a most penalty of 25 years in jail.
An lawyer has not but been listed for Kindle in courtroom data.
Unlike Cole, who was indicted last month by a grand jury, Kindle was formally charged in an info doc from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, which doesn’t require grand jury approval to provoke legal proceedings.
Federal prosecutors say Kindle and Cole abused their positions to accumulate unlawful medication referred to as “tub salts” from Homeland Security proof and from different legislation enforcement personnel, together with U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers, underneath the false pretense that they might use them for professional investigations.
Prosecutors say Kindle and Cole started stealing medication from proof and mendacity to fellow brokers about their function in 2021. They are additionally alleged to have stolen 1000’s of {dollars} in money, a diamond ring and a Peruvian antiquity from proof.
From 2022 to 2024, the brokers allegedly offered the medication to an individual recognized in courtroom paperwork solely as a “supply of knowledge” for the division, prosecutors. They let that particular person resell the medication and didn’t arrest the purchasers, in line with charging paperwork.
Cole and Kindle “offered tub salts to HSI confidential human sources for 1000’s of {dollars} and allowed these sources to resell the bathtub salts on the streets of Utah for a revenue,” prosecutors allege. The FBI says the scheme introduced in between $195,000 and $300,000.
The brokers later are mentioned to have compelled a confidential informant recruited to conduct managed buys from suspected sellers after his launch from jail to change into the brand new intermediary.
Kindle and Cole used an encrypted messaging app to present the informant assembly places, which ranged from a Panera Bread restaurant to a Nike retailer, in line with an FBI affidavit.
The FBI started investigating in October 2024 after the informant’s lawyer contacted the U.S. Attorney in Utah to report that Kindle and Cole had required him to have interaction in probably illegal acts, in line with the affidavit. Investigators started monitoring them and recorded eight transactions wherein medication have been illegally offered to the informant.
On one event, authorities say, the informant handed over to the FBI a plastic foam cup containing a granular substance that examined optimistic for medication. He mentioned the brokers left it for him in a car parking zone trash can.
Ingestion of artificial tub salts, also called Alpha-PVP or cathinone, can result in weird habits akin to paranoia and excessive energy, in line with authorities. The drug is alleged to be much like methamphetamine, cocaine or ecstasy, and is unrelated to precise tub merchandise.
Also referred to as flakka or gravel, Alpha-PVP is often white or pink, and might be eaten, snorted, injected or vaporized in e-cigarettes, according to the DEA.
Kindle and Cole had their Homeland Security credentials suspended however haven’t been fired, in line with courtroom paperwork.
Cole has pleaded not responsible to his drug distribution conspiracy cost and can stand trial the week of Feb. 24. He faces a most of 20 years if convicted.
“A drug supplier who carries a badge remains to be a drug supplier — and one who has violated an oath to uphold the legislation and shield the general public,” Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri mentioned in a statement after Cole was indicted.
