A disgraced former Miami cop has copped to charges of trying to move mountains of cocaine and rob drug dealers while flaunting his badge in fake traffic stops, federal prosecutors said. Frenel Cenat, 41, admitted to attempted Hobbs Act extortion and attempted possession with intent to distribute cocaine on March 27, following a sting operation that revealed he used his official position to fearmonger and filch what he thought were drug proceeds and large amounts of cocaine.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida, Cenat, an officer since 2008, broke bad by orchestrating phony stops to shake down suspected drug traffickers. He reportedly utilized an unmarked police vehicle, issued for his official duties, to commit the crimes and held up individuals during these stops, hoodwinking them into believing they were under investigation to extract compliance and ill-gotten gains.
The case surfaced after a confidential source tipped off authorities that Cenat had been stopping traffickers to steal drugs and money. This led to an undercover operation where Cenat planned a rip-off with the source, agreeing to stop a driver post-drug deal for $50,000 on November 3, 2023. "Officer Martez," as he introduced himself, used his assigned Ford Explorer to halt the driver, who was actually an FBI undercover agent, and walked off with a backpack containing $52,000, a Justice Department statement detailed.
In a subsequent scheme on November 16, Cenat chased down another fake drug deal, this time walking away with a duffle bag stuffed with seven kilograms of fake cocaine and $80,000 in cash. "You want to go home tonight or spend 30 years in... federal prison?" Cenat reportedly menaced the driver during the sham stop. Little did he know, his fortune was sealed as the driver again was an undercover FBI employee, and Cenat found himself in handcuffs after the incident, as per the Justice Department report.
The disgraced officer is staring down a minimum mandatory sentence of a decade behind bars and could face life in prison if maximum penalties apply. Sentencing will be before Senior U.S. District Judge James I. Cohn in Fort Lauderdale come June 13. FBI Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri and Miami Police Chief Manuel A. Morales confirmed the guilty plea and, U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe underscored the betrayal of trust inherent in Cenat's actions.
