A former Inglewood Police Department officer has been sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for his role in stealing and reselling cocaine. John Abel Baca, 48, of Whittier, a 21-year veteran of the police force, was handed down the sentence by U.S. District Judge James V. Selna, who also imposed a $40,000 fine on Baca. In an announcement made public today, the ex-officer was condemned for leveraging his authority to facilitate criminal activities.
"This defendant – a veteran of the Inglewood Police Department – abused his position as a law enforcement officer to promote his drug trafficking activities," United States Attorney Martin Estrada said in condemnation of Baca's actions, according to the U.S. Department of Justice's press release. The case was a cooperative endeavor between federal authorities and the Inglewood Police Department, which provided complete support throughout the investigation.
Details of the case reveal Baca distributed cocaine on two separate instances in 2021, once in April and again in May where a kilogram of the drug was exchanged for $22,000. The buyer, a confidential informant for the FBI, claimed Baca offered to sell substantial quantities of narcotics and confessed to stealing drugs and cash during traffic stops as part of his work with IPD's drug task force.
Evidence against Baca included a covertly recorded meeting in which he provided a cocaine sample to the informant, and his offer to sell a kilogram of "China White" heroin for $10,000. "Former officer Baca tarnished the badge and dishonored the majority of those who serve and protect our communities with integrity," Assistant Director Akil Davis of the FBI's Los Angeles Field Office stated, emphasizing the breach of trust represented by Baca's actions, the press release reported.
The FBI spearheaded the investigation into these scandalous activities with the IPD's assistance. Assistant United States Attorney Cassie D. Palmer prosecuted the case, which has now concluded with Baca's incarceration. For further details and inquiries, the public can reach out to Ciaran McEvoy, Public Information Officer, via the email provided in the U.S. Attorney's Office press release.
