Former Miami Police Lieutenant Admits To Buying Guns For Drug Ring
BY Herschel Smith
9 years, 8 months ago
A former Miami-Dade police internal affairs lieutenant today admitted buying and smuggling guns for a drug ring through security checkpoints at Miami International Airport and depositing some of his payments into a Fort Lee bank account.
Nearly a year after an investigation by FBI and DEA agents out of Passaic County led to his arrest, 45-year-old Ralph “the Milk Man” Mata pleaded guilty in federal court in Newark to conspiring to distribute cocaine, “aiding and abetting a narcotics conspiracy” and depositing money for the illicit organization.
As part of his plea, Mata agreed to forfeit $75,405 seized by federal authorities when he was arrested last April 9.
U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman said Mata bought at least six firearms from a gun store in Florida that ended up in the hands of members of the Juan Arias Drug Trafficking Organization.
“Using his prior experience as a lieutenant assigned to the Miami International Airport, as well as his law enforcement contacts at the airport, Mata and others smuggled the six firearms through airport security checkpoints and onto a commercial airliner destined for the Dominican Republic,” Fishman said.
Mata also “provided advice, guidance and counsel to Juan Arias regarding the means and methods the drug trafficking organization should use to import and distribute cocaine,” and also “transported narcotics proceeds for the organization,” the complaint says.
In exchange, he got “cash and a Rolex watch valued at approximately $10,000,” it says.
Gosh. I hate it when that happens to me. I remember the last time I bought guns for the drug lords. I was working for the U.S. ATF and under their direct orders when did that so I didn’t get in too much trouble. Only a few of those patriot types really cared. But they wouldn’t let me keep the Rolex.
On April 1, 2015 at 8:00 am, StBernardnot said:
Another pig we must bow down to. (spits)