By Kevin Krause
Dallas Morning News
DALLAS — Dallas County sheriff’s deputies who patrol key smuggling routes sometimes stumble into large drug busts during highway traffic stops.
But Sheriff Lupe Valdez has suddenly found herself having to defend the integrity of her department after one of her traffic deputies was arrested on federal charges that he used his badge to engage in a scheme to steal drugs from drug dealers.
Standric Choice, 36, was arrested Friday after a confidential informant tipped off federal investigators and took part in a sting operation with an undercover officer to catch the deputy in the act, according to a federal affidavit.
Choice was arrested shortly after stashing 4 kilograms of cocaine in the trunk of his squad car, authorities said. He has been placed on leave.
He is scheduled to make an appearance before a federal judge today. Federal prosecutors are expected to ask the judge to keep Choice in custody pending trial because of the risk that he’ll flee.
His lawyer declined to comment.
“It is extremely unfortunate that one person chose to ruin his career by making bad choices,” Valdez said during a news conference on Monday. “The acts of one do not reflect the acts of many.”
After years of planning, the Sheriff’s Department recently signed an agreement with the city of Dallas to take over accident investigation duties on main highways in southern Dallas County. Deputies began those duties about one year ago, and the sheriff has slowly built up her traffic division.
Choice, a deputy for eight years, was arrested by FBI agents Friday with two other men. He is accused of plotting with Terry Kemone Anderson, 29, and Charles Lee Hill, 31, to steal a drug dealer’s cocaine.
All three men were charged with possession with the intent to distribute and conspiracy to possess cocaine with the intent to distribute. If convicted, Hill, Choice and Anderson could each face up to 80 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.
Choice was hired as a jail guard in 1994 and became a deputy in 2000, according to county officials. Federal officials said they believe Hill is Choice’s brother-in-law but have not been able to confirm it.
A federal affidavit gives the following account of events leading up to the arrest:
On Wednesday, a confidential informant told federal authorities that a sheriff’s deputy was involved in a scheme called “trading licks,” in which the deputy would help steal drugs from dealers.
Officials told the informant to set up a drug deal with Hill and Choice.
The informant told Hill he was scheduled to buy 4 kilograms of cocaine from his supplier on Friday at the TA Truck Stop at Interstate 20 and Bonnie View Lane in Dallas. Hill did not know the supplier would be a federal undercover agent.
Hill and the informant then plotted the scheme. Hill told the informant he would call Choice after watching him meet with his supplier at the truck stop. Choice would pull into the truck stop, search the supplier’s vehicle and confiscate the cocaine.
Choice would then let the supplier go and take the informant to meet with Hill, where the stolen drugs would be divided up.
On Friday, agents secretly watched as the scheme unfolded. They then followed Choice to the Sheriff’s Department, where he was taken into custody.
Staff writer Jason Trahan contributed to this report.
Copyright 2009 Dallas Morning News