By Allan Lengel
ticklethewire.
A Wisconsin state narcotics agent, who fled in his car when confronted by FBI agents last March, is expected to plead guilty to stealing $1,100 in an FBI sting, according to the Associated Press.
Johnny Santiago, a special agent with the Wisconsin Department of Justice, is expected to plead guilty in U.S. District Court in Milwaukee, AP reported.
According to an affidavit filed in court in March by FBI agent Susan Blish, the agent said she and FBI agent Daniel Hargreaves planted $17,740 in cash in a vacant store front in Milwaukee as part of an investigation into theft of cash by police.
The placement of the cash was videotaped and the video continued to play as Milwaukee police and Santiago,a state special agent, entered the store around 1:25 p.m.
The videotape shows Santiago discovering the cash and reporting it to the other police officers. As is policy in the Milwaukee police department, a lieutenant arrived at the scene and counted the cash.
The affidavit says that the lieutenant was conacted and told that $16,640 was recovered from the scene and that $1,100 was missing.
Consequently, the Milwaukee officers involved in the search reported to a separate location where they were searched by the the FBI agents. None of the bait money was found on the officers or in their vehicles, the affidavit said.
At about 2:34 p.m., Santiago’s car was observed in the parking area of the Milwuakee High Intensity Drug Task Force building (HIDTA), the affidavit said. About 15 minutes later, FBI agents saw him leave the area and go to a public parking structure.
He drove around the structure and was going toward the exit when the agents got out of their vehicle and approached Santiago’s vehicle. The agents identified themselves and told Santiago they needed to speak to him.
“Santiago then rolled up his window and fled from the agents who pursued him down the entrance ramp before losing sight of him,” the affidavit said.
Shortly after, his car was spotted at the HIDTA building area. While he fled, he notified a supervisor that the FBI was chasing him. He then went into HIDTA office and repeated that the FBI was chasing him. The supervisor had no knowledge of the sting.
The FBI agents then entered the building and arrested Santiago.
“The money was not located on his person or his vehicle, but there was ample opportunity for him to discard the money during his flight,” the affidavit said.
