Admits to Soliciting Sexual
Favors in Exchange for Potential Lenient Treatment
U.S. Department of Justice
December 16, 2014
Office of Public Affairs (202)
514-2007/TDD (202) 514-1888
WASHINGTON—A police officer
employed by the City of Salem, Virginia, and assigned to a U.S. Drug
Enforcement Administration (DEA) task force pleaded guilty today for soliciting
and receiving sexual favors from a cooperating defendant in exchange for
agreeing to recommend a favorable sentence to a federal prosecutor on the
defendant’s behalf.
Assistant Attorney General
Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Special Agent
in Charge Adam S. Lee of the FBI’s Richmond Division and Special Agent in
Charge Michael Tompkins of the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector
General’s Washington Field Office made the announcement.
“Kevin Moore took a solemn oath
to protect and serve the public, but then abused the authority of his badge by
sexually exploiting a federal witness,” said Assistant Attorney General
Caldwell. “When Moore crossed the line from enforcing the law to breaking it,
his actions cast an unfortunate shadow over the selfless and courageous work of
his fellow officers. Working with our law enforcement partners, the Department
of Justice will expose and prosecute all such abuses of authority, in order to
restore and maintain the public’s trust.”
“Cases involving corruption of
law enforcement officials are among the FBI’s highest priority criminal
investigations. The public should expect integrity from those sworn to uphold
the law. Mr. Moore’s breach of his sworn duty in this case is particularly
pernicious as he exploited his victims in the most personal way. The Richmond
Division of the FBI continues to have confidence in the City of Salem Police
Department. We value our partnership with the Department and the proud men and
women who serve their community with distinction everyday,” said Special Agent
in Charge Lee.
“The OIG will aggressively
investigate with its law enforcement partners allegations of misconduct among
Department employees, contractors, and deputized task force officers to help
ensure the Department of Justice performs its critical work with integrity,”
said Special Agent in Charge Tompkins.
Kevin C. Moore, 42, of Roanoke,
Virginia, was a Salem Police Department officer and was assigned to the DEA
task force in Roanoke, Virginia. According to his plea agreement and
accompanying statement of facts, between June and September 2014, Moore
informed a female cooperating defendant that he was in a position to help her
with her pending federal methamphetamine trafficking case. In August 2014, for
example, in a series of text messages with the cooperating defendant, Moore
made clear that he could recommend a favorable sentence to the prosecutor on
the cooperating defendant’s behalf in exchange for sexual favors. Moore then
convinced the cooperating defendant to go for a ride in his official vehicle
where she performed a sexual act with Moore.
As part of his guilty plea,
Moore admitted to engaging in similar conduct with two other female cooperating
witnesses in federal drug investigations dating back to 2009. According to the
statement of facts, Moore falsely informed these witnesses that he had
convinced federal prosecutors not to charge them with federal criminal offenses
that would carry significant prison sentences. Moore then solicited and
received sexual favors from the witnesses in exchange for his purported
assistance.
Moore pleaded guilty to a
one-count information charging him with bribery before Chief U.S. District
Judge Glen E. Conrad of the Western District of Virginia. In cooperation with
the City of Salem Police Department and DEA, Moore was arrested on Oct. 10,
2014, without incident, after being charged by complaint, and was suspended
from the police department and DEA task force the same day. His sentencing is
scheduled for February 2, 2015.
This case was investigated by
the FBI and the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General, and is
being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Charles R. Walsh and Robert J. Heberle of
the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section.
