Ex-Auburn cop gets 9 years in drug plot

A former Auburn police officer was sentenced to nine years in federal prison last week for his part in a conspiracy to commit extortion, traffic drugs and rob, officials said.

Charles Hubbard, 54, of Loganville, worked with at least six other people to identify, extort and rob drug deal- ers in 2009-16, U.S. Attorney B.J. Pak said in a statement.

“Instead of enforcing the laws he swore to uphold, Hubbard abused his position as a law enforcement officer by stealing from drug traffickers for his own finan- cial gain,” Pak said. “We are grateful for our law enforce- ment partners who worked tirelessly to bring Hubbard and his co-conspirators to justice.”

On March 30, 2016, a confidential source approached co-defendant Shaheib Morgan with a plan to steal money from supposed drug dealers, authorities said.

The confidential source proposed that Morgan seek Hubbard to conduct a fake traffic stop of the source and seize the money for the par- ticipants to divvy up, officials said. That same day, Morgan presented the plan to co-defendant Martin Rosendary, who presented it to Hubbard, who said he was in.

A few days later, Drug Enforcement Administration agents gave the confidential source $40,000, according to authorities. The source drove to an apartment complex where Hubbard, wear- ing a tactical police vest and police badge, approached the source and took the money. Hubbard, Rosendary and Morgan met, divided the money and departed.

DEA agents then arrested all three, but only after Rosendary led the agents on a high-speed chase in which he lost control of his vehicle, officials said. Morgan, a passenger, ran and was tracked down by a police dog. He had $10,000 in his pants and another $10,000 nearby. Hubbard was found with $20,000 in his vehicle.

Hubbard pleaded guilty Aug. 17, 2017, to conspiracy to obtain property by extor- tion and conspiracy to possess cocaine with the intent to distribute.

Former cop Charles Hubbard had help from six people.