FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (WSVN) - A former City of Miami Police officer was sentenced for extortion and attempted possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
Frenel Cenat, who pleaded guilty in March, was sentenced to 11 years in federal prison by Senior U.S. District Judge James Cohn in the Fort Lauderdale Federal Courthouse on Tuesday. His prison sentence is followed by five years of supervised release. After his sentencing, Cenat, 41, was remanded into the custody of the U.S. Marshals.
Cenat’s sentencing marks the conclusion of a case that began last year when a tip-off about corrupt activities led to an undercover investigation.
According to investigators, Cenat used his department-issued unmarked cruiser to conduct traffic stops on individuals he believed to be involved in drug trafficking. However, these individuals were actually undercover agents. Cenat offered them a choice: hand over bags filled with money and drugs or face arrest.
“This case is about a police officer who lost their way,” said U.S Attorney Markenzy LaPointe.
In November 2023, Cenat was arrested and charged with extortion and attempted possession with intent to distribute cocaine. He allegedly pocketed drugs and money from those he pulled over, often using the alias “Officer Martez of the Miami PD Narcotics Unit” during these encounters. In one instance, Cenat seized $52,000 from an undercover agent posing as a drug trafficker, later splitting the proceeds with an informant.
City of Miami Police Chief Manuel Morales addressed Cenat’s arrest in November, stating, “The arrest of Officer Cenat is the result of a joint operation focused on identifying corrupt cops, and it’s an example of the repercussions when one of our own betrays their oath of office and tarnishes their badge.”
Following the sentencing, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida Markenzy Lapointe held a press conference to speak to the public on this issue.
“It is very difficult to investigate and prosecute law enforcement officers, but guess what? We still do that,” said Lapointe. “It is particularly difficult when you’re actually prosecuting and investigating your own. Part of that for us is, we believe we have a responsibility. We believe also when law enforcement officers are out there and doing what they’re supposed to do, the public has an expectation that they’re gonna do the right thing.”
“Know that we will go out, identify those folks that seek to harm the reputation of those men and women that have sworn to protect you,” said Chief Morales, who also attended the press conference. “If you ever think about losing your way, if you ever have a thought about betraying the public trust and tarnishing the badge that we all wear so proud, this is what will happen.”
Cenat served 17 years with the police department before his arrest last year.
His family remained silent as they walked out of the courtroom without their loved one.
Cenat and his attorney asked the judge for 30 days to surrender to spend more time with his family but was denied and taken into custody.
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