A New York City police officer admitted Friday that he traveled to South Florida and used his off-duty gun to provide security for a $200,000 cocaine deal.
Phillip LeRoy, 28, of Queens, pleaded guilty to a drug-trafficking conspiracy charge in federal court in Fort Lauderdale.
LeRoy, who was suspended from his NYPD job after his arrest in December, is being held without bond at the Broward County Main Jail. LeRoy could face between 10 years and life in federal prison when he is sentenced June 5.
Handcuffed, shackled and dressed in beige jail scrubs, LeRoy answered most of U.S. District Judge William Dimitrouleas's questions with a "Yes, sir" or "No, sir."
Two other defendants, Brian Espinal and Richard Quintanilla, 35, of Ecuador, pleaded guilty to related charges earlier this month.
Espinal, 27, of New York City, told investigators he was a drug courier and he asked LeRoy to accompany him on a December trip from New York to Sunrise to pick up 22 pounds of cocaine.
LeRoy's job, Espinal said, was to flash his badge if they were pulled over while driving the drugs back to the Northeast.
The two did not realize the drug deal was a sting operation orchestrated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Sunrise Police.
LeRoy was a 10-year police department veteran with an exemplary record who followed his father into the police force. He was named his Queens precinct's "Cop of the Year" two years ago.
Federal prosecutors have agreed to drop three other federal charges against LeRoy in exchange for his guilty plea. Those charges would be dismissed at sentencing.
This story will be updated. Check back for more information.
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