Former DEA Officer Pleads Guilty to Drug Conspiracy and Corruption Charges
Jacksonville, Florida
A former Florida Highway Patrol trooper and DEA Task Force Officer pleaded guilty on Monday to serious federal charges including conspiring to distribute narcotics, defrauding the United States, and possessing a firearm and ammunition unlawfully.
Joshua Grady Earrey, 45, of Jacksonville, now faces a potential maximum sentence of 60 years behind bars for his role in a scheme that involved stealing seized money and drugs while serving as a law enforcement officer.
According to the Department of Justice, Earrey abused his position within the Florida Highway Patrol and DEA, engaging in the theft of narcotics and currency that had been confiscated as part of criminal investigations. These illicitly obtained substances and funds were then channeled into a distribution network, with Earrey reportedly profiting from the criminal activities.
"Earrey and his co-conspirator stole more than 1,000 pounds of marijuana from evidence and covered up the theft by submitting falsified paperwork showing that the drugs had been destroyed," detailed the DOJ in a statement. "Earrey, who had an addiction to prescription opiates, also used his corrupt activities to obtain illegal drugs for his own use."
The extent of the criminal enterprise, which spanned from 2017 to 2023, also involved the illicit exchange of stolen firearms and ammunition. Earrey allegedly traded stolen ammunition to a convicted murderer in exchange for prescription drugs. At age 45, he faces a maximum of 60 years in federal prison on these charges.
The revelation of this case in March by local media outlets, including Action News Jax, shed light on the alarming allegations against a decorated law enforcement figure. It has also sparked discussions among experts about the potential warning signs and consequences of substance abuse within the ranks of those tasked with enforcing the law.
*This article is based on public information made available by the Department of Justice and local news reports.