Former LA narcotics agent sentenced to jail for selling information

Tuesday December 17, 2002

LOS ANGELES (AP) A former Drug Enforcement Administration agent has been sentenced to 27 months in prison for selling sensitive law enforcement information to a Los Angeles private investigation firm, officials said Tuesday.

U.S. District Judge William J. Rea on Monday also ordered Emilio Calatayud, a 14-year veteran of the DEA, to pay a $5,000 fine.

Between 1993 and 1999, Calatayud, a special agent in the Los Angeles field division, conducted unauthorized searches on criminal history and law enforcement for Triple Check Investigative Services. In return, he received at least $22,500 in secret payments.

Calatayud, 36, was initially charged with wire fraud, bribery and failure to report income. His trial was set to begin in Los Angeles in February, but he fled the country. Authorities arrested him in Mexico in June.

Calatayud pleaded guilty Aug. 5 to bribery, tax evasion and failure to appear for trial.

The investigation was conducted by the DEA's Office of Professional Responsibility, the FBI and the Secret Service.

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(Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)