GULFPORT, Miss. — An officer with the Ruleville Police Department in Mississippi is now in jail and facing criminal charges after allegedly extorting an illegal immigrant during a routine traffic stop, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
36-year-old Antonio Artez Wade is charged with extortion under Title 18 of the U.S. Code, blackmail under Title 18 of the U.S. Code, and deprivation of rights under color of law in violation of Title 18 of the U.S. Code.
The attorney’s office said court records show that when Wade conducted a traffic stop of the victim and discovered they did not have anything to prove identification or legal status, he offered to help the victim in exchange for money.
The victim paid Wade $2,500.
“The arrest of Ruleville Police Officer Antonio Wade on charges of extortion is deeply troubling and stands in stark contrast of the values and standards expected of those who wear the badge,” said Mississippi Department of Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindell. “Our agency, in coordination with our federal and local law enforcement partners, will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that any officer who violates the public’s trust is held fully accountable.”
If the ex-officer is found guilty, he could serve a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Wade is currently being held without bond. Separate state charges could also be pending for Wade.