Two men plead guilty to selling police badges and the privileges that come with the badge. The guilty pleas in a Los Angeles federal court reveal the years long scheme. It involves a San Diego County tribal police chief of the Manzanita band of the Kumeyaay Nation pleading guilty to selling the badges and pocketing about 300-thousand dollars.
According to the guilty plea by one of the alleged buyer “VIPs”, he was able to use the badge to carry concealed firearms, acquire guns only available to cops and “apply for and receive confidential driver’s license status with the California Department of Motor Vehicles.”
The pleas also revealed a second police chief was involved with selling the badges and a Marina del Rey resident was tasked with recruiting wealthy individuals interested in buying the privileges.