Former Florida Sheriff’s Deputy Arrested For Impersonating A DEA Agent
By Space Coast Daily // December 10, 2015
The DEA led the criminal investigation
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the arrests of former sheriff’s deputy Don Wheeler and Michael Maine on charges related to impersonating a Drug Enforcement Administration agent.
According to the investigation, Wheeler, who is not currently a law enforcement officer and was not at the time of the commission of the alleged criminal activity, impersonated a DEA agent in an effort to coerce Maine’s wife into halting divorce proceedings.
The defendants allegedly created counterfeit DEA credentials to pass Wheeler off as a federal agent.
According to court documents, Wheeler also called associates of Maine’s wife claiming she was involved in drug trafficking and that the DEA had an active criminal investigation into her involvement.
Both defendants face the following charges:
• Extortion;
• Conspiracy to commit extortion;
• Unlawful use of a two-way communications device; and
• Falsely personating an officer.
Maine faces an additional forgery charge. If found guilty on all charges, both men face more than 30 years in prison. The DEA led the criminal investigation.
Attorney General Pam Bondi’s Office of Statewide Prosecution will prosecute the defendants.
The Office of Statewide Prosecution prosecutes multi-circuit organized crime while working regularly with federal and state counterparts to coordinate efforts against criminal activity. The office provides proactive partnership to law enforcement and is not limited to geographic or judicial boundaries.
