MIAMI – A Florida Highway Patrol Trooper from Miami is among several people arrested and charged in connection to the distribution and attempted purchase of the drug "Molly," a dangerous analog of ecstasy.
The U.S. attorney's office announced Tuesday that Cpl. Carlos L. Ruiz is charged with attempted possession of a controlled substance.
Giovanny Brenes and Jorge Canela Jr. are accused of conspiring to distribute the drug as well.
"The Florida Highway Patrol is in the process of dismissing Cpl. Carlos L. Ruiz based on a federal warrant arrest on Aug. 5," FHP Capt. Nancy Rasmussen wrote in a statement to Local 10 News. "Troopers are and should be held to the highest standards of integrity and trust. Ruiz's actions showed that he failed to uphold those standards expected of our members and this behavior will not be tolerated by the Department."
Authorities said they uncovered the alleged crimes while investigating a different conspiracy to distribute performance enhancing drugs to underage high school athletes and professional athletes involving several other defendants.