Judge pleads guilty to obstructing investigation in cocaine trafficking case

photo from Flickr Creative Commons from Blogtrepreneur

Former Colorado District Court Judge Ryan Kamada Tuesday pleaded guilty of interfering with the investigation of a suspected cocaine trafficking ring.

According to CBS Denver, Kamada tipped off a friend about the investigation who subsequently told the suspect.

“While serving as the ‘on call’ judge one evening in April 2019, Kamada received a phone call from a task force officer who was seeking a search warrant related to the investigation into the drug trafficker,” investigators stated. “The task force officer pointed out to Kamada that he was associated with the drug trafficker on social media.”

Kamada recused himself from the case, but authorities say he then told a friend to warn him to stay away from the suspect.

The Greeley Tribune reports Kamada accepted a plea bargain and pleaded guilty to one count of obstructing a pending investigation.

Kamada likely faces 12-18 months in prison and no fines. He is currently free on bail, but has had to forfeit his passport.

“If a target becomes aware of police involvement in a case, he could start viewing the undercover (officer) with suspicion, or if the undercover (officer) were to say or do something that could raise alarm … that could obviously put them in danger,” said Greeley Police Cmdr. Steve Black to the Tribune.

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