The arrest of two Homeland Security agents in Utah, Nicholas Kindle and David Cole, has sent shockwaves through law enforcement. Both agents are charged with serious drug distribution conspiracy charges. Here are the top 5 key details about their arrests and the case:
1. The Agents Involved: Nicholas Kindle and David Cole
- Special agent Nicholas Kindle was arrested three weeks after his alleged co-conspirator, David Cole, also a special agent. Kindle faces multiple counts including conspiracy to convert government property for profit, punishable by as many as 25 years in prison. Cole faces similar charges, punishable by as many as 20 years.
2. The Alleged Scheme: Selling Seized Drugs
- Kindle and Cole are accused of using their positions to pilfer illicit drugs, including bath salts, from evidence seized by Homeland Security and other law enforcement agencies. The two men claimed the drugs were needed for investigations, but they actually sold them for profit.
3. Involvement of a Confidential Informant
- It is alleged that the agents used a CI in furtherance of an illegal drug sale; among the many locations for the resale included a Panera Bread and a Nike store. The points of meeting for the resales were provided by them through encrypted messaging apps. This informant was released from prison to become the middleman for the scheme.
4. The Financial Impact: $195,000 to $300,000
- Investigators estimate that Kindle and Cole's illicit activities generated between $195,000 and $300,000 in revenue. This was largely due to the sale of the stolen drugs and the involvement of the confidential informant.
5. FBI Investigation and Evidence Collected
- The investigation was launched in October 2024 after the informant’s lawyer reported the agents' actions to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The FBI tracked the agents and found instances where the drugs were sold illegally. One instance involved the informant finding drugs left in a parking lot trash can.
This case demonstrates the corruption of law enforcement agencies and how serious the consequences can be for those involved in criminal activity. So far, both agents have had their credentials suspended but not terminated.