The former police chief of Talbotton pleaded guilty this week to a federal charge of making false statements, according to federal authorities.
Michael Howard, 43, admitted that in June 2011, he lied to a federal agent when he denied knowing a known drug dealer had transported narcotics through Talbot County, the FBI said.
“Former Chief Howard chose to lie to federal investigators during a broad investigation wherein four other area law enforcement officials have already been indicted,” Brian D. Lamkin, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Atlanta Field Office, said in a news release. “This conduct cannot be condoned and the FBI will continue to aggressively pursue such matters to ensure that the public trust of its law enforcement officers is not compromised.”
Howard faces up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a $250,000.00 fine when he is sentenced on April 25.
“No one is above the law,” U.S. Attorney Michael Moore said in a news release. “The public trust that those who wear the badge uphold is sacred, and violations of that trust are inexcusable and will be prosecuted.”
In addition to the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the GBI investigated the matter.
Talbotton is located about 90 miles south of Atlanta and 60 miles west of Macon.
