Miami Springs Cop Andres Quintanilla Arrested in Drug Trafficking Sting

Andres Quintanilla, a 33-year-old officer for the Miami Springs Police Department, was arrested yesterday for allegedly offering protection and information to an undercover FBI agent who was posing as an international drug trafficker. The investigation began in 2014 when the undercover agent informed Quintanilla that he was in the drug trafficking business. Quintanilla, however, did not arrest the man. Instead he offered his services. 

This is obviously the opposite of what a police officer should do. 

According to Local 10, Quintanilla offered man advice on how to run his business and information like the location of an unmarked Miami-Dade Police Department narcotics office, the names of three MDPD officers, and future information on and photographs of police officers. 

Quintanilla also took in $3,500 after providing protection and a location for a fake $250,000 cocaine deal. 

The officer was questioned last month and admitted to taking bribes. He turned himself into the FBI. The Miami Springs Police Department says the officer has been suspended without pay. 

He now faces a charge of attempting to affect commerce by extortion under color of official right, and could spend up to 20 years in prison if convicted. 

In addition to his job as a police officer, Quintanilla had also founded a real estate company called 911 Realty that specialized in serving law enforcement officers and other government employees.