Ex-Benton Harbor cop enters guilty plea to felony drug charge

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Former Benton Harbor police officer Andrew Collins, 26, has pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute more than five grams of crack cocaine. (Photo provided)

By Beth Boehne

Story Created: Jan 27, 2009 at 11:26 AM EST

Story Updated: Jan 27, 2009 at 11:26 AM EST

A former Benton Harbor police officer has entered a guilty plea to a felony charge of drug trafficking, U. S. Attorney Donald Davis announced Tuesday in Grand Rapids.

Andrew Thomas Collins, 26, of Benton Harbor, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute more than five grams of crack cocaine, said Davis, the U. S. attorney for the western district of Michigan. He faces a minimum of five years in prison and a maximum of 40 years, plus a fine of $2,000.

The charge was the result of crack cocaine and other controlled substances seized from Collins on Feb. 18, 2008, Davis said. At the time of the seizure, Collins was a narcotics officer with the Benton Harbor Police Department.

As part of his plea, Collins admitted that he abused his position on more than one occasion failing to report and submit to the department all the narcotics seized in the course of his duties, Davis said. The U. S. attorney said Collns kept some of the narcotics "for his own use, gain or purpose’’ and "reported false and fictitious controlled purchases to the BHPD for the purpose of improperly securing search warrants and to embezzle funds of the BHPD.’’

Davis said his office is working diligently with law enforcement partners to "seek out and remedy any wrongful convictions resulting from Collins’ conduct.’’ Also, Berrien County Prosecutor Art Cotter already has announced he had dropped a number of pending drug cases resulting from Collins’ investigations.

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