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Ex-cop Richards is found using ‘ice’ again
The U.S. Probation Office wants to revoke the supervised release of former police officer Florencio Q. Richards for allegedly using crystal meth again and for committing other violations.
According to U.S. Probation Officer Gregory F. Arriola, Richards recently tested positive for “ice” use and admitted to using the illegal drug on Oct. 11 and 21.
Arriola said Richards also failed to submit to a drug test on Oct. 11 and failed to report to the U.S. Probation Office as instructed for drug testing on Oct. 23.
Richards was allegedly preoccupied with other activities and forgot to call the hotline, or he allegedly forgot about his drug test appointment.
Last December, the federal court revoked Richards’ supervised release and slapped him with a nine-month prison term for violating his probation by repeatedly using methamphetamine or “ice.” Upon his release, he was placed on 24 months of supervised release.
In July 2014, Arriola told the court that Richards has not complied with the conditions of his supervision by using “ice” on May 31 and June 1, 2014. Richards also failed to report for drug testing on May 30 and 31, and June 3, 2014. He failed to report for a counseling session on June 3, 2014.
At the time, Arriola warned Richards that the next positive drug test will result in court action.
In August 2011, the court sentenced Richards to 24 months in prison for distributing “ice” while he was still active officer.
At the sentencing, Richards told the court that he deeply regrets his actions. He apologized to his family and the community for “betraying their trust and confidence in him.”
On Jan. 30, 2014, U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona revoked Richards’ supervised release and sent him to three months in prison with credit for time served for using “ice” again. The judge ordered that after serving the three months in prison, the defendant will be placed on 33 months of supervised release.
