Thinking it was ‘ice,’ cop buys ‘tawas’

Police Officer I Carl Kohler Tudela pleaded guilty yesterday to attempted possession of a controlled substance as part of a plea deal and was sentenced to the maximum two years and six months in prison.

Yet in the sting operation that led to Tudela’s arrest, what he believed to be methamphetamine or “ice” was actually “tawas”—a Tagalog term for alum, a crystalline substance used to control body odor or deodorant that also has cosmetic, medicinal, and health benefits.

In the report prepared by Office of the Attorney General investigator George F. David, he said a joint team did a “control-reverse” operation against Tudela, wherein the subject is offered “ice” for purchase. David disclosed that they used “tawas” and not “ice” in that operation.

David also said that one marijuana plant was found inside Tudela’s apartment and another in the balcony.

At yesterday’ sentencing, Superior Court Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho noted that at the time that Tudela tried to purchase what he believed to be “ice,” he was a police officer. The judge said Tudela took an oath as a police officer to uphold the law, and as a police officer he had an affirmative duty to enforce the law.

“Defendant, instead of enforcing the law was the one breaking the law,” Camacho said.

To ensure that others—especially law enforcement officers, are deterred from committing the same mistake—the court imposes the full maximum sentence possible, Camacho said.

The 38-year-old Tudela was ordered to serve the two-year-and-six-month prison term day for day, without the possibility of parole. He was given credit for time served and ordered to pay a $1,000 fine. He failed to post the $100,000 cash bail since his arrest last March 6.

After the hearing, Tudela was in tears as he hugged his girlfriend and family members.

Tudela told the court that he was offered to buy what he believed was “ice” and that he agreed to purchase some.

“I just apologize to everyone, my family, and the community,” he said, adding that what he did was a mistake.

Defense attorney Charles Reyes had recommended a sentence of time served and probation so that his client can rehabilitate himself. Reyes said Tudela is remorseful, accepted responsibility for his crime, and has no prior conviction.

Assistant attorney general Clayton J. Graef recommended a sentence of two years in prison.

The remaining charges of illegal manufacture of a controlled substance (marijuana) and misconduct in public office were dropped as part of the plea agreement.

All charges against Tudela’s girlfriend and co-defendant, Desiree Bulaon, were also dropped.

According to the factual basis of the plea agreement, Tudela, with the intent to commit the offense of possessing methamphetamine, purchased what he believed to be methamphetamine on March 6, 2015 on Saipan.

The Office of the Attorney General’s Investigation Division, Drug Enforcement Agency Task Force, and the Department of Public Safety’s Criminal Bureau of Investigation conducted the joint investigation into Tudela’s drug activities.

In his report, David said information gathered by AGID indicates that Tudela’s activities involve smoking and purchasing “ice” while on or off duty.

David said that last March 6 at 7am, the joint team’s investigators met with a cooperating source to prepare for a “control-reverse” operation against Tudela.

The cooperating source had allegedly previously sold “ice” to Tudela and had witnessed the officer purchasing the drug from another known meth distributor about two months before.

David said their operation entailed the cooperating source meeting with Tudela and talking about “ice” and to determine if he was willing to buy some.

Investigators established surveillance at the SH Apartment in San Antonio north of San Antonio Elementary School, where the officer stays in one of the rooms.

The cooperating source met with Tudela at the staircase of the SH Apartment, asked Tudela if he was interested in buying “ice” and that the officer told the cooperating source to wait as he would ask his girlfriend for some money.

David said Tudela later handed the cooperating source an undetermined amount of cash and received a small plastic baggie containing a substance purported to be “ice.”

At the prearranged location, David said detectives met with the cooperating source and retrieved the electronic recording device, and $17 that Tudela gave to the cooperating source as payment for “ice.”

At 8:13pm, the joint team served Tudela with an arrest warrant and searched his apartment.