Ex-cop Richards tests positive for ‘ice’ use

Florencio Q. Richards, a former police officer on federal probation after serving a 24-month prison term for distributing methamphetamine or “ice,” tested positive for the drug again.

According to U.S. Probation Officer Gregory F. Arriola, when confronted with the test results, Richards admitted that he used the drug on June 1, 2014.

In his report to the U.S. District Court for the NMI last week, Arriola said that Richards has not complied with the conditions of his supervision when he used “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, Arriola said.

The former police officer also failed to report for a counseling session on June 3, 2014, Arriola said.

Arriola said he visited Richards at his home on June 4, 2014, to conduct a random drug test.

Before submitting to the test, Richards admitted in writing that he used “ice” in the evening of May 31, 2014 and the morning of June 1, 2014.

Arriola said that on June 7, 2014, Richards tested presumptive positive for “ice” while submitting to a random drug test.

He said when questioned about the test results, Richards admitted using drugs on June 1, 2014.

Arriola said defendant’s violations were committed prior to his placement on the Location Monitoring Program. Richards began his enrollment in the monitoring program last June 10.

Arriola said Richards was given a stern warning about the consequences of continued noncompliance and that the next occurrence of a positive drug test will result in a request for court action.

Arriola said Richards will continue to be monitored closely and any further violations will be reported to the court.

Richards is currently undergoing substance abuse treatment and testing.

On June 14, 2013, the federal court modified the supervised conditions to include three months of home detention under the location monitoring program after Richards admitted to drug use on three separate occasions.

Last Jan. 30, 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. After serving the three-month sentence, Richards was placed on 33 months of supervised release.

Manglona told the defendant that she hopes to see him return as a productive member of the community.

Richards has been on three years of supervised probation since Feb. 20, 2013, after he served a 12-month prison term for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine or “ice,” distribution of “ice,” and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.

In August 2011, the federal court imposed a 24-month prison term on Richards for distributing “ice” while he was still an active officer.