Ex-cop gets 9 months in prison for using ‘ice’ again

The federal court has revoked the supervised release of former police officer Florencio Q. Richards and slapped him with a nine-month prison term for violating his probation by repeatedly using methamphetamine or “ice.”

At a hearing on Tuesday afternoon, U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona also ordered that upon Richards’ release, he will be placed on 24 months of supervised release.

Among the conditions of his supervised release is that he shall participate in a substance abuse treatment program and refrain from the use of any alcohol.

Richards appeared with court-appointed counsel Michael Evangelista. He admitted to the allegations in the U.S. Probation Office’s petition for the revocation of his supervised release.

Assistant U.S. attorney Russell Lorfing stated the factual basis of the violations and recommended revoking Richard’s supervised release and imposing a nine-month prison term.

Evangelista recommended revoking Richard’s release and modifying his current release conditions. Evangelista stated that Richards never denied the violations and that he is seeking help for his illness, such as the Lighthouse Recovery Center in Guam.

Manglona entered a finding that Richards did in fact violate his conditions of supervised release.

Probation officer Gregory F. Arriola said that, although Richards denied the allegation on that day of Sept. 8, 2014, he has admitted to all the other violations.

In the petition, Arriola disclosed that Richards tested positive for using “ice” twice in September and twice in October. Arriola added that Richards failed to participate in a substance abuse program.

In July, Arriola also 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 an 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.”

“I found that I’m not alone with this trouble—my addiction to drugs and alcohol. I want to stand on my two feet again and support my family,” he stated.

Last Jan. 30, Manglona revoked the supervised release of Richards 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.