The Justice Department issue the following statement.
A Clarksdale man was arrested yesterday in Gulfport, Mississippi, on criminal charges related to his alleged extortion of an illegal alien.
According to court documents, Antonio Artez Wade, 36, an officer with the Ruleville Police Department, conducted a traffic stop of “Victim 1” on September 17, 2025. Upon learning that Victim 1 lacked identification or legal status, Wade indicated that he could “help” the victim in exchange for money. The victim subsequently paid Wade’s demand of $2500. Wade has been charged with extortion under 18 U.S.C. § 1951, blackmail under 18 U.S.C. § 873, and deprivation of rights under color of law in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 242.
“No traffic stop should ever turn into a shakedown,” said U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner. “Corruption of the kind alleged here undermines public safety and trust in law enforcement, and it will simply not be tolerated.”
"Homeland Security Investigations is committed to holding accountable those who exploit their authority and undermine public trust,” stated HIS Assistant Special Agent in Charge Matthew Reidell. “This case involves serious violations, including extortion under the Hobbs Act, blackmail, and deprivation of rights under color of law. Such actions not only harm vulnerable individuals but also undermine the integrity of our immigration system. HSI will continue working with our partners to ensure justice and uphold the rule of law."
“The arrest of Ruleville Police Officer Antonio Wade on charges of extortion is deeply troubling and stands in stark contrast of the values and standards expected of those who wear the badge,” said Mississippi Department of Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindell. “Our agency, in coordination with our federal and local law enforcement partners, will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that any officer who violates the public’s trust is held fully accountable.”
“Officer Wade violated the trust between law enforcement and the people they pledged to protect,” said Attorney General Lynn Fitch. “This abuse of power will not be tolerated. Thank you to our federal and state partners for your commitment to restoring confidence in our criminal justice and immigration systems. The Attorney General’s Office looks forward to our day in State court.”
If convicted, Wade faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Wade is currently being held without bond pending a detention hearing. Separate state charges may be pending.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. Mims is prosecuting the case.
17 comments:
The only idiot I see is the illegal. The cop should keep the money and deport the other guy. ICE should hire this guy.
This should not be a crime. Criminal illegal aliens should be abused and exploited at every opportunity. Every day should be “open seqson” on illegals. They are literal criminal parasites. I would go to far as to say that law enforcement should not even bother to investigate any crimes against illegals.
He was just building his resume for a future position as a sheriff in the Delta.
This is the least of the corruption in Ruleville. I am assuming Bennie will be along shortly with a press conference condemning these actions because he loves illegal aliens and hates corrupt police....
This one shouldn't count. Not a citizen or legal resident, you don't get the same protections.
It wasn't a bribe but rather a "fine," or as it is called in his country of origin, "la mordida," (the bite).
Does the Ruleville Police Department not do background checks? This fella has quite the decorated past. Shoplifting in 2011, fugitive on the run in 2018, and now this. Note to anyone complaining of not being able to find work due to a criminal past: apply at the Ruleville Police Dept. They'll hire you!
Good lord. Some of the Mississippi peasantry commenting on this thread has really lost the ball on what it means to have an upstanding society with institutions we can trust.
Being angry at illegal immigration is no justification for wanting and accepting low value people who extort people through power to serve as law enforcement officers. LEOs are one of our most honorable positions in our society. It might be illegal immigrants in this example, but Wade would no doubt have done the same with other peoples or been compromised in other contexts.
Someone can be an illegal alien that should be deported according to the law, and that someone can also expect not to be extorted for money by an "officer" like we live in some shthole 3rd world country.
What makes our country great is that we expect and know our LEOs to be people of high values who answer a call of duty and service and are first responders and the first layer of protection in many of our communities. They are servant warriors.
Wade's actions are incongruent with how we expect our LEOs to behave and answer the call of service. I am grateful I live in a country that has little tolerance for this behavior.
@4:06 "What makes our country great..." Yeah, well, maybe that is true in some areas for some LEOs, but in MS, we have always had a large number of corrupt LEOs. It didn't start with the Goon Squad or end with those recent arrests in the Delta. It's been here forever, and it's fueled by morons like those that wrote the first two posts: people who believe that the it's ok for corrupt LEOs to take advantage of some groups of people. It's the acceptance of that sort of corruption that helps keep us on the bottom of (insert any national ranking). The law has to apply equally to everyone every time, or we are exactly the type of people the rest of the country thinks we are.
What are your feelings towards the man that let the illegal in?
What should the punishment be for the man that allowed the illegals in?
"ICE should hire this guy."
They probably will, given how far they've had to lower their standards to get new recruits.
But he has no business being a law enforcement officer.
What about the people that allowed the illegals to come in, what protections should they have?
Isn’t it time for LEOs to take random lie detector test to prevent taking bribes? Donuts & coffee excluded!
Matthew 25:35 …I was a stranger & you took me in.
Lynn Fitch quoted above,” this abuse of power will not be tolerated…” Then why are the leaders of Rankin County and The State of Mississippi allowing Sheriff Bryan Bailey to abuse his power of office with years of documented cover ups, lying and malfeasance?
No, @4:06 PM, what makes the country great is that big, bad-ass military that the president dispatches anywhere on the globe to punch down on any world figure who doesn’t bend the knee to America’s exceptionalism and family values.
Post a Comment