BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) -- A former Centre police officer was charged in connection to a scheme to plant drugs on innocent motorists in order to manufacture drug arrests.
According to U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona, Michael Kilgore, 40, of Centre, was charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, specifically methamphetamine. A plea agreement was filed, indicating that Kilgore has agreed to plead guilty to the charge.
Kilgore's scheme began in January 2023, when he stopped a car and found various drugs, according to the plea agreement. Kilgore offered the driver the chance to avoid drug charges by working for him. The driver accepted and became a co-conspirator in Kilgore's scheme. They then arranged for a package containing multiple drugs to be attached to the undercarriage of a certain vehicle.
On Jan. 31, 2023, Kilgore performed a traffic stop on a vehicle and "discovered" the drug package where he knew it had been planted. The vehicle's driver and passenger were detained for drug possession. Kilgore and his co-conspirator planned to repeat the scheme on another vehicle, but after buying the drugs to be planted, the co-conspirator discarded the drugs and reported the scheme to law enforcement.
A court date will be set for Kilgore to enter his guilty plea.