The Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office said Thursday that 42-year-old John Becker of Horsham forced informants to make drug buys on his behalf under the guise of assisting with undercover drug investigations.
Becker is a former detective sergeant with the Hatboro Police.
According to the criminal charges, between December 2009 and January 2011 Becker
convinced or coerced several individuals to make numerous drug purchases on his behalf,
including powerful prescription pain medications such as Oxycontin and Percocet, along with
cocaine.
Attorney General Linda Kelly said that all of these transactions were allegedly under the guise of assisting “undercover drug investigations” that were supposedly being conducted by Becker, though in reality no official investigations existed and Becker is accused of keeping the drugs for his own personal use.
“These non-existent investigations allegedly created by Becker to obtain drugs put
unsuspecting informants in harm’s way and also tarnished the legitimate work of police
departments in Montgomery and Bucks counties,” Kelly said.
Authorities say Becker also stole 10 firearms, $18,000 in cash, jewelry and narcotics from the police evidence room.
Becker is facing charges including theft, drug possession and criminal coercion. His arraignment is set for July 5 in Montgomery County Court.
Defense attorney Vincent DiFabio told the Associated Press that his client became addicted to prescription painkillers after a foot injury in 2003.
