Fake DEA Agent Agrees to Two Year Prison Term

FRESNO—United States Attorney McGregor W. Scott and Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) Special Agent in Charge Javier F. Peña announced today that BRETT MICHAEL PETERSEN, 20, of Selma, California, has entered a guilty plea to transmitting threatening communications.

The case is the product of an investigation conducted by the DEA, Selma Police Department, and
Kingsburg Police Department with follow-up assistance provided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General.

In pleading guilty, PETERSEN, admitted that, while impersonating an agent of the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), he knowingly and intentionally transmitted threatening text messages to another which stated, in part, “I put it on my badge the s--- ur in will all hit u at once with nothing u can do,” and, “If you see a black crown victoria its 2 late don’t bother trying.” In entering his guilty plea, PETERSEN agreed to serve a two year prison term without the possibility of parole. He also agreed to make restitution for money he unlawfully took from another while representing himself to be a DEA agent.

PETERSEN was previously ordered detained as a danger to the community after Senior United
States District Judge Oliver W. Wanger found PETERSEN to be a “one man crime wave.” PETERSEN remains in custody pending his sentencing which is set for October 27, 2008, before Judge Wanger. He faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables and any applicable statutory sentencing factors.

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