Fmr. Wilcox Co. deputy pleads guilty to trafficking fake cocaine in patrol car

CAMDEN, AL (WSFA) - Nearly a year after a Wilcox County Sheriff's deputy found himself on the other side of a pair of handcuffs, indicted on 8 counts of trafficking cocaine from his patrol car, he's pleading guilty to several federal charges.

According to court documents, deputy Greg Barge pleaded guilty to three counts including attempting to distribute cocaine powder, knowingly using a firearm in the commission of a drug trafficking crime, and violation of the Hobbs Act in which he unlawfully used extortion during interstate commerce.

Barge was arrested in June 2013 for intended trafficking of several kilos of powdered cocaine, but he was not aware that the drugs he was carrying were fake.

The U.S. Attorney's Office said at the time of the arrest that Barge was trying to transport and sell powdered cocaine from Montgomery to Camden. Barge is said to have used his patrol vehicle to pick up what he thought was pure, powdered cocaine in Montgomery and drive the shipment to Camden, all while in full police uniform.

A plea agreement shows that Barge will be sentenced to between 72 and 90 months, but the exact day of his sentencing hearing is not yet known.

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