SALT LAKE CITY — A federal agent from the Department of Homeland Security, accused of conspiring with another agent to distribute a dangerous substance known as “bath salts,” entered a not guilty plea on Friday in a federal court. The charges were lodged by a grand jury in Salt Lake City earlier this week against Special Agent David Cole, a representative of Homeland Security Investigations. The indictment claims that Cole misused his authority as a federal officer to acquire and sell the drugs illegally for his own gain. If found guilty of the charges, he could face a sentence of up to 20 years in prison.
The indictment details how Cole allegedly took possession of drugs that had been seized in investigations, misleading his colleagues by asserting that they were necessary for legitimate cases. Instead, he is accused of selling these drugs to a confidential informant, who subsequently distributed them for profit on the streets of Utah.
The informant, who has a considerable criminal background, was initially recruited by federal agents to work under their supervision upon his release from incarceration. Alongside conducting authorized purchases from suspected drug dealers, the informant claims he was also pushed by Cole and another agent to partake in unlawful transactions.
The investigation was prompted in October when the informant’s defense attorney reached out to the U.S. Attorney’s office in Utah to inform them that federal agents had coerced him into partaking in unlawful activities that spanned from last spring to early December. The FBI reported that several details regarding the informant’s drug sales were corroborated through surveillance and additional sources.
According to an FBI affidavit submitted in this case, Cole and the unidentified second agent, referred to only as “Person A,” reportedly gained as much as $300,000 from their illegal activities. A spokesperson for the FBI confirmed that “Person A” has yet to be arrested or charged, although the investigation remains active.
On the day of his court appearance, Cole, 50, from South Jordan, Utah, arrived in handcuffs, appearing hunched and dressed in a white and gray striped jumpsuit. U.S. Magistrate Judge Dustin Pead accepted Cole’s not guilty plea and set a trial date for the week of February 24.
Federal officials emphasized that Cole’s indictment reinforces the notion that those in law enforcement who violate laws and erode public trust will be prosecuted. Nicole Argentieri, the head of the U.S. Justice Department’s Criminal Division, remarked that “a drug dealer who carries a badge is still a drug dealer” and highlighted that nobody is above the law.
Special Agent Shohini Sinha, who oversees the FBI’s Salt Lake City field office, stated that Cole’s alleged conduct contributed to the worsening drug crisis in the region. Authorities explain that consuming synthetic bath salts, also known as Alpha-PVP or cathinone, can trigger bizarre and dangerous behaviors, including paranoia and extreme physical strength. These substances, often confused with bathing products, bear no relation to actual bath items.
Cole’s attorney, Alexander Ramos, has refrained from discussing the criminal allegations directly but affirmed that his client has a respected reputation within the federal law enforcement community. Ramos did not respond to requests for comments regarding the not guilty plea.
The department where Cole served is involved in federal investigations concerning the illegal trafficking of individuals, goods, finances, weapons, drugs, and sensitive technology across U.S. borders. While both Cole and the other agent named in the investigation have had their credentials suspended, they have not yet been terminated from their positions, as stated in court documents.