Cantonment woman allegedly thought neighbor sold fentanyl, posed as FDLE agent to investigate
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement announced Monday that special agents arrested a Cantonment woman who turned herself in for impersonating an FDLE agent.
Agents arrested 35-year-old Bobbie Lei Sales for one count of falsely impersonating a police officer for allegedly dressing as an agent, including a wearing a badge and firearm.
"The investigation shows that Sales visited a victim's home and presented a silver badge while wearing a firearm," an FDLE release says. "She told the victim that he was under investigation and said she would be back in a couple of weeks to search his home."
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Arrest records state that Sales visited a home less than half a mile away from her own in a black Chevy Tahoe, and told the victim she was a special agent with FDLE and was watching his house. She then said she would return in a few weeks.
The man told FDLE he knew Sales from "assisting in the sale of his mother-in-law's residence" and had seen Sales drive past his home "'hundreds' of times."
Between October 2022 and January 2023, records say Sales provided the FDLE with "narcotics related" information. She also told law enforcement that the man she visited was selling rainbow fentanyl, but after FDLE conducted "several hours of surveillance" there was no observations to suggest Sales' claims were true.
In May 2023, Sales allegedly took her black Chevy Tahoe to a dealership for repairs; however, the person who began to work on her car, Jimmie Tatum, was a former law enforcement officer who knew many special agents from FDLE's Pensacola branch.
"Due to Tatum's previous experience in law enforcement, he asked Sales what she did to which she replied that she worked for FDLE," the report says.
Although Sales allegedly claimed she worked for FDLE, Tatum said she said she didn't know some of the special agents he thought she should know. Tatum also told law enforcement there were court documents on the floorboard, and Sales allegedly told him it was for a child exploitation case she was working.
"Tatum stated that the owner of the dealership allows first responders' vehicles to be worked on ahead of other individuals and due to this he had Sales' vehicle maintenance moved ahead of others," the report said. "Tatum stated that after interacting with Sales several times, the things she was saying and the discrepancies between whom she knew at FDLE and whom she didn't, just didn't add up and he notified (FDLE)."
Sales was booked into Escambia County Jail July 26 and released just over 10 minutes later on $25,000 bond.
The Office of the State Attorney is prosecuting Sales and lists one third-degree felony count of impersonating a law enforcement officer. Her arraignment is Aug. 18.
FDLE asks that anyone who encountered Sales identifying herself as a law enforcement officer call FDLE Pensacola at 1-800-226-8574.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Florida woman arrested for impersonating law enforcement officer
