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Former police officer pleads guilty to tipping off drug dealers

Former Clarkston Police Department reserve officer Gabriel Hoskins, 40, of Atlanta, pleaded guilty May 17 to tipping off two suspected drug dealers on whose home the FBI intended to execute a search warrant.

United States attorney Sally Quillian Yates said Hoskins worked as a Clarkston reserve police officer and part-time security guard for an apartment complex in Atlanta.  He also served as a DeKalb County police officer until November 2010.

In June 2011, while working as a security guard in the apartment complex, he encountered a U.S. postal inspector who asked about the occupants of an apartment in the complex, officials from the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. 

After learning Hoskins was a Clarkston reserve police officer, Yates said, the inspector confided to him that federal agents were planning to execute a search warrant on the apartment because law enforcement believed the occupants were drug dealers. Later that day, Hoskins alerted the suspected drug dealers that federal agents planned to raid the apartment and encouraged them to clear everything out.  Officials said one of the drug dealers’ telephones was tapped and agents learned Hoskins had tipped them off to the search. 

When confronted by the FBI, Hoskins admitted he told the suspected drug dealers about the search warrant, a press release stated.  Hoskins said that in February or March 2011, he pawned his handgun to one of the drug dealers for $500 and was nervous that if law enforcement found the gun inside the apartment he would lose his police officer certification. 

According to Yates, Hoskins is no longer employed by the Clarkston Police Department. He pleaded guilty to one count of providing notice of a search warrant to prevent the seizure of evidence. 

Hoskins could receive a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. 

DeKalb commissioners host animal fundraiser

Three DeKalb County commissioners will be hosting the “Help DeKalb Animals” bowling fundraiser May 20, at Stars and Strikes, at 1741 Mountain Industrial Boulevard in Stone Mountain.

The event is 5-7 p.m. and DeKalb County commissioners Elaine Boyer, Stan Watson and Sharon Barnes-Sutton will be present, along with animals available for adoption. Proceeds from the event will go to pay for spaying and neutering of animals in DeKalb.  

The event is co-hosted by LifeLine Animal Project, a nonprofit organization that works to save animals from euthanasia by promoting online adoptions, low-cost spay and neuter programs and offering low-cost vaccinations.

Tickets are $30 for adults and $20 for children and include bowling, a game package and light refreshments.

Commissioner Kathie Gannon receives Friends of 4H award

The DeKalb County 4-H Club recently held its annual awards and presented DeKalb County Commissioner Kathie Gannon with its Friends of 4-H Award.

The 4-H members chose Gannon for her work supporting children and environmental causes.