Jefferson Reporter

A former Centre police officer has been charged in connection with a scheme to plant drugs on innocent motorists to manufacture drug arrests, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and FBI Special Agent in Charge Carlton L. Peeples.

A one-count information filed in U.S. District Court charges Michael Kilgore, 40, of Centre, with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, specifically methamphetamine. A plea agreement was filed with the information, indicating that Kilgore has agreed to plead guilty to the charge.

According to the information and plea agreement, Kilgore’s scheme began in early January 2023 when he stopped a car and found various drugs. Kilgore offered the driver the chance to avoid drug charges by working for him. The driver accepted and became a co-conspirator in Kilgore’s drug-planting scheme.

Kilgore and his co-conspirator then arranged for a package containing methamphetamine, oxycodone, and marijuana to be attached to the undercarriage of a certain vehicle. On January 31, 2023, Kilgore performed a sham traffic stop of that vehicle and “discovered” the drug package where he knew it had been planted. The vehicle’s driver and passenger were detained for drug possession.

Kilgore and his co-conspirator planned to repeat the scheme on another vehicle. But after buying the drugs to be planted, Kilgore’s co-conspirator discarded the drugs and reported the scheme to law enforcement.

The court will set a date for Kilgore to enter his guilty plea.

The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brett A. Janich is prosecuting it, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen Osborne assisted.

An information contains only charges; a defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.