Former Police Officer Found Guilty of Extortion, Impersonating ATF Agent, and Marijuana Seizure Scheme Charges

SAN FRANCISCO – A federal jury convicted former Rohnert Park police officer Joseph Huffaker on six counts of conspiracy to commit extortion, extortion, conspiracy to falsify records in a federal investigation, falsifying records in a federal investigation, conspiracy to impersonate a federal officer, and impersonating a federal officer. The jury’s verdict follows a week-long trial before Senior U.S. District Judge Maxine M. Chesney.

According to court documents and the evidence presented at trial, Huffaker, 40, of Rohnert Park, was employed between 2012 and 2019 with the City of Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety (RPDPS) as a police officer. The jury found that Huffaker conspired with his co-defendant, fellow police officer Brendan Jacy Tatum, to pull over drivers they suspected of possessing significant amounts of marijuana and extorting the drivers’ marijuana by falsely claiming to be ATF agents and threatening arrest if the drivers contested the property seizures. The jury also found that Huffaker conspired with Tatum to obstruct justice by creating a false police report two months after their extortions and sending that report to the FBI.

“No traffic stop should turn into a shakedown. Misconduct by police officers undermines public safety and jeopardizes public cooperation with law enforcement. Huffaker’s actions threw a shadow of suspicion over multiple law enforcement agencies which, thankfully, were quick to investigate and discover his scheme,” said United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian. “The jury’s verdict today holds Huffaker accountable and sends a strong message that we will not tolerate misconduct by those who hold the public trust.”

“Today’s verdict affirms that no one is above the law. Joseph Huffaker betrayed the sworn oath he took as a police officer and used his position to extort money and marijuana from drivers under the guise of legitimate law enforcement,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani. “Crimes like these damage the public’s confidence in law enforcement. Huffaker dishonored the oath every officer takes when he committed these crimes. The FBI remains committed to rooting out corruption at all levels, and we will continue to work closely with our partners to hold those who abuse their authority accountable.”

According to court documents and the evidence presented at trial, RPDPS previously operated an interdiction team between 2014 and early 2017 that conducted traffic stops on vehicles along Highway 101 between Cloverdale and Rohnert Park in an effort to seize illegal drugs. In December 2017, 11 months after the interdiction team had been disbanded, Huffaker and Tatum extorted significant quantities of marijuana from individuals, declaring to the individuals that their property would be seized, and at times threatening to arrest and charge the individuals. These seizures occurred while the officers were not on duty and not wearing their uniforms or body-worn cameras.

The jury found that the extortion conspiracy included a traffic stop on December 18 during which Huffaker and Tatum falsely claimed to be ATF agents and seized 23 pounds of marijuana.

In February 2018, the FBI received a complaint from a citizen who claimed to have been shaken down by police officers on the highway. An FBI agent asked Tatum for the police report related to the incident. The jury found that Tatum and Huffaker thereafter falsified a police Incident/Investigation Report regarding the unlawful December 18 traffic stop and seizure. Tatum then forwarded the falsified police report to an FBI agent who was investigating the stop.

Huffaker is currently released on bond. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for Oct. 15, 2025, before Judge Chesney. Huffaker faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine for each count of conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official right, extortion under color of official right, and falsifying records in a federal investigation; five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine for each count of conspiracy to falsify records in a federal investigation and conspiracy to impersonate a federal officer; and three years in prison, one year of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine for the count of impersonating a federal officer. Any sentence will be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.

Co-defendant Tatum pleaded guilty in December 2021 to conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official right, falsifying records in a federal investigation, and tax evasion. Tatum is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 3, 2025, before Judge Chesney.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Abraham Fine and Benjamin Kleinman are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Veronica Hernandez, Amala James, and Janice Pagsanjan. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and IRS Criminal Investigation.