Sentencing Set May 6 for Two Former Rohnert Park Officers in Humboldt Cannabis Theft Case
Officer Joe Huffaker and Sgt. Jacy Tatum. [Photos from the City of Rohnert Park Police and Fire]
Two former Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety officers convicted in a scheme involving the illegal seizure of cannabis and cash from motorists are scheduled to be sentenced May 6 in federal court.
Joseph Huffaker and his former supervisor, Sergeant Brendon “Jacy” Tatum, were part of a now-disbanded drug interdiction effort that, according to federal prosecutors, evolved into a criminal operation along the Highway 101 corridor. The case—first brought to light by Redheaded Blackbelt in February of 2018—centered on allegations that the officers posed as federal agents, stopped drivers, seized marijuana without legal authority, and later sold it for personal profit.
Huffaker was found guilty by a jury in 2025 on multiple federal charges including conspiracy, extortion under color of law, impersonating a federal officer, and obstruction of justice. Tatum, who supervised the interdiction team, previously pleaded guilty to related charges.
Court filings in the case present differing accounts of the scope of the crimes and each man’s role in them.
Federal prosecutors argue that the conduct involved repeated roadside stops and had impacts beyond the individuals directly targeted. In their sentencing memorandum, they emphasize the erosion of public trust caused by officers using their authority to commit crimes and are seeking a prison sentence for Huffaker within the federal guideline range, estimated at approximately 63 months.
Huffaker’s defense, however, describes his involvement as limited, arguing that his participation occurred over a brief period in December 2017 and only under the direction of Tatum. His attorney is requesting probation with home confinement and community service—citing his lack of prior criminal history and personal circumstances.
Tatum’s case has been described in court proceedings as involving a longer-running pattern of activity, including the use of intermediaries to sell seized marijuana. His admissions have been central to the prosecution’s case against Huffaker, and the court is expected to consider the relative roles and responsibility of both men at sentencing.
Trial testimony focused on incidents in December 2017, including a stop near the Sonoma-Mendocino county line. Prosecutors presented evidence suggesting that similar encounters followed a consistent pattern, with little or no documentation and no formal seizure process.
The case has drawn attention not only for the conduct itself but for how it surfaced. One of the motorists, Texas resident Zeke Flatten, persistently contacted federal agencies and the press after being stopped. His efforts, combined with early reporting by Redheaded Blackbelt and subsequent investigations by other outlets and the work of federal law enforcement, brought the crimes into the open.
During the investigation, questions also emerged about the volume of cannabis that passed through the interdiction program and whether all of it was properly accounted for. The extent of that activity—and the full scope of those involved—has remained a point of dispute.
With both men now waiting on sentencing in less than a month, the court will weigh the evidence presented at trial, the admissions made in plea agreements, and arguments from both sides regarding the seriousness of the offenses and the appropriate punishment.
Below is the defense’s argument this month that Huffaker deserves a light sentence. The argument starts on page 4. Use the arrows in the lower left hand corner to move forward through the pages.
Earlier Chapters:
- Former Undercover Officer Involved in Developing Cannabis Products Accuses Hopland Tribal Police Chief of Theft, Corruption, and Civil Rights Violations
- Outraged: One Man’s Two Month Quest From the FBI to the ATF to Expose What He Says Are Corrupt Police Officers in Mendocino County
- Rohnert Park Police Officers Being Investigated Following Two Incidents Where Humboldt County Cannabis Was Seized Under Suspicious Circumstances
- ‘Highway Robbery’: Drivers Allege Rohnert Park Police Illegally Seized Cannabis, Cash
- What Happened to 800 Pounds of Marijuana Seized by Rohnert Park Police?
- City of Rohnert Park Hires Police Practices Expert to Address Corruption Allegations
- Former Rohnert Park Police Sergeant Faces Credibility Questions as He Testifies in Court This Week
- Rohnert Park Police Officer Accused of Misconduct in Case Involving Pounds of Humboldt County Marijuana Agrees to Resign for $75,000
- City of Rohnert Park Settles for $415,000 in Lawsuit Alleging Its Officers Stole Cannabis From Travelers Just After a Second Suit Alleging More Corruption Was Filed
- Another Settlement in Case First Reported Here of Rohnert Park Officers Illegally Seizing Cash and Cannabis
- Two Rohnert Park Police Officers Named in the Case Involving Theft of Humboldt County Marijuana Indicted in Federal Court This Morning
- US Attorney’s Office Brings Charges Against Two Rohnert Park Police Officers in Story We Broke Here
- Former Sergeant and Head of a Drug Interdiction Team Pleads Guilty to Charges Resulting From Law Enforcement Officers Stealing Humboldt CO. Cannabis
- Lawsuit Alleges Members of CDFW and Mendocino County Sheriff’s Dept Conspired to Steal Marijuana, Guns, and Cash
- Cash, Guns and Cannabis Highlighted in Civil Case Amended Against Top Law Enforcement Officials in Mendocino County Last Week
- Five Years Ago This Month, Police Officers Robbed a Texas Man in Mendocino County; One Suspect Now Faces New Charges
- Two Officers Outed on This Website Now on California’s POST Decertification List
- Ex-Cop Convicted of Seizing Marijuana Illegally Faces Few Consequences for Secret Cannabis Grow, Reports KQED
- Former Rohnert Park Officer Whose Crimes Were First Reported by RHBB Convicted on All Six Counts in Cannabis Theft Case
- Badges, Guns, and Stolen Marijuana: Podcast Revisits Emerald Triangle Police Corruption Case
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Well…after all this…I’m expecting they will get 90 days or less.
I don’t know.
Abuse of a position of public trust (big enhancement for police officers)
I am thinking 3-5 years, though the judge does have a lot of discretion.
But there is sentencing guidelines.
Also they took this to trial instead of taking a plea deal, so that will work against them.
I should have said Huffaker took it to trial. Tatum did take a deal and it looks like he threw Huffaker under the bus. So maybe two years for Tatum.
Well atleast they got caught .that behavior seriously undermines the public trust.. and I can tell you it will be a long time before I trust the police again.
,… and a lengthy term of unsupervised probation.
Yep, the laws only exist for some
You are probably correct. They need years in prison, not club fed but real prison. But alas they will probably get probation.
I’m sorry, I think they need to be made examples of why it’s important for police to be held to a higher standard. To serve and protect, right!
Don’t be sorry. You are exactly right
Don’t be sorry. Crimes committed under the color of law should carry HEAVIER sentences, not lighter sentences…
Home confinement? Anyone else would be bunking with Bubba.
IMHO:
Case took from 2017 – 2026. Nine years for the er… ‘justice system’.
Oh No…
Not the first. Not the last.. imagine all the local ones taking green and cash lol
I think everyone should take a breath, and relax. Yes the system is not the greatest, however just as the growers exploited the system, so did these gentleman. Let us all reflect on are past criminal acts, and thank God we are not facing hard time. I for one, recall getting my stash confiscated, dosing my face off. When the officer took my stash, threatened me with arrest, and poked me in my chest, I drove away with such a sigh of relief, turned my life around. Joined the national guard, found my sweet heart, have 7 kids. Own 10 acres, and am expecting to be a grand dad anyday. Thanks Leo for the break, be safe, give breaks, and light those freaks up, cause you change lives, save more, and are the backbone for the working class.
I see that cop ‘giving you a break’ as functionally being more like you paying off a corrupt cop to get yourself out of trouble (not that he gave you much of an option). This situation is totally disgusting and he, and Tatum, should do many years in jail. The fact that other law enforcement are not up in arms and calling for them to do serious time implies that it is a very common practice and they do not want precedents set.
Corrupt cops are the worst criminals. Recent events once again imply the rot seems to go all the way to the top of the FBI. I had jury duty a while ago and used the opportunity of being under oath to detail my (non-weed growing) family’s experience with HCSO. I did make sure to mention that, to the best of my knowledge, formerly Sgt. but now promoted Jessie Taylor has a local reputation as an honest cop. Please comment below if you do not agree and maybe give a detail or two. Supporting honest law enforcement is as important as busting the corrupt.
Thank you to Mr. Flatten. And Kym too.
Not every cop took stash for their own profit. Many times it was thrown away right then and there. Cut the person a break. Not so with these jack asses.
You are right, stash implies a small amount. I did hear of a local chp officer’s kids raiding the stash’s their Dad took for his use. This situation is many orders of magnitude worse though not as rare as one might hope.
They aren’t “gentlemen”, they are criminals who sent people to prison and profited off of their crimes, crimes which were literally committed at gunpoint. Nor are they the “backbone of the working class” they are one of the worst types of criminals, wolves in sheep’s clothing in positions of authority preying on the public trust.
If there was any better case for “lock them up and throw away the key” I can’t think of one.
Gentlemen ? Please this case while these 2 are the fall guys exposed a very real problem with the way this nations legal, justice , and court systems have become perverted . Under color of the law with the police powers of the stare employed armed and trained thugs to threaten extort ,arrest and force the civilians and citizens in the counties cities and states of this country, they can talk about greater good and balancing privacy and personal liberties /rights in order to provide good order , but all they have done as this case shows is create a very real and rational fear by which the entire legal system is abused to control extort and punish those who foolishly attempt to use their civil personal and property rights without first applying and paying for permission from our criminal overlords . This case leaves a shit load of problems in as much as these people were armed and sent out to do their will against the commoners which in their minds are all guilty just got caught yet , where /who / how were they supervised ? There are many more heads that should be rolling , but they wont ever be charged let alone be named or suffer anything for their crimes but some possible heartburn , these 2 will get light sentences as they are not spilling the beans and are still protecting their bosses . In fact if it were not for kyms site chances are these 2 would still be out there , but instead we are focused on fighting over genders and pronouns as is the overlords plan to keep us focused and fighting over meaningless issues while they take actions to further enslave us
A long strange trip…
Were they ordered to interdict Cannabis?
Like by the Supervisor?
Nobody is talking about a conspiracy here…
They’ll probably get Probation…
They should receive the death penalty. They are traitors. Like the prison guards that sexually abused the female inmates. Only one went to jail.
Of coarse it’s CALIFORNIA! The state that got ripped of for 180 billion plus all the money missing from the homeless fund. AND THE STATE HASNT MADE A PEEP. YOU DONT EVEN KNOW THE GOVERNMENT RIPPED YOU OFF. So naturally I would expect you to let them go, just like all the other corrupt pieces of shit in california.
I got pulled over by them in 2015 for no apparent reason and then searched again for no apparent reason. So I’d say they had been at it before 2017. I didn’t have anything for them to steal, but they were quick to make threats. They never ran my license or registration so would have been no record of the stop. They both need to do serious jail time.
Their supervisors were also involved to immediately retired when this all went down. Officers in other law-enforcement outfits were also involved with them that have not been caught.
“Two former Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety officers” That’s a lot of words to avoid calling them convicted police officers.
I do believe they claimed that tatum’s involvement was pre-‘17. My recollection from “my stop” which I’m pretty sure occurred in ‘15 as well ( could of been ‘16 , I’d have to check on that ) was that huffaker approached first, Tatum standing behind. As well Chp pulled in , for I would say 3 seconds then off they went. When officers approach your car smiling it’s a bit unusual. This is a story as old as time itself. Clearly, there are some inaccuracies here.
Make them “run the gauntlet”!
These guys need to get max time. dirty cops are right up there with sex offenders.
Public trust violated by public officials should be a capital offense.
If they had any honor they would fall on their own sword…that would redeem them
They need the maximum under law. Impersonated officials, used a position to steal from people, and get rewarded with home detention.
CONVICT!!!!!!
what is this was you or me? Hello state prison.
I hold law enforcement officers to a higher standard than other public servants, because they are LAW ENFORCEMENT “Unsupervised probation” is a joke!
Wouldn’t take a genius to realize he buried some cash, traded some other illegal items for said cash and knew not to deposit it. Duh!
So how much time did they get?