FRESNO, Calif. (AP) - Federal prosecutors say a grand jury has indicted a Central California police detective and a second man suspected of bribery.
U.S. Attorney Benjamin Wagner on Thursday announced that the grand jury indicted Derik Carson Kumagai, a detective with the Fresno Police Department, of conspiracy, bribery and extortion.
A second suspect, Saykham Somphoune of Fresno, also has been indicted.
Prosecutors say Kumagai accepted a $20,000 bribe from a man under investigation for trafficking marijuana, and in return the detective and Somphoune promised to make the man a confidential police informant.
Prosecutors said the man paid Kumagai on Nov. 6 and within hours he filled out papers to work as an informant.
A judge released Kumagai, but Somphoune remains in jail. Kumagai previously pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Both men face time in federal prison if convicted.
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