St. Petersburg Homicide Detective Arrested on Corruption Charges

The FBI arrested Detective Anthony Foster of the St. Petersburg police department this week on public corruption charges. Foster is accused of using his position to extort cash, shoes and a flat-screen television from a confidential informant.

According to the criminal complaint filed with the court, Foster allegedly demanded gifts in exchange for helping an informant obtain lighter sentences on theft and drug charges. If convicted of the wire fraud and interference with commerce by threats charges, Foster faces a maximum sentence of 20 years for each charge.

Foster is a 13-year department veteran and hostage negotiator. St. Petersburg Police Chief Chuck Harmon and Mayor Bill Foster purportedly knew nothing of the investigation until the arrest.

The arrest could have implications for dozens of criminal cases Foster worked on. His behavior, especially if he is found guilty, might cast doubt on his veracity as an investigator and as a witness. His testimony in any trial is potentially tainted by the alleged ethical and criminal behavior.

According to the 14-page criminal complaint, the informant began working with Foster on criminal cases in 2008. In 2009, Foster allegedly started making demands upon the informant in exchange for Foster’s help in getting reduced sentences. Foster is accused of coercing the informant to give him a flat-screen TV, Nike sneakers, clothes and groceries purchased with the informant’s food stamps.

The FBI says Foster drove to the informant’s home in his police department vehicle while on duty on April 6, where the informant gave him $7,075 in an envelope. According to the affidavit, Foster asked why the informant didn’t have the full $7,500 Foster wanted. Foster said he was trying to get the informant lenient treatment in a pending Hernando case for assisting in a recent homicide investigation (the informant denies knowing anyone involved in that crime and denies giving Foster any information about it).

Authorities say that the informant told Foster that he had a TV for him but that Foster couldn’t take it then. About a week later, Foster allegedly asked for the TV. On April 15, the FBI recorded a telephone call in which the informant told Foster he had a stolen TV for him.

On April 15 at a Publix parking lot in St. Petersburg, the FBI surveilled the scene as Foster met with the informant. Foster, who was apparently on duty, allegedly said: “I thought you were bringing my damn money.” Foster then took $325 and a boxed TV from the informant at the Publix.

The FBI alleges that, at Foster’s request, Foster’s supervisor sent a document to a Hernando County prosecutor vouching for the informant. The document reportedly listed three cases, including a murder, in which the informant provided investigative assistance to the St. Pete police. The informant denies providing any assistance to Foster about any of the cases.

Foster has been placed on leave, pending the resolution of the case in federal court.