GULFPORT --Former Moss Point Police Wendy Mason Peyregne offered a tearful apology to her family, fellow police officers and the community Thursday before she was ordered to spend the next 41 months in federal prison for drug trafficking on the job.
"I've taken advantage of a lot of people and things in the past," said Peyregne, now donning an orange prison jumpsuit with "MDOC Convict" stamped on the back and her feet shackled. "I really didn't think I was addicted to meth. I was introduced to meth by my ex-husband. We started fighting verbally and physically all the time because of the meth."
She told U.S. Magistrate Louis Guirola that she always wanted to be police officer and managed to get clean after her break from her ex- husband and got the job in Moss Point. "I thought (the job in law enforcement) would help me be clean," she said. "I'm not trying to make excuses. I humiliated myself, my family and the Moss Point Police Department."
A two-year undercover investigation led to Peyregne's arrest in December 2006 on drug trafficking charges spelled out in a six-count indictment. In exchange for her guilty plea, the government dropped four counts against her.
FBI agents used two confidential informants, including a former boyfriend turned informant, to catch Peyregne arranging, buying and selling methamphetamine from several buyers and at least three different suppliers, including one described as a major methamphetamine dealer in the Grand Bay area.
During the investigation, agents said they caught Peyregne on tape and in view making some of the deals, in many case while she was on duty at the Moss Point Police Department.
Peyregne often went to work under the influence of methamphetamine and dealt drugs from her patrol car.
Over the course of the investigation, Peyregne was caught on tape selling methamphetamine to one of their confidential informants on four different occasions. They also heard her talking to other alleged distributors, one of which was described as a major distributor in Alabama.
In the criminal affidavit, authorities said they had information on various meetings between the police officer and at least three known distributors. Peyregne said she used the meth she got and gave her ex-boyfriend turned informant half of it.
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The Police State 