Former Centre Police Department Officer Sentenced to Four Years in Prison for Drug-Planting Scheme

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A former Centre Police Department officer has been sentenced for his role in a scheme to falsify drug arrests by planting narcotics on innocent motorists, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.

Chief U.S. District Judge R. David Proctor sentenced Michael Kilgore, 40, of Centre, Alabama, to 48 months in prison. In November 2024, Kilgore pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, specifically methamphetamine.

According to the information and plea agreement, Kilgore’s scheme began in January 2023, when he stopped a car and found various drugs. Kilgore offered the driver the chance to avoid drug charges by working for Kilgore. The driver accepted and became a co-conspirator in Kilgore’s drug-planting scheme.

Kilgore and his co-conspirator then arranged for a package containing methamphetamine, oxycodone, and marijuana to be attached to the undercarriage of a certain vehicle. On January 31, 2023, Kilgore performed a fraudulent traffic stop of that vehicle and “discovered” the drug package where he knew it had been planted. The vehicle’s driver and passenger were detained for drug possession.

Kilgore and his co-conspirator planned to repeat the scheme on another vehicle. But, after buying the drugs to be planted, Kilgore’s co-conspirator discarded the drugs and reported the scheme to law enforcement.

The FBI investigated the case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Brett A. Janich prosecuted the case.