A profession prison was indicted for impersonating a police officer this month – an elaborate ruse that he had stored up for at the very least 15 years utilizing pretend props, an actual gun and even a skilled canine, federal prosecutors mentioned.
The scheme started to unravel after he tried to apprehend two girls who disputed their invoice at a restaurant in Prince George’s County, Maryland, the place he labored safety.
The incident occurred on March 6, as Antione Tuckson, 37, armed with a chunk canine, police vest, Glock handgun and taser, sought to impersonate a member of the US Marshals service.
When the dispute arose with two girls, nonetheless, it was Tuckson himself who referred to as the Prince George’s County Police Division.
Tuckson flashed a badge to responding officers, who he met near the restaurant to explain the scenario.
Tuckson is a resident of close by Waldorf, Maryland.
Antione Tuckson pictured together with his canine Pearl in 2017. Tuckson hung out in jail for crimes together with theft and unlicensed possession of a firearm
Antione Tuckson was indicted for impersonating an officer on Might 19 and arrested on Might 20. He might face three years in jail alone on fees of possessing firearm as a felon
Tuckson’s canine, Pearl, proven in entrance of one of many suspect’s autos that got here geared up with pink and blue flashing lights
The feds say that Tuckson created a pretend US Marshal’s ID card on a printer they present in his house in Waldorf, Maryland
The cops observed one thing was incorrect once they realized that Tuckson had left his canine on the eatery – one thing that law-enforcement canine handlers by no means do.
In line with federal charging paperwork, Tuckson then tried to have his pal, named in charging paperwork as Nijea Wealthy, impersonate his supervisor when the officers demanded additional proof of the suspect’s credentials.
When the officers have been within the strategy of arresting Tuckson, Wealthy arrived on the scene in ‘police-style clothes.’ She advised the police that Tuckson’s canine was her emotional assist animal and was additionally a patrol canine.
Moreover the bogus uniform, Wealthy was armed with a handgun, handcuffs, a radio and an expandable baton.
Tuckson has been cited for impersonating an officer on three earlier events in 2006, 2009 and 2018
These are among the gadgets retrieved from Tuckson’s house, together with an expandable baton
These are among the weapons that have been discovered at Tuckson’s house, they included an AR15 rifle with a scope
In line with paperwork, Wealthy requested the arresting officers: ‘You locked up a US Marshal?’
Tuckson and Wealthy have been indicted on Might 19 and arrested on Might 20 in Maryland.
The canine was positioned within the care of the Prince George’s County Animal Providers Division.
A day after Tuckson’s arrest, Wealthy confirmed up on the animal providers heart and mentioned that she was a US Marshal. Wealthy had the canine launched to her.
On Might 20, a raid of Tuckson’s house noticed officers get well an AR-style rifle with scope and a pistol-grip pump-action shotgun.
One picture that was retrieved from Tuckson’s cellphone confirmed a person apparently in handcuffs sitting on a sidewalk
It wasn’t the primary time Tuckson was introduced in on comparable fees – he was accused of the identical offense in 2006, 2009 and 2018.
Essentially the most brazen of those impersonations occurred in 2018 when Tuckson grew to become concerned in a theft by figuring out himself as a US Marshal to a sufferer and responding officers.
Between 2005 and 2009, Tuckson was arrested a number of instances for receiving stolen property.
In 2007, he was additionally convicted of a carrying a gun with out a license, for which he was sentenced to 14 months in jail.
He was then sentenced to 16 months in jail in August 2009 for first diploma theft.
As a way to additional his impersonations, federal charging paperwork say that Tuckson had his automobile geared up with police-style pink and blue flashing lights. That is along with a pretend ID card and different police weaponry.
Tuckson’s rouse was busted partially as a result of cops observed he left his canine associate behind, one thing which isn’t widespread observe in legislation enforcement
These patches have been additionally discovered at Tuckson’s house
Tuckson had additionally registered the trademark ‘USMS Particular Providers.’ USMS is a typical acronym for the USA Marshal Providers.
Along with the impersonating an officer fees, Tuckson can be accused of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Tuckson was in possession of a 9mm caliber semi-automatic pistol on the time of the incident.
If convicted on each fees, Tuckson might face a most of 13 years in jail.
The one who is accused of impersonating Tuckson’s supervisor was additionally named in a US Marshal’s press launch as Nijea Wealthy, 40, of Lexington Park, Maryland. If convicted, Wealthy might face a most of 5 years in jail.
Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal Mathew Silverman mentioned within the press launch that Tuckson and Wealthy’s alleged conduct ‘presents a grave threat to the group and undermines all of the unimaginable work achieved by deputies who’ve earned the correct to put on our badge.’
Christopher Brown, a father of 1, was shot useless in DC in August 2020. He was 17 years outdated. Tuckson described himself as a mentor and father determine to the younger man
In August 2020, Tuckson’s 17-year-old cousin Christopher Brown was shot useless throughout a cookout in Washington DC.
Tuckson advised WAMU in an interview that he was like a father determine and mentor to Brown.
Tuckson mentioned within the interview that he talked to his cousin simply earlier than his demise that Brown had advised him that he needed to do higher together with his life.
He mentioned: ‘These have been the final issues that he mentioned to me, and I used to be going to verify I used to be there, to be there to assist push him and encourage him.’