Marijuana Heist MASQUERADE – Busted!
A former Rohnert Park, San Francisco police officer has been convicted of impersonating federal agents and orchestrating fake marijuana seizures in a brazen cross-state extortion plot that rocked the small California city’s police force.
At a Glance
• Former Rohnert Park police officer pleaded guilty to extortion and impersonation
• He posed as an ATF agent to seize marijuana during traffic stops
• The fake busts spanned California and extended into Oregon
• Confiscated cannabis was resold or vanished without official tracking
• Multiple civil suits and federal charges have followed the revelations
Phony Agent Scam Shocks Small Town
In a town better known for vineyards and sleepy neighborhoods, ex-officer Brendon “Jacy” Tatum led a double life as a phony federal agent. From 2016 to 2017, Tatum and his partner, also an officer, orchestrated an elaborate impersonation scheme. They targeted marijuana transporters on highways, claiming to be with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Drivers complied under the assumption that they were dealing with real federal officers. But the duo never issued tickets, filed paperwork, or documented evidence. Instead, they simply disappeared—with product in tow. The criminal enterprise, prosecutors say, was “premeditated banditry in uniform.”
Weed Couriers Targeted in Rogue Busts
The ruse spanned county lines and occasionally crossed state borders, with victims traced as far north as Oregon. The officers’ jurisdiction—limited to Rohnert Park—was stretched absurdly thin to accommodate their self-made cannabis raid network. Over time, missing cannabis reports began surfacing, triggering concerns inside and outside law enforcement.
Some victims, fearful of federal retaliation, didn’t file complaints. Others were ignored when they did. The impersonators exploited both legal confusion and the federal-state marijuana divide, operating with impunity until multiple whistleblowers stepped forward.
Cops Took Cash, Pot—and Disappeared
Once marijuana was seized, its trail went cold. Investigators believe much of it was either sold or destroyed without documentation. One victim lost 23 pounds of cannabis—worth over $30,000—with no official record. Another reported cash was taken at gunpoint under color of authority.
Court documents revealed that encrypted phone messages between the officers discussed “quotas” and potential resale profits. GPS tracking and dashcam footage later proved instrumental in confirming that none of the seizures had been reported or logged.
FBI Unravels Badge-Backed Theft Ring
The FBI launched an investigation in late 2018. By 2021, both officers were indicted. Tatum ultimately pleaded guilty to conspiracy, extortion under color of official right, and impersonating a federal agent. His accomplice also faces sentencing.
In response, Rohnert Park disbanded its narcotics task force and introduced sweeping reforms: every traffic stop now requires real-time supervisor review and dual officer presence. Civil lawsuits are pending against the city, with several settlements already rumored.
The case marks one of the most egregious examples of police impersonation in recent California history—and serves as a warning to small departments about the danger of unchecked authority.