A former officer with the Centre Police Department has been sentenced to four years in federal prison for his involvement in a scheme to plant drugs on innocent motorists. The sentencing was announced by U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
Michael Kilgore, 40, of Centre, Alabama, received a 48-month sentence from Chief U.S. District Judge R. David Proctor. In November 2024, Kilgore pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, including methamphetamine.
Court documents and the plea agreement show that Kilgore’s actions began in January 2023 after he stopped a vehicle and found drugs inside. He offered the driver an opportunity to avoid drug charges by cooperating with him. The driver agreed and became involved in Kilgore’s plan.
Kilgore and his co-conspirator arranged for a package containing methamphetamine, oxycodone, and marijuana to be placed under another vehicle. On January 31, 2023, Kilgore conducted a staged traffic stop of that vehicle and located the drugs where he knew they had been hidden. Both the driver and passenger of the vehicle were detained for drug possession.
The two conspirators planned another similar incident but did not carry it out because after obtaining more drugs intended for planting, Kilgore’s co-conspirator decided instead to dispose of them and report the scheme to authorities.
The FBI led the investigation into this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brett A. Janich handled the prosecution.
