Ismail J. Ramsey, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California
Former Antioch police officer Devon Christopher Wenger has been sentenced to seven and a half years in federal prison for conspiring to violate civil rights, distributing anabolic steroids, and obstructing justice. The sentence was handed down by Senior U.S. District Judge Jeffrey S. White in Oakland.
Wenger, 33, previously of Oakley, California, was indicted in two separate cases. In April 2025, a federal jury convicted him of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute anabolic steroids and obstruction of justice. In September 2025, another jury found him guilty of conspiracy against rights. Since September 2025, Wenger has remained in federal custody after being remanded by the court.
“Devon Wenger and his co-conspirators believed the badges they wore gave them a license to break the law. They were wrong. Today, the court held Mr. Wenger accountable for his betrayal of the public trust placed in him,” said United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian.
“Devon Wenger’s sentencing marks another significant step in a multi-year effort to uncover and confront corruption within the Antioch and Pittsburg police departments. His conviction, along with the earlier convictions in this case, underscores that no one is above the law. The FBI and our partners are committed to holding those who violate the civil rights of others and betray the public’s trust accountable,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Agustin Lopez.
Court records from the September 2025 trial showed that Wenger conspired with fellow officers Morteza Amiri and Eric Rombough to use excessive force against individuals in Antioch. Incidents included using a police K9, deploying a “less lethal” launcher, and other forms of violence beyond what is permitted by law enforcement standards or criminal justice processes.
Evidence also indicated that Wenger omitted details about these uses of force from official reports. Communications among the officers revealed intent to punish suspects through violence outside appropriate legal channels.
In one incident recorded on video in 2019, Wenger broke a young female shoplifting suspect’s arm before pushing her sister down, handcuffing her, grabbing her neck, and smashing her face into a patrol car—actions he did not accurately report in official documents.
The investigation further revealed that Wenger facilitated steroid sales involving another Antioch officer, Daniel Harris, as well as efforts to conceal evidence related to these transactions when approached by law enforcement officials.
In addition to prison time, Judge White ordered three years of supervised release for Wenger following his incarceration. A hearing regarding restitution owed to victims is scheduled for January 27, 2026.
The prosecution was handled by both the National Security & Special Prosecutions Section and Oakland Branch of the United States Attorney’s Office following an investigation led by the FBI alongside Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office.
Wenger's case is part of an ongoing probe into corruption within both Antioch and Pittsburg police departments which has resulted in federal charges against ten current or former officers or employees on counts ranging from excessive force to fraud.
