Houston officer charged in corruption, drug case

HOUSTON

Details of the sting operation that resulted in the officer's arrest are not clear. What we do know is that HPD Officer Leslie Aikens was taken into custody Wednesday morning at the police substation where he worked.

No one answered the door at Sergeant Leslie Aikens apartment. The 46-year-old cop lives at an adult retirement community where he's also been working as a courtesy officer since April. Aikens, a 19-year veteran of the force, was arrested Wednesday after a grand jury indicted him on federal drug trafficking and corruption charges.

Aikens, who is assigned to HPD's Jail Division, is accused of aiding and abetting with the intent to distribute more than five kilos of cocaine back in March of this year. Aikens is also charged with extortion for allegedly accepting a $2,000 bribe to provide protection for a vehicle believed to be transporting seven kilos of cocaine.

We checked Aikens' Internal Affairs record at HPD and it revealed 22 sustained complaints including eight for misconduct, six for improper police procedure and two for conduct and behavior.

In a statement released Wednesday, Houston Police Chief Charles McClelland said, "Aikens was sworn in as an officer in December 1992 and promoted to Sergeant in 2010. He has been placed on relief of duty at home status pending an Internal Affairs division investigation."

McClelland said the arrest was the result of an FBI investigation.

Aikens, 46, appeared late Wednesday morning before a U.S. magistrate in federal court and was released on a $50,000 bond. If convicted, Aikens could face up life in prison and a fine of more than $10 million.

We contacted Aikens' sister who declined to comment. One of the managers at the adult retirement community where Aikens also works told us that he's a good guy.

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.