Deputies federally charged after allegedly tipping off DEA target [Video]

Two deputies with the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office are facing federal charges after allegedly thwarting the arrest of a DEA target.Federal records released this week shed light on the alleged scheme of Deputies Kyle Linker and Paul Jessen Jr.According to federal records, both deputies met the drug dealer while executing a search warrant at his Los Ranchos home in July 2021. The dealer agreed to become a confidential informant, also known as a CI, for law enforcement after drugs were found inside the residence. Records show that Linker would be the direct contact for the informant.The plea agreement states the informant continued to traffic drugs after being an informant. Little did the deputies know, the DEA was already looking into the informant.In November 2021, Linker was contacted by the DEA about an operation the agency was carrying out near the informant’s home. Out of fear his informant would be targeted, …