MIAMI-DADE OFFICER CHARGED IN PLOT TO STEAL DRUGS, CASH

A Miami-Dade police officer and his business partner were arrested Tuesday
for allegedly plotting to conduct a bogus traffic stop with the intention of
stealing the driver's drugs and cash.

James Vilmenay, 31, a four-year member of the department assigned to the
Hammocks district, was charged with conspiracy to traffic in cocaine and
conspiracy to commit grand theft. He and his codefendant, Richard Filippi,
29, were released from jail after they each posted a $50,000 bond.

Police said Vilmenay and Filippi planned last year to pull over and rob a
man who was supposed to be carrying cocaine and lots of money. The man was
really a witness cooperating with internal affairs investigators.

Vilmenay was off duty but in his marked police car when he planned to stop
the driver, police said. The robbery never took place -- the department did
not say why.

Investigators would not say how Vilmenay would have known the driver carried
drugs, or why the department's Professional Compliance Bureau was
investigating Vilmenay in the first place.

"I'm sure there was a reason that drew [internal affairs investigators] to
him," said police spokesman Ed Munn. "They don't pick officers out of the
blue and follow them hoping they are going to rip somebody off."

Munn said that even though the rip-off never took place, the officer and his
friend would still be guilty of a felony for planning the crime.

Vilmenay continues to collect his $16.24 per hour pay while suspended from
duty. Police records show the only prior complaint against him was in 1996,
when he was exonerated for shooting an animal.

Police Benevolent Association lawyers did not return calls seeking comment.
Filippi, the officer's partner in a hair salon business, did not return a
message left at his Kendall home.

"This is embarrassing for myself and everyone else on the department to talk
about," Munn said. "Miami-Dade Police will not tolerate this type of
criminal activity on the part of any officer."

e-mail: frobles@herald.com