Arkansas News Bureau

LITTLE ROCK — A third police officer arrested in the “Operation Delta Blues” drug sweep in eastern Arkansas has pleaded guilty to federal charges, U.S. Attorney Chris Thyer said today.

Herman Eaton, who was a Helena-West Helena police officer when he was arrested in the drug sweep, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Little Rock to attempted interference with commerce by means of extortion and money laundering. Six other charges were dropped as part of a plea deal.

Eaton admitted that he provided an escort to a person he believed to be transporting illegal drugs through Helena-West Helena and accepted a cash payment from the person for the service, Thyer, U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, said in a news release.

Eaton will be sentenced at a later date. Under the plea agreement, the government is recommending a sentence of 16 months in prison.

Eaton was one of five law enforcement officers who were among 70 people indicted in the federal operation that targeted drug trafficking and public corruption.

Two of the other officers, Robert Rogers and Robert Wahls, have already entered guilty pleas.