Former lawman accused of forgery, submitting fake documents

A former DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office narcotics unit supervisor has been charged with submitting false documentation to be certified disabled and receive disability benefits, according to an affidavit.

Luis Jabierr Barajas, 38, no address given, was arrested by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and charged with forging or counterfeiting a doctor’s certificate of examination, uttering forged instruments and criminal use of a personal identification unit.

The affidavit said that Barajas served as narcotics unit supervisor for 11 years and apparently as an undercover officer for a year. It indicates he left the Sheriff’s Office in 2011.

Earlier this year, the affidavit said, Barajas applied for disability. As part of that, he contended he suffered post traumatic stress syndrome after an incident in which a drug suspect put a gun to his head. He also reported that his communication equipment with other members of the narcotics team had malfunctioned, the affidavit said.

But, DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office officials told FDLE investigators that while a similar incident occurred, Barajas did not report that anyone pointed a gun to his head.

Barajas also had submitted documents from his physician diagnosing him as having PTSD, the affidavit said.

The doctor said that someone forged his signature on several of the documents presented by Barajas.

Source: highlandstoday