A former Wayne County sheriff's deputy pleaded guilty to federal drug trafficking and fraud charges.

Michael Kenneth Cox, 49, was the head of the drug unit for the Wayne County Sheriff's Office from 1996 until he retired in 2018.

Cox was accused of helping drug traffickers in the Goldsboro area, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina.

In one case highlighted by federal prosecutors, they said Cox intercepted a suspect who had bought drugs from the target of a DEA investigation.

"Rather than arrest the trafficker, he seized the drugs and reimbursed him $2000 for the sale, claiming it had been a planned, controlled purchase," the U.S. Attorney's Office said in a news release. 

Federal officials said that after he retired, Cox still worked with the traffickers to help facilitate people buying drugs.

“As a leader of the Drug Unit, Cox’s job was to put drug traffickers behind bars, not go into business with them,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “We trust law enforcement to uphold the law, but a rare few choose to abuse their positions with criminal side-hustles. Corruption like this undermines our institutions, cheats taxpayers, and endangers the public."

Cox also pleaded guilty for his part in a scheme to direct contracts for upfitting sheriff's office vehicles to his own business. 

He pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute quantities of cocaine, methamphetamine, oxycodone and marijuana, and to one count of conspiracy to commit procurement wire and mail fraud.

Cox could face up to 20 years in federal prison for each count.