Officer Bob

SOUTH FORIDA: A pair of Broward County Sheriff’s Deputies are in custody and facing federal charges of smuggling coke, gold and using their badges to make a few bucks helping along the smuggling ring.  Geez, I guess the FBI has nothing but time on their hands now that they got that terrorism thing all wrapped up?

A Broward Sheriff’s deputy nicknamed “Wingnut” used his badge and expertise to aid a drug smuggling operation, then recruited a fellow deputy he said had a history of drug-dealing to help out, federal prosecutors charged Monday.

Deputy Richard Tauber, a 14-year veteran once fired for cavorting with prostitutes and unsavory characters — but later reinstated — and two civilian friends were charged in federal court with smuggling cocaine, diamonds and Krugerrand gold coins. A separate FBI complaint charged Deputy Kevin “Tattoo” Frankel with running surveillance for one of Tauber’s cocaine deliveries for $3,000.

Tauber, 37, of Boca Raton, was released on $600,000 bail. Frankel, of Lake Worth, is behind bars pending a bail hearing scheduled Thursday in Fort Lauderdale. Both men worked in Deerfield Beach. The two civilians, Robert Baccari, 38, and Christopher Provenzano, 37, both of Boca Raton, also are being held pending a Thursday hearing.

The arrests cap a 16-month month investigation of Tauber, who has a history of problems with the department.