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Ex-Deputy To Plead Guilty In Drug Scheme

By ELAINE SILVESTRINI

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 12, 2008

A former Pasco County sheriff's deputy has agreed to plead guilty to federal drug and firearms charges.

Don Riggans, 34, faces a minimum of five years in prison and a maximum of life for possessing a firearm in connection with drug trafficking. He also has agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy to possess hydrocodone, a charge that carries up to five years behind bars.

Authorities said Riggans was involved in a scheme to distribute hundreds of thousands of tablets of prescription pain medication.

The agreement also calls for Riggans to cooperate with federal investigators in the prosecution of others and to testify truthfully in any federal court proceeding.

A former Pasco detention deputy, Rodney Philon, who was arrested at the same time as Riggans, pleaded guilty in June to a charge of possession of steroids with intent to distribute. He has not been sentenced.

Another man who was arrested with Riggans, Robert Caddick, pleaded guilty last month to conspiring to possess hydrocodone with intent to distribute.

A fourth defendant, Kevin Massimino Jr., is awaiting trial.

According to Riggans' plea agreement:
Massimino and Caddick conspired to distribute hydrocodone from about January 2005 through about March 16, 2008. Riggans entered into the conspiracy about 2008.

Riggans was a longtime friend of Massimino and entered into the conspiracy hoping to share in the drug proceeds.

Caddick worked at Medipharm Pharmacy and had access to drugs. Caddick took hydrocodone from Medipharm and gave it to Massimino.

Riggans, as part of the scheme, conducted a bogus, planned, traffic stop for the conspirators after they arranged to get $30,000 from a courier working for a Miami buyer.

The courier was enticed to turn over the money for future drugs after receiving only five pills. The traffic stop was designed to scare the courier into fleeing the scene. The conspirators later split the $30,000.

Riggans had been scheduled to go on trial Oct. 14. No date has been set yet for him to enter his guilty plea.

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