Former Michigan police chief convicted of drug trafficking

HARTFORD, Michigan. – Former Hartford police chief convicted of drug trafficking.

Tressa Beltran was sentenced Monday June 24 to 40 months to 20 years in prison. She pleaded guilty in April to delivery or possession with intent to deliver less than 50 grams of a controlled substance and use of a computer to commit a crime.

She was initially charged in June 2023 with eight felonies and one misdemeanor, all related to crimes allegedly committed while she was police chief. Beltran was charged with selling and stealing controlled substances and using her influence to extort others into supplying her with controlled substances, illegally possessing several different types of controlled substances, and committing embezzlement. funds.

The investigation was launched after detectives with the Van Buren County Sheriff's Office received information that Beltran had allegedly stolen and sold prescription drugs.

Authorities say Beltran admitted under oath in April that she possessed controlled substances with the intent to deliver them and that she used a computer to arrange delivery of controlled substances while working as a police chief of Hartford.

Beltran was forced to relinquish her license from the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and will never be able to be employed as a police officer in the state again.