MIAMI – A Miami-Dade police officer is accused of helping smuggle firearms to the Dominican Republic.
Michael Freshko, 48, made his first appearance Tuesday in federal court before U.S. Magistrate William C. Turnoff.
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According to prosecutors, Freshko used his position as a police officer to transport the firearms past the passenger screening area at Miami International Airport and into an area that housed the departure gates, where he passed off the weapons to a co-conspirator.
Prosecutors said the accomplice stored the firearms in carry-on baggage and gave the weapons to a third person when the accomplice arrived in the Dominican Republic on a commercial flight.
Authorities said at least one gun was smuggled into the Dominican Republic on Oct. 5, 2012, and multiple firearms were smuggled in on Dec. 7, 2012.
Prosecutors believe that Freshko and his co-conspirators smuggled six firearms from Miami International Airport to the Dominican Republic, including four Glock .9 mm pistols, one Sig Sauer .9 mm pistol and one Sig Sauer 5.56 rifle.
Freshko's status with the Miami-Dade Police Department was not immediately known.