COURTS
Drug dealer says BCSO deputies shielded him from federal investigation
A North Valley methamphetamine dealer testifies how two sheriff's deputies tipped him off to DEA probe to keep him as their own confidential informant
Published
Modified
A North Valley drug dealer testified Tuesday how his cooperation with the Drug Enforcement Administration helped build a public corruption case against two Bernalillo County sheriff鈥檚 deputies who wanted to keep him as their own confidential informant.
Roderick White, 60, is a key prosecution witness in the federal obstruction of justice case against Paul Jessen Jr., the partner and friend of former deputy Kyle Linker, who pleaded guilty after recruiting the methamphetamine dealer to work off drug charges by becoming an informant in the summer of 2021.
Jessen is accused of obstructing the DEA investigation into Linker. He faces up to 70 years in federal prison if convicted on all counts, according to the U.S. Attorney鈥檚 Office in the Northern District of Texas, which is prosecuting the case.
So keen on keeping White a confidential informant on drug cases, Linker tipped him off about DEA agents investigating him and his drug-dealing associates, White testified.
He even received a text message from Linker in October 2021: 鈥淵eah, bro, you鈥檙e ... golden. We鈥檒l protect you,鈥� White testified.
Within two months, the DEA had become suspicious of Linker and arrested White in his driveway. Agents weren鈥檛 so much interested in the drugs they found in White鈥檚 car as they were in what he could tell them about Linker.
From then on, White became a DEA cooperating witness who made phone calls and sent text messages at the DEA鈥檚 behest to gather more evidence against Linker. When Linker was placed on administrative leave, White testified, he told him Jessen would be his contact.
Linker pleaded guilty to one count of obstruction of justice in 2025, spent 30 days in prison and was allowed early release from probation.
The jury trial, which began Monday in U.S. District Court in Albuquerque, continues Wednesday as White is expected to be cross-examined by Jessen鈥檚 attorneys.
Jessen, who was indicted in 2024, has pleaded not guilty.
Much of the prosecution鈥檚 case relies on text messages extracted from cellphones and a covert recording of a meeting White had with Jessen, during which White carried a wire.
White contended that Linker on several occasions tipped him off to DEA investigations in the latter part of 2021.
White said he would have to explain to other drug dealers that they were on the DEA鈥檚 radar but had to lie about how he knew.
If they knew he was working as an informant with the BCSO, 鈥渋t would be detrimental to my health, needless to say.鈥�
Typically, law enforcement agents check a database to ensure they aren鈥檛 investigating the same suspects and alert other agencies. That鈥檚 how Linker learned of imminent DEA raids and arrests.
White would alert the targets, who would get rid of the drugs or take other actions to elude arrest.
But after becoming suspicious that someone in law enforcement was tipping off their targets, the DEA arrested White.
He said Linker, who called himself 鈥淟,鈥� didn鈥檛 forewarn him. And agents enlisted him to make recordings with Linker.
While in DEA custody, White got a call from Linker saying, 鈥淗ey, you鈥檙e on the DEA鈥檚 radar.鈥�
Eventually, White testified, Jessen became the go-between with Linker.
In January 2022, Jessen met with White to ask questions about his DEA arrest.
Jessen said he had no personal knowledge of what went on between Linker and White.
But he said, 鈥淟鈥檚 in trouble.鈥� By that time, the DEA had notified BCSO leadership, and Linker was placed on administrative leave.
Jessen also took notes about White鈥檚 DEA arrest and asked White if he was wearing a wire, White told the jury.
鈥淚 trust you,鈥� Jessen told White, according to a recording played for the jurors.
Jessen also faces two counts of making false statements to the FBI.
