Former MPD Officer Sentenced for Bribery Scheme

Vincent Forrest, a former Metropolitan Police Department officer, was sentenced to 20 months in prison for his involvement in a bribery scheme that exploited the personal data of traffic accident victims. Between April 2019 and August 2021, Forrest accessed confidential police databases and provided contact information for over 2,000 victims to Raquel DePaula, who solicited local attorneys on their behalf. In exchange for this information, DePaula reportedly paid Forrest over $15,000 in bribes. Both were part of a larger network of individuals convicted for similar offenses, which includes several other MPD officers and employees. Forrest's actions were described as a betrayal of public trust, and he was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release and forfeit the bribe money. DePaula, who pleaded guilty prior to Forrest's trial, received a probation sentence in connection with her role in the scheme.