Officer Andrew Hammock, 46, of the Margate Police Department was arrested by the FBI on March 17 in Margate, FL during his road patrol shift. Hammock faces federal charges after allegedly exchanging graphic photos with a teenage girl.
The FBI charged Hammock with soliciting sexually explicit images from a minor.
According to NBC Miami, federal authorities began investigating Hammock in mid-February. An undercover FBI agent had spotted an alleged post by Hammock on an app that’s often used to find individuals for in-person sexual encounters.
The FBI agent was posing as a 14-year-old girl, the agent talked with Hammock for roughly a month. Most of the conversations included sexual activity.
In a conversation, Hammock is accused of writing:
“Let’s not make age an issue. I think you’re hot. I feel like peeking and being peeked at by a younger girl.”
Court documents say Hammock sent pictures of his genitals to the FBI agent and also repeatedly asked for nudes despite admitting he was married.
Following his arrest, Hammock was placed on administrative leave without pay. Hammock is a 17-year veteran of the Margate Police Department.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida will prosecute his case.
If convicted, Hammock faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years and up to 30 years in federal prison.
