Two former Rohnert Park public safety officers are one step closer to federal prison after a judge rejected a last-ditch retrial request, setting a joint sentencing hearing for May 6 in San Francisco.
Key Takeaways
- Former officer Joseph Huffaker and ex-sergeant Brendan “Jacy” Tatum will be sentenced together May 6 before U.S. District Judge Maxine Chesney in San Francisco.
- Judge Chesney rejected Huffaker’s motion for a new trial, finding the alleged inconsistencies in Tatum’s testimony insufficient to warrant one.
- Prosecutors are seeking 63 months in federal prison for Huffaker; his defense is asking for probation with home confinement.
- The two are convicted of impersonating ATF agents on Highway 101 to steal cash and marijuana from motorists and selling it for profit.
- The scandal led to the disbanding of Rohnert Park’s entire drug interdiction unit in 2017.
A Scheme Years in the Making
The case against Huffaker and former sergeant Brendan “Jacy” Tatum stretches back nearly a decade. According to prosecutors, the two officers posed as federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) agents during traffic stops on Highway 101, seizing marijuana and cash from motorists — then selling the contraband for personal profit, according to the Press Democrat. The scheme played out as California was still in the final years of cannabis prohibition, leaving victims with little recourse.
Rohnert Park’s entire drug interdiction unit was dissolved in early 2017 after an internal investigation. Tatum resigned in March 2018; Huffaker departed in 2019 with a $75,000 settlement. Both were charged in 2021. Tatum entered a plea deal in December 2021 and agreed to testify against Huffaker as a cooperating witness — a decision Judge Chesney has since scrutinized, noting pointedly that “the government got someone to cooperate down, not up.”
Jury Took 90 Minutes to Convict
Huffaker stood trial and was convicted by a jury in July 2025 after just 90 minutes of deliberation. His defense attorney, Karen Landau, subsequently filed a motion for a new trial, arguing that inconsistencies in Tatum’s trial testimony contradicted statements he made during plea negotiations. Judge Chesney, presiding in U.S. District Court in San Francisco, rejected that argument on April 15, ruling: “It’s not shown to be enough inconsistency to be false.”
Victims have been watching closely. Huedell Freeman, a Mendocino County cannabis grower who settled with the city of Rohnert Park in 2020 after being robbed in a 2016 traffic stop tied to the scheme, attended the April 15 hearing. “They made me suffer and I want to see them pay the price,” Freeman said, according to the Press Democrat. The case is one of several in recent years to test local institutional accountability — earlier this week, Santa Rosa City Schools agreed to pay a record $6.25 million settlement in a separate case involving a fatal stabbing at Montgomery High School.
What Happens on May 6
At the May 6 sentencing, prosecutors are asking Judge Chesney to impose 63 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and $23,000 in restitution for Huffaker. His defense is seeking probation with home confinement and community service. Tatum’s sentence — terms set by his 2021 plea agreement — will also be formally entered that day. The proceeding closes out one of the most significant local law enforcement corruption cases in Sonoma County in recent memory, with broader resonance for residents who have pushed for greater oversight of law enforcement agencies. Upcoming Sonoma County supervisor candidate forums are expected to address similar questions about public safety accountability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will Joseph Huffaker go to prison?
That will be decided at the May 6 sentencing in San Francisco. Federal prosecutors are asking for 63 months — just over five years — along with three years of supervised release and $23,000 in restitution. Huffaker’s attorney is arguing for probation with home confinement instead. The final decision rests with U.S. District Judge Maxine Chesney.
What exactly did these officers do?
Huffaker and Tatum are convicted of impersonating federal ATF agents during traffic stops on Highway 101, then confiscating marijuana and cash from motorists and selling it for profit. The alleged scheme took place when California recreational cannabis was still illegal, leaving victims with few ways to report what had happened without implicating themselves.
Is the Rohnert Park police department still involved in this?
The drug interdiction unit at the center of the scandal was disbanded in 2017, and both officers left the Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety years ago. However, the federal case — now in its fifth year since charges were filed — has kept questions about police oversight alive in the community. The May 6 sentencing is expected to bring the criminal proceedings to a close.
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