The longtime San Jose police union executive charged with drug trafficking while using agency resources made her first court appearance Friday.
Joanne Segovia, 64, the office manager for the San Jose Police Officers Association, appeared before a federal magistrate in San Jose. The federal complaint alleges Segovia had 61 drug shipments mailed to her San Jose home from Hong Kong, Hungary, India and Singapore. She then distributed them by mail to other states.
There was no cameras allowed in the federal courthouse Friday, but Segovia was very subdued and tearful as she faced a judge magistrate.
One portion of the complaint indicates Segovia’s phone number is linked to an Alabama man who died of an overdose in 2022.
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Segovia allegedly used the union's UPS account and a union email in some transactions. But union president Sean Pritchard told NBC Bay Area that, as office manager, she had no decision-making power and no access to the union’s finances.
He also made clear that Segovia is the only person charged in the crimes, and her indictment is not a reflection of the SJPOA. During an exclusive interview with NBC Bay Area on Thursday, Pritchard indicated the alleged crimes committed by the longtime colleague came as a shock, and officers feel betrayed.
"This is not the person we’ve known, the person who’s worked with fallen officers' families, organized fundraisers for officers’ kids," Pritchard said. "Just not who we’ve known over a decade."
Segovia has been placed on leave and will likely be terminated. She and her attorney declined to comment but the details of the case has even legal experts stunned.
"Whether it’s careless or a result of her being ‘high’ when she’s doing it, it’s crazy," said legal expert Paula Canny. "Either way, it’s crazy for somebody in law enforcement or connected to law enforcement, use law enforcement services to commit a federal crime.”
It remained unclear whether or not Segovia was using the drugs she was allegedly trafficking. If she is convicted, she faces a maximum of 20 years in prison.
Segovia will return to court on April 28 to work out her preliminary hearing.
