Devon Wenger claims he was framed, retaliated against as a whistleblower, suing police department; posts animated video on Instagram, shares two articles to offer his side of the story

By Michele Lo, PIO, U.S. Attorney’s Office Northern District of California

OAKLAND – Former Antioch police officer Devon Christopher Wenger was sentenced today to seven-and-a-half years in federal prison for conspiring to injure, oppress, threaten, or intimidate residents of Antioch through the use of unreasonable force, conspiring to distribute anabolic steroids, and obstructing justice.  Senior U.S. District Judge Jeffrey S. White handed down the sentence. 

Wenger, 33, formerly of Oakley, California, was indicted in two separate cases.  In April 2025, following a three-day trial, a federal jury convicted Wenger on one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute anabolic steroids and one count of obstruction of justice.  In September 2025, following a seven-day trial, a jury convicted Wenger of conspiracy against rights.  Wenger was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals in September 2025 and has remained in federal custody since then.

“Devon Wenger and his co-conspirators believed the badges they wore gave them a license to break the law. They were wrong. Today, the court held Mr. Wenger accountable for his betrayal of the public trust placed in him,” said United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian.

“Devon Wenger’s sentencing marks another significant step in a multi-year effort to uncover and confront corruption within the Antioch and Pittsburg police departments.  His conviction, along with the earlier convictions in this case, underscores that no one is above the law.  The FBI and our partners are committed to holding those who violate the civil rights of others and betray the public’s trust accountable,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Agustin Lopez.

According to court documents and the evidence presented at the September 2025 trial, Wenger and two other Antioch Police Department officers, Morteza Amiri and Eric Rombough, conspired with each other and others about using excessive force against individuals in and around Antioch.  The uses and intended uses of excessive force included deployment of a police K9, deployment of a 40mm “less lethal” launcher, and other unnecessary violence.  The evidence showed that Wenger and others deployed uses of force as punishment to subjects beyond any punishment appropriately imposed by the criminal justice system.  Wenger also withheld details about uses of excessive force from police reports and other official documents.

Wenger, Amiri, and or Rombough engaged in numerous communications in furtherance of the conspiracy, including an April 2019 communication in which Wenger sent a photo and booking information for a suspect to Amiri and Rombough and requested that they “[p]lease find this guy[] and f— him in the a–.”  Rombough responded “Deal,” and Amiri responded “ill bite em.” 

Later in 2019, Wenger broke the arm of a young female shoplifting suspect, then pushed her sister to the ground, handcuffed the sister, picked the sister up and grabbed her neck, and smashed the sister’s face into the side of the patrol car, as captured on video.  However, Wenger wrote in his police report that as he was escorting the sister to a patrol car, she attempted to pull away from him and that as a result of her actions she “subsequently fell onto the side of the patrol vehicle.” 

In August 2020, after Amiri deployed his K9 to apprehend a suspect in Pittsburg, California, with Wenger, he wrote to Wenger “if pitt didn’t have all those body cams and that was us… we would have f—ed him up more. he didn’t get what he deserved.”  Wenger responded, “I agree.  That’s why I don’t like body cams.”  The next night, Wenger wrote to Amiri, “We need to get into something tonight bro!!  Lets go 3 nights in a row dog bite!!!”  Amiri and Wenger exchanged additional messages and bloodied photographs after engaging with another suspect that night, and following Amiri’s deployment of his K9 to bite a suspect in a homeless encampment the subsequent evening.  At the end of the week, Amiri wrote to Wenger, “let’s f— some people up next work week,” to which Wenger agreed. 

According to court documents and evidence presented at the April 2025 trial, in February 2022, Wenger set up the sale of anabolic steroids, a Schedule III controlled substance, between Daniel Harris, who was at the time also an Antioch Police Department officer, and a third individual.  Law enforcement officials seized the package of anabolic steroids destined for Harris before they arrived, although Wenger continued to communicate with Harris about supplying the third individual with anabolic steroids, including offering to give this individual some of Wenger’s own while they waited for the delayed package.

On March 23, 2022, at 8:03 a.m., the FBI began calling and sending text messages to Wenger telling him that they were outside of his residence with a warrant.  It was not until 9:00 a.m. that Wenger appeared for the FBI to seize Wenger’s cellular phone. Later forensic examination of that device showed that specific entries related to the anabolic steroid distribution conspiracy had been deleted.

In addition to the prison term, Judge White also sentenced the defendant to a three-year period of supervised release.  A hearing to determine the amounts of restitution owed to victims is scheduled for January 27, 2026.

The case is being prosecuted by the National Security & Special Prosecutions Section and the Oakland Branch of the United States Attorney’s Office.  This prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI and the Office of the Contra Costa County District Attorney.

Wenger Claims He Was Framed, Retaliated Against as a Whistleblower

As previously reported by the Herald, following his conviction in April this year, the former Antioch officer shared, “I never have had anything to do with steroids. Never took them, never possessed them, and sure as heck never conspired to distribute them. I took PEPTIDES, gonadorelin to be specific. It’s legal and NOT a steroid. I took the peptides to recover from COVID, COVID almost killed me and had me in a hospital bed and left my body in shambles. I still feel the effects of it to this day and will never fully recover. The FBI even seized gonadorelin and numerous other peptides failed to disclose that.”

Further, he claimed earlier this year he’s a whistleblower being framed.

“I am innocent. I am a whistleblower facing a whistleblower retaliation prosecution to silence me. I am being framed on fabricated and tampered evidence. Yes, the FBI and the US Attorneys on this case have fabricated and tampered with evidence, in addition to misrepresenting evidence and even lying to the court, and the public. They have…gone so far as to manipulate and suppress the documents that prove this (including exculpatory evidence) in the metadata data of their own discovery documents in order to push their false narrative. The truth will surface. That’s all I can say.”

“In addition to this we have filed a civil lawsuit against APD which outlines everything they put me through which led to these bogus charges against me,” Wenger added.

(See related articles here and here)

Two-Part Report Series Supports Wenger’s Claims

In addition, a two-part series, by The Current Report, provides additional details from Wenger’s perspective which claims he “exposed misconduct inside his department in 2021.” The articles include several court and legal documents to support the former officer’s claims. See Part 1 entitled, “The Digital Frame-Up: How the FBI and Contra Costa DA Turned a Police Whistleblower into a Federal Target” and Part 2 entitled, “The Retaliation of Officer Devon Wenger: Inside Antioch PD’s Cross-Agency Cover-Up – The ‘Good Ole Boy Club’ Part 2.”

Posts Instagram Videos, Tags Federal Officials

Wenger posted videos on Instagram, including an animated video using an account entitled, “Thepolicewhistleblower” on August 7, 2025, explaining his claims against the Antioch PD, Contra Costa DA’s Office and the FBI. The account description reads, “I am a police whistleblower facing a retaliatory prosecution for upholding my oath and standing up against both federal and local LEO corruption in CA.”

In the post Wenger wrote, “This is the unfortunate reality of what happens to police officers who break the ‘blue wall of silence’ and blow the whistle on corruption. I upheld my oath and did what was right, and now I am being retaliated against, silenced, and framed by the same system I once defended with my life. I WILL NOT STOP until the TRUTH is exposed. Rest assured, the truth always comes to light, and I will NEVER compromise my integrity nor my oath, not even in the face of impossible odds. I WILL NEVER QUIT.”

Three weeks later he tagged several federal officials including President Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, FBI Director Kash Patel, Deputy Director Dan Bongino and U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley, the President Pro Tem of the Senate, and posted the following:

“So, are you guys going to look into this or are you going to allow your low level FBI agents work with local police to fabricate evidence against a police whistleblower? I don’t know how many times I have reached out to each of you with no answer nor even an acknowledgment. This is a horrific constitutional violation and as severe deprivation of rights against a police whistleblower. I upheld my oath and stood up to corruption, it has cost me everything and now I’m deprived of my whistleblower protections rights and my very constitutional rights this country was founded on. Get it together and stop covering for criminals hiding behind badges in your organization.”

On a different Instagram account, which can no longer be located, Wenger posted a video of himself and linked to the two articles by The Current Report.

Charges Part of Broader Investigation of Antioch, Pittsburg Police

The charges against Wenger were brought as part of an investigation into the Antioch and Pittsburg police departments that resulted in multiple federal charges against 10 current and former officers and employees of these two police departments for various crimes ranging from the use of excessive force to fraud.  The status of these cases, all of which are before Senior U.S. District Judge Jeffrey S. White, is below:

Case Name and Number	Statute(s)	Defendant (Bold: multiple case numbers)	Status
Fraud 23-cr-00264	18 U.S.C. §§ 1349 (Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud; 1343 (Wire Fraud)	Patrick Berhan	Sentenced to 30 months custody, 2 years supervised release concurrent with 24-cr-157 on 9/5/24
		Morteza Amiri	Sentenced to 84 months custody, 3 years supervised release concurrent with 23-cr-269 on 6/24/25
		Amanda Theodosy a/k/a Nash	Sentenced to 3 months custody, 3 years supervised release 11/15/24
		Samantha Peterson	Sentenced to time served, 3 years supervised release 4/24/24
		Ernesto Mejia-Orozco	Sentenced to 3 months custody, 3 years supervised release on 9/19/24
		Brauli Jalapa Rodriguez	Sentenced to 3 months custody, 3 years supervised release on 10/25/24
Obstruction 23-cr-00267	18 U.S.C. §§ 1519 (Destruction, Alteration, and Falsification of Records in Federal Investigations); 1512(c)(2) (Obstruction of Official Proceedings); 242 (Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law)	Timothy Manly Williams	Pleaded guilty 11/28/23, sentencing set for 1/13/2026
Steroid Distribution 23-cr-00268	21 U.S.C. §§ 846 (Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Anabolic Steroids), 841(a)(1), and (b)(1)(E)(i) (Possession with Intent to Distribute Anabolic Steroids)	Daniel Harris	Pleaded guilty 9/17/24, sentencing set for 1/13/2026
	21 U.S.C. §§ 846, 841(a)(1), and (b)(1)(E)(i) (Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Anabolic Steroids); 18 U.S.C. § 1519 (Destruction, Alteration, and Falsification of Records in Federal Investigations)	Devon Wenger	Sentenced to 90 months custody, 3 years supervised release on 12/2/2025
Civil Rights 23-cr-00269	18 U.S.C. §§ 241 (Conspiracy Against Rights), 242 (Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law); § 1519 (Destruction, Alteration, and Falsification of Records in Federal Investigations)	Morteza Amiri	Sentenced to 84 months custody, 3 years supervised release concurrent with 23-cr-264 on 6/24/25
	18 U.S.C. §§ 241 (Conspiracy Against Rights), 242 (Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law)	Eric Rombough	Pleaded guilty 1/14/25, sentencing set for 1/13/2026
	18 U.S.C. §§ 241 (Conspiracy Against Rights), 242 (Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law)	Devon Wenger	Sentenced to 90 months custody, 3 years supervised release on 12/2/2025
Steroid Distribution 24-cr-00157	21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(E)(i) (Possession with Intent to Distribute Anabolic Steroids)	Patrick Berhan	Sentenced to 30 months custody, 2 years supervised release concurrent with 23-cr-264 on 9/5/24
Bank fraud 24-cr-00502	18 U.S.C. § 1344(1), (2) (Bank fraud)	Daniel Harris	Pleaded guilty 9/17/24, sentencing set for 1/13/2026

Further Information: Case Nos. 23-cr-0268 JSW; 23-cr-0269 JSW

Electronic court filings and further procedural and docket information are available at https://ecf.cand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. Judges’ calendars with schedules for upcoming court hearings can be viewed on the court’s website at www.cand.uscourts.gov.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Family raising funds for “proper service” of 59-year-old Frank Troia suffering from severe brain damage

By Allen D. Payton

The sister of Frank Troia, an Antioch homeless resident, who was injured in a fight with a younger homeless man earlier this month, has organized a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for his funeral as he is not expected to survive his injuries. The suspect, 34-year-old Brandon Rowlett, was arrested for attempted homicide. (See related article)

On the GoFundMe page Frank’s sister wrote, “My name is Mary Troia. My brother, Frank Troia, was a victim of assault on November 17, 2025. He was beaten with a weapon and has been hospitalized since. He has severe brain damage and has not regained consciousness. The doctors are giving our family time to come to terms with end of life.

Frank suffered from mental illness and was unhoused at the time of the assault. It occurred in Antioch, CA, and was covered by the Antioch Herald and the East Bay Times. Unfortunately, Frank has no assets and I am asking for any donations to cover any costs associated with proper services. Donations of any amount would be appreciated by my family. God bless you, and if unable to donate, please remember Frank in your prayers.”

Asked about her brother, Mary shared about him and their family, “Frank did attend Antioch High School. However, he did not graduate with his Class of 1984. He got a G.E.D. Frank is the youngest of four children, my brother, John Myers, the oldest, myself, then my sister Janet Troia and he followed her. Frank has a 36-year-old son, Frank, Jr.”

Asked if he was a Marine Corps veteran due to the flag on the wall behind him seen in a photo from Facebook, she replied, “He was not a vet our stepfather was. He is still in critical condition at this time.”

To help the Troia family, visit www.gofundme.com/f/support-for-frank-troias-final-journey.

By Amanda Davis

I wanted to reach out about a devastating dog attack that happened to my family on Sunday, November 2, 2025, in Antioch. My 73-year-old father was severely injured by three loose dogs, and our small family dog was killed during the attack near Greystone Drive and Rockford Drive, close to John Muir Elementary.

Antioch Animal Services (Case #25-9756) is actively investigating, but the police have not received cooperation from the homeowners believed to own the dogs involved. Furthermore, the flyers (pic attached) we have posted in the neighborhood have been torn down, which feels very intentional. We are desperately trying to locate the owners and are hoping that some news coverage might encourage witnesses or neighbors to come forward with information.

My father had surgery on 11/13 because of his injuries and had to stay in the hospital for the night for monitoring.

Our family is heartbroken and doing everything we can to help Animal Services find the truth.

This story is about accountability and public safety, as the dogs are still unaccounted for and we do not want another family to suffer like ours has.

Here are the factual details of the incident.

• The attack occurred on Sunday, November 2, 2025, at approximately 8:15 AM near the intersection of Greystone Drive and Rockford Drive in the Eagleridge neighborhood of Antioch.
• My father, Jim Thomson, was walking his small dog, Benji, on leash.
• Three large dogs came up from behind with no owner present and attacked Benji.
• My father fell into the street during the attack and later required surgery for a fractured elbow.
• Nearby residents intervened and assisted my father by calling 911. He was transported via ambulance to Kaiser Sand Creek.
• Witnesses described the dogs as one husky, one Belgian Malinois, and a third dog that may have been a shepherd mix. They ran off after the attack and were seen by multiple people in the neighborhood including the paramedics transporting Jim to the hospital. 
• Candy Thomson, Jim’s wife, transported Benji, with the help of a neighbor to VCA, the emergency vet, on Sunset Drive where Benji died from his injuries.
• Several neighbors have already provided helpful information, and we are hoping that anyone with additional details or security camera footage from approximately 8 to 9 AM on 11/2 will come forward.
• Animal Control is currently investigating. Jessica Knittel is our contact.

If you have any information about the attack or name of the owner please contact Antioch Animal Services at (925) 779-6989 or his daughter at (213) 361-5407.

34-year-old Brandon Rowlett with 10-year history of 25 arrests injured 59-year-old Frank Troia who remains in critical condition

Held on $500,000 bail

“It was a one-on-one fight that got out of hand.” – APD Lt. Whitaker

By Allen D. Payton

As previously reported, on Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025, at approximately 2:46 a.m., the Antioch Police Department dispatch center received multiple calls of a subject down on the roadway at Lone Tree Way and W. Tregallas Road. When officers arrived on scene, they located the victim who appeared to have been involved in a physical altercation. Antioch Police officers provided aid to the victim at the scene. The victim was transported to a local hospital where he is in critical condition.

According to Antioch Police Lt. William Whitaker, on November 19, at approximately 8:30 a.m., the Antioch Police Department’s Investigations Bureau located and arrested 34-year-old Brandon Rowlett for attempted homicide.

Police also identified the victim, 59-year-old Frank Troia, who remains in critical condition at an area hospital.

“Both are unhoused in Antioch,” Whitaker shared.

Asked if any vehicles were involved as the original post on APD’s social media claimed it was a traffic accident, he said, “No vehicles were involved. It was a one-on-one fight that got out of hand.”

Whitaker also explained the difference in the markers placed at the scene. The yellow markers are for evidence placed by officers who first arrive on scene. The blue markers are placed by the detectives during their investigation.

This is an active investigation, and no further information will be released at this time.

Additional inquiries, tips, or information can be directed to Antioch Police Detective Arturo Becerra at (925) 779-6937 or by email at abecerra@antiochca.gov.

According to localcrimenews.com, Rowlett has a history of 25 arrests dating back to 2015 by Antioch Police and the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Department on weapons and drug charges and for crimes including vandalism, burglary, multiple counts of disobeying a domestic relations court order and multiple counts of failure to appear.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, the five-foot, four-inch tall, 162-pound suspect is Hispanic, but also listed as white, and being held on $500,000 bail in the West County Detention Facility.

See list of 21 arrests Nov. 2-8, many for domestic violence, drugs

By Antioch Police Department

We don’t stop! Even with the shorter days and colder weather your officers responded to 1,685 calls for service, investigated 168 cases and made 22 arrests in just the last 7 days. That’s an average of 240 calls for service every day!

We don’t take days off. We don’t stop working during bad weather. We don’t have business hours. Day in and day out the wheels of justice keep turning in the City of Antioch thanks to the hard-working men and women at the Antioch Police Department.

Like always, we cannot do it without your continued support!

Weekly Adult Arrests Report

According to the most recent APD Weekly Adult Arrests Report by the Crime Analysis Unit, for the previous week, Nov. 2-8, 2025, those arrested ranged in age from 21 to 64 and were arrested for the following crimes:

4 for Assault with a deadly weapon with force: possible great bodily harm;

2 for Battery on a spouse/ex-spouse/date/etc., one Simple;

2 for Battery w/serious bodily injury;

3 for Inflict corporal injury on spouse/cohabitant/dating relationship – Aggravated;

2 for Burglary: second degree – Burglary/breaking and entering;

Felon/addict in possession, etc. of a firearm;

Possess narcotic controlled substance;

Possess unlawful paraphernalia;

Possess controlled substance;

Driving while suspended with DUI priors;

2 for Reckless driving: highway (Felony);

2 for Vandalism: damage property (Felony);

Failure to register as a sex offender violation after incarceration;

Petty theft: retail merchandise/etc.;

Shoplifting (Misdemeanor);

Trespass: occupying a property without consent;

Evading peace officer;

Accessory after the fact (Felony);

Personate to make other liable – False Impersonation (Felony);

Bench warrant/failure to appear on felony charge; and

2 for Bench warrant/failure to appear on misdemeanor charge

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

By Allen D. Payton

Antioch Police Lt. Joe Njoroge confirmed the report of a shooting in the city, last Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025. An “adult male suffered a single gunshot wound that was non-life-threatening and he was transported to a local hospital for treatment,” the lieutenant shared. He is a “20-year-old Antioch resident.”

The shooting occurred on Claudia Court and “the call came in at 8:00 p.m.” Njoroge added.

“We’re investigating leads that we have. There’s not an ongoing threat to the public,” he stated but would not offer any additional details.

Join the Antioch Police Department, Downtown Antioch Association and the Rotary Club of the Delta-Antioch this Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025, for a Community Clean-Up in Antioch’s Rivertown Business District.

Let’s come together to beautify our city and make a positive impact. It’s a great opportunity to give back and connect with local business owners.

Meet at 10:00 AM at Prime Vintage Realty, 340 W. 2nd Street in historic downtown.

See you there!

By Lt. Joe Njoroge #7052, Antioch Police Field Services Division

On Sunday, November 2, 2025, just after 4:30 p.m., Antioch Police Department officers responded to a report of a shooting in the 300 block of Sunset Drive. Upon arrival, officers located a 9-year-old boy who had been struck by gunfire.

Officers immediately provided medical aid until personnel from Con Fire arrived. The victim was transported by helicopter from nearby Bidwell High School to a local hospital where he is being treated for injuries determined to be non-life-threatening.

Through the course of the investigation, the suspect was identified as a 17-year-old male who was later taken into custody.

UPDATE 1: According to KTVU reporter Henry K. Lee in a post on X, the 17-year-old saw a man at a smoke shop on Sunset Drive “in Antioch with whom he has ongoing feud. Teen fires numerous shots (opens fire inside business), missing his target – and instead hitting 9yo boy in neck while victim is in back room of his uncle’s shop.”

The investigation into the incident is ongoing. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Antioch Police Department at tips@antiochca.gov.

See Spotlight CoCoCounty video of response to the incident.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.