Former Franklin police officer pleads guilty to federal obstruction charge

FRANKLIN, Ky. – A former Franklin police officer pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court Tuesday to conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding.

Vickie M. Kristiansen, who worked for the Franklin Police Department and was assigned to the South Central Kentucky Drug Force at the time of the allegations from 2013 to 2015, admitted guilt in obstructing the investigation into a doctor identified in federal court records as Dr. John Doe.

Kristiansen advised the doctor on how to avoid criminal charges and notified him of a federal investigation that she learned about through her work on the task force, according to her plea agreement.

She also admitted telling the doctor to stop taking new patients because they could be law enforcement, to shred documents and to avoid putting out his trash until trash day to prevent law enforcement from going through his trash, the plea agreement shows.

“During 2013, the defendant participated in a local drug task force,” the plea agreement reads. “During the course of the defendant’s work, the defendant became aware of a federal investigation into ‘Dr. John Doe’ for unlawful prescription of controlled substances in the course of his medical practice. The defendant also became aware of steps that were being taken in the investigation. Around February 2013, the defendant met with Dr. Doe and told him he was being investigated for the purpose of helping Dr. Doe avoid being charged federally.

“The defendant promised to inform Dr. Doe if she learned ‘something major’ was going to happen concerning the investigation. The defendant emphasized the importance of the secrecy of their conversation, stating she could lose her job for tipping off Dr. Doe. After this conversation, the defendant continued to participate in the investigation of Dr. Doe, which included unsuccessful attempts at sending undercover officers to make purchases from Dr. Doe and eventual seizure of documents,” according to the plea agreement.

Kristiansen has not yet been sentenced, but at the time of her sentencing a federal prosecutor will recommend a sentence of probation, according to the plea agreement.

The FBI notified the Franklin Police Department about the investigation in September 2018. She was suspended and retired within that month, according to Franklin Police Chief Roger Solomon.