‘Betrayal’: Putnam County deputy clerk accused of leaking warrant info to drug traffickers

PALATKA, Fla. (WCJB) — A former Putnam County deputy clerk is facing 17 felony charges after investigators say she leaked confidential law enforcement information to suspected drug traffickers.

Investigators identified the suspect as Jabaria Cartos, 33. They say she unlawfully accessed protected court records and shared confidential arrest warrant information with suspected drug traffickers before deputies could carry out operations.

The investigation began after detectives recovered a Snapchat screenshot of a confidential warrant during a drug investigation.

“This was not a careless mistake. It was not poor judgment. It was a deliberate betrayal of the public’s trust,” Sheriff H.D. ‘Gator’ DeLoach said.

Detectives now believe between 60 and 80 criminal investigations may have been compromised.

Putnam County Sheriff H.D. DeLoach said Friday the scope of the case extends beyond unauthorized computer access.

“This case is about far more than someone improperly accessing a computer system,” DeLoach said. “It’s about a public employee who was entrusted with confidential information and, according to our investigation, chose to weaponize that against law enforcement and in favor of known drug traffickers.”

The Putnam County Clerk’s Office said it immediately worked with investigators once the suspected breach was discovered and terminated Cartos’ employment.

Putnam County Clerk of Court Matt Reynolds said Cartos betrayed the public’s trust.

“She violated my team’s trust, but more importantly, she violated the public’s trust that was placed in her to help administer justice here in Putnam County,” Reynolds said.

Investigators say the investigation is ongoing, with additional charges expected as detectives continue reviewing dozens of compromised cases.

Cartos remains out of jail after posting a $200,000 bond.

Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.