A top federal narcotics prosecutor, Joseph Ruddy, violated ethics rules last year when he drunkenly handed his Justice Department business card to Florida police investigating a hit-and-run crash, according to a Justice Department watchdog report.

The incident, captured on body-camera footage, involved Ruddy, a prominent assistant U.S. attorney in Tampa, who was accused of hitting another vehicle, fleeing the scene, and attempting to leverage his position to avoid repercussions. Disoriented and struggling to stand, Ruddy handed over his credentials, prompting a Tampa officer to warn him that the footage would not reflect well on him.

A one-page summary from the Justice Department’s Office of Inspector General confirmed the findings, citing Ruddy for “misuse of position” and driving under the influence. The case has been referred to the Justice Department’s Professional Misconduct Review Unit for further action. Despite these allegations, Ruddy remains employed as an assistant U.S. attorney, though he was removed from several cases following the incident.

Ruddy is widely known in law enforcement for his role in Operation Panama Express, a task force targeting cocaine smuggling at sea, which has significantly contributed to U.S. Coast Guard drug interdictions. Between 2018 and 2022, the Coast Guard seized or destroyed 888 metric tons of cocaine valued at $26 billion, with Ruddy handling many of these cases.

Despite the severity of his actions, state prosecutors did not charge Ruddy with hit-and-run and dismissed the DUI charges, citing a lack of direct witnesses. Instead, Ruddy pleaded no contest to reckless driving, receiving 12 months’ probation.

On the night of his arrest, Ruddy allegedly sideswiped an SUV at a red light, continued driving without stopping, and was later found by police leaning on his pickup for support, having urinated on himself and failed a field sobriety test. When questioned about why he didn’t stop after the crash, Ruddy slurred, “I didn’t realize it was that serious.”