A traffic stop conducted by a Fayetteville police officer ultimately netted a two-year prison term for a Riverdale man who admitted to impersonating a federal law enforcement officer between 2005 and 2009.

Steven Street, 44, pled guilty in October and has been ordered to serve two years, six months in federal prison along with paying back $322,000 in restitution.

Street was accused of falsely claiming he was a member of the U.S. State Department and previously served on the protective detail for Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice. He also operated a company named “Dignitary Protective Services” in which he used badges, identification cards and business cards which were very similar to those used by the U.S. State Department, officials said.

The traffic stop of one of Street’s employees began the investigation as the officer found the car was uninsured. The vehicle was searched and inside were tactical police gear and a firearm.
That led the employee to question whether the vehicle was indeed a government car, which led to federal officials being notified about the case.

Street was accused of telling new hires for his company that he was a federal agent, and he also convinced a large local church to hire him for security by falsely claiming he was involved in the incident in Somalia depicted in the movie “Black Hawk Down.”

The case was investigated by agents of the U. S. Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service.

Assistant United States Attorney Joseph Plummer prosecuted the case.