Key West Police Sergeant Pleads Guilty in Marijuana Case
Supervisor admitted to reduced charge after investigation into on-duty text messages seeking medical marijuana products while patrolling in a marked police vehicle.
KEY WEST, Fla. — Key West police Sgt. David Kouri, a supervisor previously investigated for sending on-duty text messages seeking marijuana while patrolling in a marked police vehicle, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to a reduced criminal charge in Monroe County Circuit Court.
Kouri pleaded nolo contendre before Circuit Judge Mark Wilson to attempted sale or purchase of marijuana stemming from a 2025 investigation involving text exchanges with a woman about obtaining medical marijuana pre-rolls and vape products.
“Nolo contendere” is a Latin legal term meaning “I do not wish to contend,” often shortened to “no contest.”
A defendant who enters a nolo contendere plea is not formally admitting guilt, but also is not fighting the charge. For criminal sentencing purposes, the court generally treats it much like a guilty plea.
Key difference:
Guilty plea = “I did it.”
Nolo contendere plea = “I’m not admitting it, but I’m accepting the punishment.”
A Monroe County grand jury had previously indicted Kouri on a felony charge of solicitation to deliver or sell marijuana, alleging he knowingly encouraged another person to provide cannabis in violation of Florida law on or about June 30, 2025.
According to Key West Police Department internal affairs records, investigators concluded Kouri attempted to obtain marijuana through a medical marijuana cardholder for someone other than the authorized patient.
Department investigators said the transfer never occurred but determined Kouri exercised poor judgment and acted inappropriately while serving as a police supervisor.
The department ultimately found allegations of unlawful conduct to be unfounded during its internal investigation but sustained a charge of unbecoming conduct. Police Chief Sean Brandenburg issued Kouri a written reprimand warning that future incidents involving poor judgment could result in suspension, demotion or termination.
On April 20, Brandenburg placed Kouri on administrative leave with pay pending a separate internal investigation involving additional allegations. The department said at the time the leave was administrative and not disciplinary.
It is unclear at press time if Kouri remains employed by KWPD.
Kouri’s plea marks the latest development in a case that has drawn scrutiny because it involved a supervisory officer seeking marijuana while on duty despite Florida’s tightly regulated medical cannabis laws for non-patients.