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Corrupt Cleveland Cops/Guards Sentenced
In the July 1998 issue of PLN , we reported the arrest of 51 Cleveland area police and jail guards who were lured into an FBI sting with promises of high-paying "moonlighting" jobs as security guards for illegal drug shipments. On August 19, 1998, 49 of the defendants, all of whom had pleaded guilty, were paraded one-by-one before U.S. District Judge Donald C. Nugent for sentencing.
Some sobbed. Some brought weeping mothers and fathers. Some were angry, and most were contrite. Judge Nugent asked each one to explain why they had been willing to throw away their law enforcement careers. Then he sentenced them.
Twenty-five former Cuyahoga County Jail guards were sentenced to a total of 81 years and 7 months, or an average sentence of 3 years and three months. Most were given 2 1/2 years. The longest sentence was 9 years, 4 months.
Five former East Cleveland police officers were sentenced to an average of 4 years each. Seven Cleveland cops were sentenced to an average of 3 years, 5 months. Three Cleveland Heights cops were sentenced to an average of 4 years, 2 months. Two Brooklyn (Ohio) cops were each given 3 years, 5 months, as was one Cuyahoga County Sheriff's deputy.
Six others who had posed as law enforcement types in order to "qualify" for the bogus security jobs and who were thus also netted in the FBI sting operation, were sentenced to an average of 2 years, 8 months.
Cleveland Plain Dealer
Some sobbed. Some brought weeping mothers and fathers. Some were angry, and most were contrite. Judge Nugent asked each one to explain why they had been willing to throw away their law enforcement careers. Then he sentenced them.
Twenty-five former Cuyahoga County Jail guards were sentenced to a total of 81 years and 7 months, or an average sentence of 3 years and three months. Most were given 2 1/2 years. The longest sentence was 9 years, 4 months.
Five former East Cleveland police officers were sentenced to an average of 4 years each. Seven Cleveland cops were sentenced to an average of 3 years, 5 months. Three Cleveland Heights cops were sentenced to an average of 4 years, 2 months. Two Brooklyn (Ohio) cops were each given 3 years, 5 months, as was one Cuyahoga County Sheriff's deputy.
Six others who had posed as law enforcement types in order to "qualify" for the bogus security jobs and who were thus also netted in the FBI sting operation, were sentenced to an average of 2 years, 8 months.
Cleveland Plain Dealer
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