FBI agents stage sting to snare corrupt Ill. cops

[Ghost in the Machine]

FBI agents stage sting to snare corrupt Ill. cops
Published: 12/3/08, 4:25 AM EDT
By MIKE ROBINSON

CHICAGO (AP) - Duffel bags stuffed with cocaine were delivered by plane to an out-of-the-way suburban airport while two sheriff's officers provided security. A police officer stood by to guard the cash and keep out the riffraff at a poker game where $100,000 changed hands. And a drug dealer was told squad cars marked "sheriff" and "sheriff's police" might be available on a "freelance" basis to provide protection for his deliveries.

Such tales of law enforcement gone awry emerged in court papers Tuesday as federal prosecutors unveiled a series of elaborate sting operations aimed at officers who hired out to ride shotgun for drug deals and other criminal activities.

Fifteen officers and two other men who had pretended to be law enforcement officers were charged with conspiracy to possess and distribute cocaine or heroin or both.

But the most spectacular pretending was done by the federal agents themselves.


The pilots of the airplane were not drug runners but undercover agents. So were the gamblers who busily played hand after hand of high-stakes poker - all for show.

The drug broker who squired the officers to the airport to pick up the duffel bags was an agent. So was the drug dealer who stuffed the bags into his Mercedes-Benz.

http://my.att.net/s/editorial.dll?bfromind=7814&eeid=6246377&_sitecat=1522&dcatid=0&eetype=article&render=y&ac=3&ck=&ch=ne

[amdezurik]

1. yup, yup the biggest gang around

wears blue uniforms...

[pleah]

2. They should also check out the cops in the southern part of the state.

K&R

[ben_meyers]

3. Corrupt Ill. cops? I for one am shocked!

Do you still drive with a $100 dollar bill wrapped around your drivers license up there?

[spin]

4. No wonder the gun laws are so strict in Chicago (n/t)

[Ghost in the Machine]

5. Thanks for the recs.....

here's a :kick: to go with them..