Pubdate: Fri, 24 Aug 2001
Source: Ada Evening News (OK)
Address: 116 N. Broadway, PO Box 485, Ada, OK 74820
Phone: 580-310-7525
Fax: 580-332-8734
Contact:  http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?brd=1600
Author: Leo Kelley

CORVIN ADMITS GUILT IN DRUG CASE

ADA - A former Ada assistant police chief faces as many as 25 years in 
prison for his guilty pleas in a drug case, U.S. Attorney Sheldon Sperling 
said Wednesday.

Dennis Edmond Corvin, 40, admitted establishing a drug manufacturing 
operation and possessing a firearm during and in relation to drug 
trafficking. Corvin was arrested Feb. 23 following an investigation by Troy 
Jack and Tommy Cunningham of the District 22 Drug Task Force led by 
assistant district attorney Chris Ross. Gary Perkinson of the Oklahoma 
State Bureau of Investigation, the Ada Police Department and the Pontotoc 
County Sheriff's Office also assisted in the arrest of Corvin.

Corvin worked for the Ada Police Department, retiring in 1999 as assistant 
police chief.

U.S. Attorney Sheldon J. Sperling said Wednesday that Corvin had entered 
pleas of guilty in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of 
Oklahoma at Muskogee to a two-count felony.

"The defendant is a former Ada police officer," Sperling said. "District 
Attorney investigators in (District Attorney) Bill Peterson's office were 
committed to an appropriate resolution of this case."

Officials of the U.S. Department of Justice praised the efforts of the Drug 
Task Force for their efforts.

"Investigators parlayed information from confidential informants and other 
sources regarding methamphetamine being manufactured at Corvin's residence 
in Ada," assistant U.S. Attorney Dennis A. Fries.

Fries said Task Force officers obtained a search warrant for the Corvin 
residence and found marijuana, methamphetamine, chemicals and equipment 
used to manufacture methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and firearms, which 
were seized by officers during the Feb. 23 raid.

A search of Corvin's home earlier this year turned up marijuana, 
methamphetamine, manufacturing ingredients, drug paraphernalia and firearms.

Authorities said they discovered Corvin was selling drugs while talking to 
a confidential informant involved in the methamphetamine trade. The 
informant and the former law officer were planning to cook methamphetamine 
together, authorities alleged.

He will be sentenced in federal court in Muskogee upon completion of a 
presentence investigation.

Corvin was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal.

"Corvin faces a possible term of imprisonment of up to 20 years for 
maintaining a place to manufacture methamphetamine and a consecutive 
non-parolable 5-year prison term for possessing a firearm during a drug 
crime," Sperling said.

Jack had been investigating drug activities of another individual when 
Corvin's name surfaced.

Three other suspects were arrested on drug charges during the Colvin 
investigation.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Beth