Pubdate: Fri, 19 Oct 2001
Source: Chicago Tribune (IL)
Copyright: 2001 Chicago Tribune Company
Contact:  http://www.chicagotribune.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/82
Author: Matt O'Connor
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/corrupt.htm (Corruption)

AUSTIN COPS SENT TO PRISON

5 Former Officers Sentenced In '96 Corruption Probe

Three former Chicago police officers, convicted of racketeering for shaking 
down drug dealers for cash and cocaine and providing protection for large 
narcotics deliveries, on Thursday were given sentences that should keep 
them in prison for life.

Two other former officers also received stiff prison terms.

The sentences bring to an end one of the most notorious police corruption 
cases in Chicago history.

All together, seven Austin District tactical police officers, plainclothes 
cops assigned to root out gangs and drugs on the West Side, were convicted 
in a series of robberies, home invasions and extortions of narcotics 
dealers in 1995 and 1996.

The ringleader, Edward Lee "Pacman" Jackson Jr., 31, was sentenced to 115 
years in prison. Prosecutors said that Jackson was a ranking member of the 
Conservative Vice Lords street gang while on the police force.

M.L. Moore, 52, received a prison term of 109 years, while Alex Ramos, 36, 
was sentenced to 49 years.

Cornelius Tripp, 34, who broke the police code of silence and testified 
against the others at their trial, was sentenced to 15 years in prison, 
while James P. Young, 34, who was convicted in just one extortion, received 
9 years in prison.

Two other former Austin District officers, both of whom pleaded guilty and 
cooperated with authorities, were sentenced previously. Gregory S. 
Crittleton, who took part in three home invasions, was sentenced to almost 
12 years in prison, while Lennon Shields, who assisted in a robbery, was 
giving a 5-year prison term.

Their arrests in December 1996 rocked the Chicago Police Department, whose 
internal affairs division played a critical role with the FBI in the 
undercover probe called Operation Broken Star.

Among those who played a key role in the case was Chicago Police Detective 
Joseph Airhart, who was shot and critically wounded recently while trying 
to arrest a bank robbery suspect.

Despite the investigation's success, Assistant U.S. Atty. Brian Netols, the 
lead prosecutor in the investigation, said in federal court Thursday that 
authorities were unable to make a case against other corrupt officers in 
the district.

Two of the convicted officers admitted that it was routine for officers in 
the Austin District at the time to take money from people who were 
arrested, Netols said.

Severe sentences were given to Jackson, Moore and Ramos because they were 
convicted of using their service weapons when they committed crimes. The 
gun charges carry a 5-year prison term for the first count and additional 
20-year sentences for each subsequent count, to run consecutive to other 
convictions.

Under federal sentencing laws, the former officers must serve 85 percent of 
their prison terms.

Jackson, Moore, Ramos and Young were convicted in May 1998 by a federal 
jury following a seven-week trial. Tripp pleaded guilty just days before 
the trial.

Sentencing was delayed because the defendants switched lawyers, extensive 
post-trial motions were filed and the case had to be reassigned after the 
judge who presided over the trial was elevated to a federal appeals court.

U.S. District Judge Charles Kocoras, who imposed the sentences Thursday, 
lamented that the five defendants had risen from difficult upbringings to 
achieve respect as police officers but threw it all away with their corruption.

"These sentences are unbelievably tough because the crimes are so 
unbelievably terrible," Kocoras said.

Defense lawyers were highly critical of the "draconian" mandatory sentences 
in the case.

In a central part of the undercover probe, Chicago Police Sgt. Eugene 
Shepherd, who has since retired, posed as "Silky," a major West Side 
cocaine dealer.

A government witness who was part of the undercover operation misled the 
corrupt officers into think Silky would be a ripe target for robbery.

Netols said Jackson was a gang member banger when he joined the Police 
Department force and showed interest in coming to work only if he had an 
opportunity to rob a drug dealer.

He planted dope on others, did the bidding of gang bosses, Netols said.

In court, Netols thanked Jackson for testifying in his own defense, saying 
his "preposterous" testimony made it easier to convict him.

Jackson proclaimed his innocence.

Moore and Ramos were convicted of taking cash to protect what they thought 
were Silky's deliveries of large quantities of cocaine around the Chicago area.

In addressing the judge, Ramos' voice cracked with emotion as he apologized.

"I'm sorry for destroying your lives and my life and making bad choices," 
Ramos said as he turned toward family members in the courtroom.

Tripp, who was extensively involved in the robberies, extortions and home 
invasions, also apologized.

"I'm not pointing fingers at others," said Tripp, who avoided a prison term 
of as much as 85 years by cooperating. "I made the bad decisions."

Young was convicted of joining Moore in one shakedown of Silky only days 
after he joined the tactical unit. Young, the only defendant free on bond, 
was taken into custody after his sentencing.
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