Pubdate: Mon, 23 Apr 2001
Source: Associated Press (Wire)
Copyright: 2001 Associated Press
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/27
Author: Mike Robinson, Associated Press Writer

EX-OFFICER CONVICTED IN DRUG PLOT

CHICAGO (AP) - A former police officer praised for breaking up street gangs 
was convicted Monday of joining gang members in conspiring to sell $2 
million worth of cocaine.

Joseph Miedzianowski, a 22-year police veteran, faces a maximum of life in 
prison after conviction on 10 counts including racketeering, conspiracy to 
sell cocaine, selling cocaine and wire fraud.

The defense said it would appeal. Four Miedzianowski associates were also 
convicted.

As a gang-crimes specialist, Miedzianowski, 48, was free to roam the city, 
developing informants. He testified that his seeming friendship with 
Imperial Gangsters and other street gang members was designed to gather 
information.

But government witnesses, mostly gang members, claimed Miedzianowski had 
secretly become part of a cocaine pipeline.

Prosecutors say Miedzianowski provided protection for pushers and gang 
members while shaking down other drug traffickers who had been caught by 
police with false promises of help with their cases in return for cash. 
They say he even provided them with guns and ammunition.

Miedzianowski attorney Randy Rueckert said more than 250 secretly recorded 
tapes in which Miedzianowski was heard discussing drugs and police business 
with gang members may have been decisive with jurors.

"It's hard to fight the tapes," he said. "But I think we gave a good 
explanation for it. ... I can't believe that they would believe those 
witnesses beyond a reasonable doubt."

Another lawyer, Tom Breen, claimed his client was a hard-nosed cop who got 
results even if he used unorthodox methods. "Give me a break, his tactics 
worked," Breen said.
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