Pubdate: Sat, 09 Feb 2002
Source: Providence Journal, The (RI)
Copyright: 2002 The Providence Journal Company
Contact:  http://www.projo.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/352
Author: Scott Mayerowitz
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/corrupt.htm (Corruption)

DETECTIVE GETS 24 YEARS IN DRUG-RING CASE

A Federal Judge Gives Former Tiverton Officer William A. Sedoma Sr.
The Maximum Sentence, Calling His Role As A Lookout For A Drug Ring An
"Egregious Breach Of Trust."

BOSTON -- Former Tiverton Detective Sgt. William A. Sedoma Sr.
received the maximum sentence allowed by federal guidelines yesterday
- - 24 years and five months in jail - for acting as the lookout for a
Tiverton-Fall River drug ring.

While imposing the sentence in U.S. District Court, Judge Robert E.
Keeton said that Sedoma's actions were an "egregious breach of trust."

Sedoma, 44, was convicted by a jury nearly a year ago, on Feb. 23, of
13 counts in connection with tipping off the drug ring -- headed by
Alan Theberge, 37, of 156 Statler Ave., Somerset -- to undercover
police operations. As part of a plea agreement in January 2001,
Theberge pleaded guilty to 19 counts, including mail fraud, conspiring
to possess marijuana with intent to deliver, and money laundering.

During Sedoma's 21-day trial, the government said he helped the
dealers from January 1996 to February 1998 by running license-plate
and criminal-history checks, providing one of them -- a previously
convicted felon -- with a handgun, warning them when law-enforcement
officers intercepted drug shipments, and alerting Theberge when one of
his cocaine customers was cooperating with federal
authorities.

In exchange for his help, Sedoma received money, jewelry, drugs,
tanning at a drug-ring salon and drinks at a Tiverton nightclub owned
by Theberge.

"Let the sentence of William Sedoma be an example to any police
officer," Tiverton Police Chief George Arruda said after the hearing.
"When you get caught -- and you will get caught -- you will pay for
the betrayal."

Sedoma's lawyer, Leslie Feldman-Rumpler, argued at the hearing that
several of the government's witnesses -- Theberge and other drug
dealers who entered plea agreements for shorter sentences -- had large
incentives to lie and that Keeton should discredit some testimony
regarding Sedoma's involvement and knowledge of drug organization's
activities.

Judge Keeton overruled her objections, saying that the testimony was
credible.

Feldman-Rumpler then asked Keeton to take into account Sedoma's 18
years as a police officer and to downgrade his offense level, which is
used to determine a sentence.

"The defendant before you is convicted of a very serious crime," she
said, "but it does not throw away all the good work he did
previously."

Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily R. Schulman responded, "The defendant is
the one who violated that trust as a police officer and put his fellow
officers on the line."

Keeton denied the request to reduce the offense level.

Feldman-Rumpler then asked that Keeton consider the low end of the
sentencing range -- 19 years and seven months. Schulman asked for the
highest possible sentence under the guidelines, and Keeton agreed,
saying it was "appropriate to sentence at the maximum end of the
guideline range in light of the extraordinarily serious corruption of
public trust."

Sedoma chose not to speak during the hearing. Later, when Keeton asked
- - as part of the sentencing procedure - if he wanted to appeal the
sentence, Sedoma said yes.

For the charge of conspiracy to possess marijuana with the intent to
distribute, Keeton sentenced Sedoma to the 24 years and five months in
jail, followed by four years of supervised release, and a $10,000 fine.

For each of the other 12 charges -- 10 counts of mail fraud, 1 count
of wire fraud and 1 count of conspiring to defraud the State of Rhode
Island, its taxpayers and the Tiverton Police Department of its right
to his fair and honest services as a police officer -- Keeton
sentenced Sedoma to five years in prison, to be served concurrently
with the other terms. Sedoma also has to pay a special assessment of
$100 for each of the 13 charges.

"The shameful conduct of this former police detective not only
jeopardized the public's safety, for which he was sworn to uphold, but
also put at risk the life of a fellow officer," U.S. Attorney Michael
J. Sullivan said in a news release. "The work of a police officer is a
very noble and honorable calling, but William Sedoma dishonored the
fine tradition of law enforcement with his disgraceful conduct."

If Sedoma receives credit for good behavior, he may only have to serve
85 percent of his sentence, about 20 years and nine months. In any
event, he will receive credit for the nearly 12 months he has served
at the Plymouth County Correctional Facility in Plymouth, Mass., since
his conviction.

As Sedoma was led out of the courtroom in handcuffs, more than a dozen
friends and family members -- including his wife and ex-wife -- waved
to him, some with tears starting to form, and said good-bye.
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