Pubdate: Sat, 01 Feb 2003
Source: Chicago Tribune (IL)
Copyright: 2003 Chicago Tribune Company
Contact:  http://www.chicagotribune.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/82
Author: Todd Lighty
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/corrupt.htm (Corruption - United States)

ROGUE COP'S ALLY GETS 5 YEARS

Lenient Sentence Reflects Help In Investigations

A gang member whose extensive talks with the FBI prompted corrupt former 
Chicago Police Officer Joseph Miedzianowski to refer to him as the "Mouth 
of the South" was sentenced Friday to 5 years in prison for his role in the 
ex-cop's drug ring.

U.S. District Judge Blanche Manning accepted the prosecution's 
recommendation that Frederick Rock receive a lenient sentence instead of a 
possible 9-year term because of his cooperation in the case against 
Miedzianowski and in two other FBI investigations.

Manning last week sentenced Miedzianowski to life in prison for running a 
Miami-to-Chicago drug ring out of the Chicago Police Department's gang 
crimes unit.

Miedzianowski, 49, a former gang crimes specialist, was convicted of 
racketeering and drug conspiracy. He was accused of supplying gang members 
with guns and ammunition, identifying undercover officers to gang leaders, 
shaking down drug dealers, torturing suspects, and distributing crack cocaine.

In a recent jailhouse interview, Miedzianowski criticized Rock's 
cooperation with federal authorities, calling Rock the "Mouth of the South."

Rock, 34, a member of the Maniac Latin Disciples, was a key player in 
Miedzianowski's drug organization.

With time off for good behavior, Rock could be released from prison in April.

Assistant U.S. Atty. Brian Netols, lead prosecutor in the case, said Rock 
cooperated with federal authorities "from the very second he was arrested," 
in December 1998.

Netols said Rock also cooperated against: Robert A. Burke, who was 
convicted of lying to a grand jury when he denied giving a handcuff key to 
an inmate who killed two officers during a 1992 escape attempt from 
Chicago's federal courthouse; and three police officers indicted Monday on 
drug conspiracy charges.

One of the officers, James Benson, pleaded guilty and resigned from the force.

Netols disclosed in court that the government has a secretly taped phone 
conversation in which Rock reportedly tells Miedzianowski about his 
dealings with Woodall.
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager