Pubdate: Tue, 22 Apr 2003
Source: Clarion-Ledger, The (MS)
Copyright: 2003 The Clarion-Ledger
Contact: http://www.clarionledger.com/about/letters.html
Website: http://www.clarionledger.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/805
Author: Gregg Mayer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/corrupt.htm (Corruption - United States)

EX-JPD SERGEANT'S SENTENCING SET FOR JULY

A former Jackson police sergeant, whose cooperation with the FBI led to the 
convictions of four fellow officers on corruption charges, will be 
sentenced in July.

Ronald Youngblood, a 13-year JPD veteran before resigning in 2000, has 
pleaded guilty to one count of concealing a felony. He faces up to three 
years in prison.

U.S. District Judge William Barbour will sentence Youngblood at 9 a.m. July 
18. A spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney's office wouldn't say Monday if 
there was a plea arrangement for how many years Youngblood will be 
recommended to serve.

Youngblood's plea is the last of the cases from a 15-month FBI sting 
involving JPD officers, according to the U.S. attorney's office. Six 
officers, including Youngblood, were indicted in 2000 on charges of taking 
cash to protect cocaine traffickers.

Youngblood had approached other officers to become involved in the scheme, 
according to testimony.

Youngblood couldn't be reached for comment. His attorney, Cynthia Stewart, 
was out of town Monday and could not be reached for comment.

Because of Youngblood's cooperation, former JPD Sgt. Fredrick Gaddis was 
sentenced to eight years in federal prison after pleading guilty in 
February 2002. Gaddis was convicted of taking $1,000 to protect a shipment 
of 22 pounds of cocaine agents set up March 16, 2000, and another $1,000 to 
protect a 22-pound shipment on June 2, 2000.

After sentencing, Gaddis said, "There is a hell for Youngblood. ... He has 
demons to deal with."

Youngblood's testimony in February 2001 helped secure a conviction for 
former Detective Stanley Butler's taking two $200 payments on Feb. 7 and 
14, 2000.

Butler has served his one year in federal prison and has been released, 
according to Robert McDuff, one of his attorneys. Butler had no comment 
when reached Monday.

Tim Henderson, a 17-year patrolman, and Nate Thomas, an eight-year officer, 
also pleaded guilty. Henderson is serving an eight-year sentence at the 
Federal Prison Camp in Atlanta. He pleaded guilty to taking $500 on May 3, 
2000, and June 6, 2000, for protecting an 11-pound shipment of cocaine. 
Thomas served four months in federal prison in Beaumont, Texas, and then 
five months of home confinement. He pleaded guilty to accepting $1,200 
between Aug. 24-Oct. 12, 1999.

Charges against Joe Wade, a 23-year officer who later resigned, were dismissed.
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