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. - --- MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager