Pubdate: Wed, 24 Nov 2004 Source: Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN) Copyright: 2004 The Commercial Appeal Contact: http://www.commercialappeal.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/95 Author: Sherri Drake Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/corrupt.htm (Corruption - United States) EX-POLICE PROPERTY BOSS GETS 10 YEARS FOR STEALING 'Just Gave In' To Theft Of $1 Million, Cocaine A former Memphis police property room boss told a judge he's sorry he ripped off more than $1 million cash and 150 kilos of cocaine while he worked there. "I gave in. I just gave in," Kenneth Dansberry said Tuesday in federal court. U.S. Dist. Judge Bernice Donald sentenced Dansberry to 10 years in prison for turning the property room into what she called a "drug distribution hub." From 2000 through Sept. 24, 2003, Dansberry, a 21-year MPD employee, stole cocaine and marijuana and sold it to Patrick Maxwell, an Atlanta drug dealer and former property room employee. More than $2 million worth of cocaine, 560 pounds of marijuana, 66 guns and a small fortune in cash vanished from the police property and evidence room between 2000 and 2003, a state audit found. Dansberry, 42, stole so much cash that it grew mold in his home because he couldn't spend it fast enough. He bought a Cordova home and luxury cars with drug money. He pleaded guilty in January to numerous drug conspiracy and money-laundering charges. The penalty was nearly 30 years in prison, but Dansberry's sentence was reduced by a third for snitching on cohorts and helping trap Maxwell in taped conversations. Since last fall, 16 people -- including city workers and accused drug dealers -- have been indicted in connection with the theft of money, drugs and anything else in the property room that wasn't nailed down. Former property room supervisors Alnita Campbell and Jacqueline Layrock, who've pleaded guilty to money laundering, testified that Dansberry gave them paper bags full of cash -- up to $60,000 each. He later asked each of them to steal up to $18,000 from the property room, they said. "I just trusted him," Campbell said. "I didn't ask anything." Dr. John Hutson, Dansberry's psychologist, testified he has pent-up frustration from not being promoted to top boss in the property room. Dansberry's family cried in court Tuesday when he spoke. "I'm sorry," he told the judge. "I have no reason to explain it. ... I ask the court to give me another chance in life." Dansberry is scheduled to report to prison in March 2005. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin