Pubdate: Fri, 06 Jan 2006
Source: Chicago Tribune (IL)
Copyright: 2006 Chicago Tribune Company
Contact:  http://www.chicagotribune.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/82
Author: Michael Higgins
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)

EX-COP GETS 24-YEAR PRISON TERM

A former Chicago police officer who claimed his post-retirement 
wealth came from luck at casino slot machines was sentenced Thursday 
to more than 24 years in prison in connection with the theft of 
cocaine from an evidence warehouse.

John L. Smith, 57, of Olympia Fields continued to assert his 
innocence at a hearing in U.S. District Court in Chicago, saying that 
successful gambling allowed him to afford a $177,000 Rolls-Royce and 
a luxurious home.

"Everyone the prosecution brought in to testify against me lied," 
said Smith, speaking in a calm, measured voice. "The entire situation 
is made up by the prosecution because of my [gambling] lifestyle. ... 
I learned how to win."

But U.S. District Judge Elaine Bucklo said Smith's statements showed 
only that he had no remorse. Instead of apologizing, Smith "asks me 
to ignore all the evidence ... [and] accuses the government of 
changing the evidence," Bucklo said.

In 2001, Chicago police discovered more than 20 kilograms of cocaine 
missing from what all sides agreed was a badly mismanaged evidence 
warehouse in the basement of the Cook County Criminal Courts 
Building. Smith, a 23-year police veteran, had worked there for years 
before retiring in 1999.

In 2004, a federal jury convicted Smith of narcotics conspiracy, 
money laundering and three counts each of tax evasion and filing 
false tax returns in connection with the theft of the drugs.

"He made easily in excess of $1 million," Assistant U.S. Atty. 
Christopher Niewoehner said Thursday in court. "That's because he 
paid nothing for his drugs. So everything was pure profit."

Niewoehner asked Bucklo to sentence Smith to at least 24 years and 4 
months, which was the sentence she imposed.

Smith's defense lawyer, George Pappas, urged Bucklo to sentence Smith 
to the minimum possible sentence of 10 years. Pappas said Smith was a 
Vietnam veteran, had been a good police officer and deserved a chance 
to someday be released from prison.

Niewoehner said Smith and his wife together made more than $100,000 a 
year, but that Smith stole to finance a lifestyle that included the 
Rolls-Royce, a 1995 Mustang convertible, a Chicago apartment 
building, fur coats and jewelry.

"It's pure greed," Niewoehner said.
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