Pubdate: Sat, 10 Jun 2006
Source: Fayetteville Observer (NC)
Copyright: 2006 Fayetteville Observer
Contact:  http://www.fayettevillenc.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/150
Author: Venita Jenkins
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/corrupt.htm (Corruption - United States)

EX-ROBESON DEPUTIES ARRESTED

LUMBERTON - Three former Robeson County deputies were arrested Friday
morning on racketeering and theft charges.

They are Roger Hugh Taylor, 39, Charles Thomas Strickland, 39, and
Steven Ray Lovin, 36, all of Lumberton. They were taken into custody
at their homes between 6:30 and 7:30 a.m. by agents with the SBI and
the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division and the
Highway Patrol. The former lawmen, who are in custody, appeared in
U.S. District Court in Raleigh on Friday afternoon. A detention
hearing is set for early next week. The men were members of the
Sheriff's Office Drug Enforcement Division. They had 12 to 14 years
with the Sheriff's Office.

Each faces one count of racketeering; one count of conspiracy to
commit racketeering; six counts of theft from programs receiving
federal money; and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.

If they are found guilty, they could receive sentences of 10 years to
life for racketeering, 10 years on each charge of theft from programs
receiving federal money, and 20 years for conspiracy to launder money.
Their arrests were part of a 3-year investigation called Operation
Tarnished Badge. U.S. Attorney Frank Whitney of the Eastern District
of the U.S. Attorney's Office held a news conference at the Holiday
Inn in Lumberton to announce the arrests.

The men were indicted on the federal charges Wednesday, Whitney said.
The indictment says that from 1995 to 2004, the men were involved in
illegal acts that included arson of two homes and a business, assault,
theft of public money, distribution of drugs and money laundering.
"These illegal activities financially enriched the three defendants
and increased their power and influence within the community," Whitney
said. The indictment also says the former lawmen used marijuana as
payment for committing arson, bought a Harley-Davidson motorcycle with
money from illegal activity and provided drugs to confidential
informants who worked with the Drug Enforcement Division.

The men also are accused of stealing money during six highway stops on
Interstate 95. Thousands of dollars were seized during those stops,
Whitney said, but he would not give a total amount.

Lovin is accused of fraudulently obtaining federal money and
intentionally conspiring to commit money laundering with proceeds of
illegal activity. IRS agents searched Lovin's home and towing business
Friday morning and seized a 2002 Harley-Davidson and a 2002 Ford F-250
pickup. "Today we must announce and condemn the sad fact that certain
law officers are allegedly the law breakers," said N.C. Attorney
General Roy Cooper, who attended the news conference.

"This investigation will stop the series of alleged crimes that
corrupted the very people sworn to enforce the law. We believe these
arrest along with arrests that may follow will help return the trust
the community has in its true law enforcement." The case is still
under investigation, Whitney said. Sheriff's request Former Sheriff
Glenn Maynor requested the investigation in 2003 after allegations
surfaced about misappropriation of money seized by lawmen in the Drug
Enforcement Division. Maynor made the request several months after
Strickland's suspension. Strickland, who headed the drug investigation
division, resigned in June 2003 after his credibility as an officer
was questioned.

In September 2002, Superior Court Judge Gregory Weeks threw out
evidence in a drug case after learning that Strickland had falsified
information to obtain a search warrant. Weeks ruled that Strickland
knowingly provided false information to a magistrate to obtain the
warrant. Strickland's law enforcement certification was later revoked.

Agents searched the Drug Enforcement Division's office in March 2005
and seized documents and computers. Lovin and others were reassigned
after the search. Lovin left the Sheriff's Office in July 2005. Taylor
was placed on leave in late 2003 after being charged with conspiracy
and obstruction of justice in September 2003. His position was later
filled. He is accused of allowing a convicted felon to carry a weapon
during a sting operation and then trying to impede an SBI
investigation into the incident. That case is pending.

Between 200 and 300 cases involving 50 to 70 people were dismissed
because of the deputies, said District Attorney Johnson Britt. There
is one case in which an individual was convicted and served time, he
said. "That individual was wrongfully convicted. At the appropriate
time, we will ask the judge to vacate the sentence in that case," he
said. "Obviously this is a black eye on local law enforcement, but let
me emphasize this is not a reflection of all the people who work in
law enforcement in this county," Britt said. "There are far, far more
good honest police officers than there are alleged bad ones."
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