Pubdate: Tue, 13 Feb 2007
Source: Fayetteville Observer (NC)
Copyright: 2007 Fayetteville Observer
Contact:  http://www.fayobserver.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/150
Author: Greg Barnes
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/corrupt.htm (Corruption - United States)

FORMER ROBESON COUNTY DEPUTY PLEADS GUILTY

RALEIGH -- Former Robeson County deputy Vincent Sinclair admitted in 
court Monday that he waited for a drug dealer to leave a card game in 
2003, then duct taped the man's mouth, took him into the woods and 
beat him. Afterward, Sinclair called the man's girlfriend and had her 
drop off 2 kilograms of cocaine and $150,000 at a predetermined 
location. Sinclair then split the money with the four men who helped 
him, including another former deputy, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Sinclair, who is 44, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to a 
three-count bill of criminal information. The charges include the 
kidnapping of two Virginia men in 2004. He faces a maximum sentence 
of two life prison terms and fines exceeding $2million.

Sinclair admitted that in February 2004, he and four other men 
traveled to Virginia and kidnapped two alleged drug dealers at 
gunpoint while they stopped to refuel their van.

Sinclair thought the men were carrying about $450,000. Sinclair and 
one of the men with him wore police badges, according to a statement 
from the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Former Robeson County deputy Patrick Ferguson pleaded guilty in 
August to the Virginia kidnappings. Elisabeth Regan, a spokeswoman 
for the U.S. Attorney's Office, declined to comment on whether 
Ferguson was involved in the beating of the drug dealer in 2003.

Sinclair, Ferguson and the others ordered the men to get into their 
van and drove them to a gas station in Selma, N.C., where the men 
escaped. One of them was shot in the leg. Sinclair and the others 
fled without any money. The statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office 
said Sinclair agreed to plead guilty in exchange for his testimony 
against others involved in corruption within the Robeson County 
Sheriff's Office.

Sinclair, who is from Red Springs, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to 
possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine. He 
faces a sentence of between five and 40 years in prison, a $2 million 
fine and four years of supervised release on that charge, according 
to the U.S. Attorney's Office. He also pleaded guilty to conspiracy 
to commit kidnapping, a crime punishable by a maximum of life in 
prison and a $250,000 fine. In addition, Sinclair pleaded guilty to 
use of a firearm during a violent crime, which is punishable by 
between five years and life in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing 
will come later.

Sinclair was fired after his arrest in May 2005. He had worked with 
the Sheriff's Office for about 10 years.

The State Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service 
have led a four-year investigation into corruption within the Robeson 
County Sheriff's Office. The investigation, called Operation 
Tarnished Badge, has led to 11 convictions, including conspiracy to 
commit money laundering, conspiracy to defraud the government, 
conspiracy to commit satellite piracy, conspiracy to commit 
kidnapping, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and the 
use of a firearm during a violent crime. The investigation continues.
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