Pubdate: Wed, 09 May 2007
Source: Robesonian, The (Lumberton, NC)
Copyright: 2007 The Robesonian
Contact:  http://www.robesonian.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1548
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/af.htm (Asset Forfeiture)

TAYLOR MADE

"More arrests are expected."

Those four simple words, which appeared in a Fayetteville Observer 
article last week on a plea agreement by former sheriff's Deputy 
Roger Taylor concerning Operation Tarnished Badge, have huge implications.

But because they were unattributed, we don't know who is saying more 
arrests are expected. We have found state and federal investigators 
incredibly tight-lipped when we have asked questions about Operation 
Tarnished Badge, so we don't know if those words are well-sourced, or 
just something a reporter or editor tossed into the middle of a story 
without carefully considering their weight.

But everything else from that day's script suggests that, yes, more 
arrests are coming, and that investigators are narrowing their focus 
on the biggest fish yet.

Taylor, C.T. Strickland and Steve Lovin were the first former 
deputies charged during this investigation and they faced charges of 
some of the most outrageous federal crimes, including arson, stealing 
drug forfeiture money and distributing drugs. Assistant U.S. Attorney 
Wes Camden said in federal court on Thursday that Taylor "conspired 
with other current and former sheriff's deputies to essentially run 
the Robeson County Sheriff's Office through a pattern of racketeering acts."

Yet Taylor was allowed to plead guilty to a single count of 
conspiracy while admitting to pirating satellite television signals 
and stealing drug forfeiture money.

That suggests that prosecutors either aren't confident that they can 
prove all the charges, or that Taylor has critical information that 
will keep the investigation moving forward. Taylor has promised to 
cooperate, and with a maximum of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine 
and three years of supervised release dangling over his head, as well 
as the possibility he could still be tried on other charges, he has 
plenty of incentive to do so.

Note also that Camden, when speaking in court, said Taylor conspired 
with "current" deputies. If Camden wasn't speaking carelessly - and 
prosecutors not named Nifong tend to watch their words in 
high-profile cases such as this one - that suggests that more arrests 
at the Sheriff's Office are forthcoming. If that happens, it further 
delays Sheriff Kenneth Sealey's efforts - see today's Page 1A story - 
to separate that office from Tarnished Badge.

Hopefully Taylor's plea indicates that momentum is building to bring 
this 45-month-old investigation to an end. But it appears before that 
before that will happen, more fish - small and perhaps large - will be fried.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman