Pubdate: Tue, 30 Jun 2009
Source: SouthtownStar (Tinley Park, IL)
Copyright: 2009 Digital Chicago, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.southtownstar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4719
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/corrupt.htm (Corruption - United States)

EX-COP GETS 11 YEARS IN PRISON

An ex-Chicago police officer was sentenced today to almost 11 years 
in for robbing drug dealers -- a case that prompted the judge to 
declare he's tired of the growing pace of wrongdoing by cops.

"In this city, it seems to me we are bombarded by stories and cases 
and prosecutions of police misconduct," said U.S. District Judge 
Robert Gettleman, who imposed the sentence on Richard Doroniuk.

"It's been accelerating . . . It's very discouraging."

Last week, Chicago cop Anthony Abbate was sentenced to 18 months 
probation by a Cook County judge for pummeling a much smaller female 
bartender while he was drunk, in a caught-on-video beating that drew 
national attention.

Earlier this month, ex-Chicago cop William Cozzi was sentenced in 
federal court to three years in prison for the 2005 videotaped 
beating of a 60-year-old man who was handcuffed and shackled to a wheelchair.

The 131-month sentence imposed today by Gettleman actually was a 
break for Doroniuk, who pleaded guilty to racketeering and bribery, 
and testified against another police officer. Without a plea deal 
that saw prosecutors drop a civil rights charge, he could have faced 
30 years in prison.

"I'm sorry for what I did," the tanned, 33-year-old Doroniuk said in 
court. "I regret it."

Doroniuk -- who at one point launched a porn-making enterprise from 
his apartment -- testified against his onetime cohort, ex-officer 
Mahmoud "Mike" Shamah, who was convicted and is to be sentenced Thursday.

Doroniuk testified he and Shamah stole money and split it after 
executing search warrants and making traffic stops in 2005 and 2006. 
Both Doroniuk and Shamah were caught on wiretapped calls talking 
about splitting up proceeds of ripoffs.

In asking for the judge to uphold the sentencing deal, Doroniuk's 
lawyer, Robert Clarke, said his client had suffered hardship 
following the recent death of his fiance. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake