3 more thugs with guns caught breaking the law. Cops robbed drug dealers: police.
When Carol Stream police discovered nearly 10 ounces of cocaine in an apartment storage locker early this month, the alleged owner of the drugs had a story to tell.
He said that after serving as an informant for three Schaumburg tactical police officers, he had become their business partner. The cops, he said, stole cash and narcotics from drug dealers. The informant peddled the dope they seized.
That claim led the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration to mount a sting operation against the Schaumburg officers. When it allegedly bore fruit, federal agents pounced, arresting the men Wednesday outside of Woodfield Mall.
The officers now face a barrage of felony charges that could land them in prison for decades. It’s the second recent blot on the Schaumburg Police Department’s reputation: Chief Brian Howerton was recently investigated on allegations he harassed his ex-girlfriend, though prosecutors declined to press charges.
Now village officials are left grasping for answers at how this case of alleged corruption could take place in their town.
“I think that this is going to leave a mark on the department,” Village Manager Ken Fritz said Thursday after the charges against the officers were outlined at a bond hearing. “It’s sad for those people that have to carry on in the future and it’s going to take us a long time to earn back some of the trust of the community.”
DuPage County Assistant State’s Attorney Audriana Anderson said in court that the roots of the alleged conspiracy stretch back to 2010, when officer Matthew Hudak arrested a man on drug charges and convinced him to become an informant.
But that relationship changed in mid-2012, Anderson said, when Hudak and his colleagues John Cichy and Terrance O’Brien — all tactical officers in Schaumburg’s special investigations division, which handles drugs, gangs and undercover work — approached the informant with a new deal in mind: They wanted him to buy and sell drugs on their behalf.
Marijuana, cocaine and thousands of dollars repeatedly exchanged hands, prosecutors said. Hudak allegedly funded one buy with $14,000 in cash; he allegedly gave his share of marijuana to another drug dealer to sell.
Other times, prosecutors said, the officers gave the informant a portion of the narcotics they had recovered in legitimate busts. He allegedly sold it for them and split the profits.
Hudak, 29, tried to keep an eye on his partner, Anderson said, by illegally using a law enforcement computer system to check whether the informant had been in contact with other police agencies.
The officers allegedly stashed 6 pounds of marijuana at the Hoffman Estates home of Nicole Brehm, 44, who prosecutors said was O’Brien’s longtime girlfriend and the mother of one of his children. O’Brien, 46, who has been a police officer for 20 years, is married and has four other children with his wife, prosecutors said.
A woman at O’Brien’s northwest suburban home declined comment to a Tribune reporter Thursday.
The scheme went on for six to nine months, prosecutors said, until Carol Stream police, acting on an unrelated tip, got a search warrant for the informant’s apartment. Once they found the drugs, the informant told them about his relationship with the Schaumburg police officers, prosecutors said.
That led to DEA surveillance, in which allegedly illegal exchanges were secretly recorded, and finally a sting operation.
Prosecutors said the informant told the officers that an out-of-state associate was coming into town, and they decided to rip him off. On Saturday, prosecutors said, the officers went to a Roselle storage unit where they believed the dealer had stashed $20,000.
Audio and video equipment captured what happened next, prosecutors said: The officers, wearing masks, broke in and took the cash. Then they brought the money back. Then they returned one more time and retrieved it. Cichy was caught on video lifting his mask, prosecutors said.
On Wednesday, federal agents arrested the officers in a parking lot outside of Woodfield Mall and executed 20 search warrants at the police station, the officers’ homes and their cars. They found $10,000 of the bait money in Hudak’s home and $5,000 each with Cichy and O’Brien, authorities said.
“Everything you have on tape, I did. You got me on that,” Anderson quoted Hudak as telling authorities.
O’Brien told investigators that the trio committed the crimes “for the thrill of it,” Anderson said.
The men answered a few perfunctory questions in bond court. Only Cichy, 30, showed any sign of emotion.
He choked back tears, buried his head in his hands and repeatedly shook his head as prosecutors detailed the allegations and possible prison terms. Cichy’s girlfriend, mother and aunt sat quietly in the back row of the courtroom gallery as the men were ordered held on $750,000 cash bond.
The two most serious charges the men face — unlawful delivery of a controlled substance and calculated criminal drug conspiracy — carry a prison term of up to 40 years.
Brehm, O’Brien’s girlfriend, was charged with calculated criminal drug conspiracy for allegedly letting the officers use her house to stash drugs.
Thomas Glasgow, Hudak’s attorney, said his client had been set up by a “snitch” who was trying to wriggle out of trouble. Narcotics officers often make deals with “little fish” to zero in on bigger criminals, he said.
“In order to collar the bad guys, you’ve got to act like the bad guys,” Glasgow said.
The offices of the Cook County state’s attorney and public defender are looking at cases in which the officers were involved to determine whether any have been compromised. Criminal defense experts said some prosecutions could be tainted because of questions about the officers’ credibility and their unavailability to testify.
A 1998 federal report on drug-related police corruption found that insufficiently supervised narcotics bureaus could be “high-risk environments” for illegal activity.
Howerton, Schaumburg’s police chief, said he felt there was sufficient oversight of his department’s special investigations unit.
“We believe this is the actions of three individuals, not a pervasive situation within the department,” he said.
Freelance reporters Clifford Ward, George Houde and Amanda Marrazzo and Tribune reporter Jonathan Bullington contributed.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-schaumburg-police-arrested-0118-20130118,0,2874260 ,full.story
Submitted via CopBlock.org’s submission tab.
Off the street is good enough…
its common sense finally getting busted
Could it be common sense, t., and psosgt finally got busted? ROFL! Nah, they are too busy camping the comments section of Cop Block.
Welcome to “General Population” mates. Here is your jar of Vaseline,
enjoy!…………..
Good. But were the heck is Schaumburg?
Of course, had it been ‘joe citizen’ then they would be poor victims of the war on drugs. Such is life.
Of course, police officers with pistols and badges that are sworn to uphold the law, as well as protect and serve the community, should be held to a higher standard than the general population, as their criminal actions and flagrant conspiracy are a blatant violation of the public trust. Such is life.
POLICE OFFICER RAPES A THREE MONTH OLD INFANT AND A ONE YEAR OLD CHILD!
When you see common sense, t., underoath, psosgt and all the other shills spew their boot-licking propaganda here on Cop Block, remember, THIS IS WHAT THEY STAND FOR, AND THIS IS WHAT THEY DEFEND!
Wichita KS police officer Officer Joseph T. McGill, 28, was convicted today of committing a sexual act on a 3-month-old child and a 1-year-old child. Officer McGill pleaded guilty in January 2012 in an unrelated case to sexual battery while on duty as a police officer and was sentenced to three years probation. Those charges stemmed from separate incidents in November 2010 and February 2011. The judge set sentencing for March 1:
http://www.kansas.com/2013/01/24/2649372/former-police-officer-convicted.html
Just like the rest of the shit head druggies…I hope they get prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
underoath:
But it is your employer that created this war on drugs :).
Glenn:
That is just fucked up. I made a comment in another article, they are all insane. Goes to show, and their employers gave them 3 years probation. WTF? And yes, just think about all the “leo’s” that get away with shit like this, let me ask, what the fuck are the judges doing? Not their job, I guarantee that, exhibit A: Officer Joseph T. McGill, rapes 3-month-old child and a 1-year-old child, gets 3 years probation.
This judge is incompetent.
The judges, leo’s, prosecutors, all the the bastards are insane and sick in the head. “oh he is/was officer of the law, you’re free to go”
I am with you on this Glenn, it is unbelievable.
i firmly believe cops that get caught should recieve double the sentence since they are the ones that are to uphold the law. lock the fucks up and throw the key away . they should not be afforded bail due to the danger of what they could do to others in order to cover themselves. the police chief should be fired along with all who belong in that unit to clean out the bad roaches.
T.,
Schaumburg is roughly 20 miles from downtown Chicago. I happen to live near the “village” of schaumburg. It ain’t a village, lol, there are fucking skyscrappers and a giant mall, pop. 250,000+. Those are not the only stories of these corrupt fucks with badges that have betrayed the public trust. Got some good stories for you.
CULPEPER COUNTY, Va.Jan 30 2013- A former Culpeper police officer was found guilty voluntary manslaughter in a Culpeper County courthouse on Tuesday.
The jury found Daniel Harmon-Wright, accused of killing an unarmed Patricia Ann Cook, 54, not guilty of first and second degree murder.
Harmon-Wright was charged with murder in connection with the Feb. 9, 2012, shooting death of Cook.
He also is found guilty with malicious shooting into an occupied vehicle and several other charges.
Harmon-Wright faces up to 25 years in prison for the three convictions. Sentencing is expected later this week.
LIMESTONE COUNTY, AL Jan 30 2013 A Madison Police officer has been placed on administrative leave after sex abuse allegations.
Limestone County Sheriff’s Office received allegations of possible misconduct between Madison Police officer William Watson and one of his family members.
Madison Police said Watson will be charged with first degree sexual abuse and booked into the Limestone County Jail.
Madison Police Department is conducting an investigation. Watson will remain on administrative leave pending the outcome of the internal inquiry.
Late Wednesday night, Watson’s home on Burgreen Road was damaged by a fire. The cause of the fire is unknown. No one was at home at the time of the fire and no injuries were reported.
According to authorities, Watson is in Huntsville Hospital for an undisclosed reason and he will be arrested as soon as he is released.
Neighbors who live along Burgreen Road said Watson was a good neighbor and the allegations against him are shocking.
Officials with the Limestone Sheriff’s Office said they will release more information on the case Friday morning.
WASHINGTON DC Jan 30 2013—A federal grand jury today indicted a former Town Creek, Alabama Police officer for violating an individual’s civil rights during the course of an arrest, announced Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division Thomas E. Perez, U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance, and FBI Special Agent in Charge Richard D. Schwein, Jr.
The indictment charges Brandon Shane Mundy, 32, of Oxford, Alabama, with striking a man with a dangerous weapon and causing bodily injury during the man’s November 2009 arrest in a northern Alabama town. Mundy’s action deprived the man, identified as J.T., of the constitutional right to be free from the use of unreasonable force by someone acting under the color of law, according to the indictment.
If convicted, Mundy could face a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The FBI is investigating the case, and it is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Holt and Justice Department Civil Rights Division Trial Attorney Daniel H. Weiss
ELKTON, Ky. Jan 27 2013 (AP) – Kentucky State Police have charged an Elkton city police officer with drug offenses.
The KSP said the agency got information Thursday that an Elkton officer tried to buy narcotics while on duty. An undercover investigation was conducted and Officer Russell Morris was arrested and charged with drug violations, enhanced by having a gun, and official misconduct. The drug wasn’t specified.
Morris was booked into the Muhlenberg County Detention Center
This is just a couple of stories circulating the internet in the last couple of days. I chose these articles because they are small and easy reads for you buddy. There are literally hundreds of new cases of pigs being arrested for crimes, being indicted, investigated, or imprisoned LOL, you name it just in the last couple days. Law enforcement is a joke and your shit is coming back at you in a big way. You should be proud though, you can associate yourself with these type’s of so called “men”. How can you not see that the system your a part of is failing the people. I feel sorry for you man. I go to work and know that I have done something productive for society. You go to work and have to manipulate and justify a reason for your existence. Isn’t that hard on your confidence, disposition and integrity? Don’t you have remorse that the profession you have chosen is morally bankrupt. Do you have to beguile yourself into thinking that what your doing is actually helpful in a society that now longer finds use for your ideals. I even found some stories that the main stream media is talking about ways to reform law enforcement, just recently! Hell, even the new Batman movie is about police corruption and changing it. It’s all over the place you can’t hide behind the badge anymore buddy. I’ll give it to you guys, you sure fight hard to not change. I only hope that when change comes that it is not for the worse, how about you? I would hate to see a lot of dead cops laying around. Sad man. Real sad.
Anonymous,
Agree with you that the war on drugs was a manufactured grab at revenue generation. Sad thing is that the victims of this injustice affects the idiots who enforce such nonsense and are having to pay the price along with the taxpayer for crimes with no victims. Stupidity in finest hour, LOL.
Glen, Steve, Anon, CSTF, Badge, and all you copblockers are honorable and should hold your head high with your chests out with pride. These fools like Common Sense, T., Oath, and the rest of the copsuckers have to have a reason for there existence and are constantly making excuses for evil. Film, expose and watch the one’s who say they watching us. They are losing this battle of popular thought and reasoning and they know it! Why else would they bother with a bunch like minded individuals who know them for what they are!
Anon,
You are right that not just the cops but the judges and prosecutors are just as complacent and should be held to the fire.
Glen,
This is for you buddy. This cop is a sick fuck!
Wichita KS police officer Officer Joseph T. McGill, 28, was convicted today of committing a sexual act on a 3-month-old child and a 1-year-old child. Officer McGill pleaded guilty in January 2012 in an unrelated case to sexual battery while on duty as a police officer and was sentenced to three years probation. Those charges stemmed from separate incidents in November 2010 and February 2011. The judge set sentencing for March 1:
http://www.kansas.com/2013/01/24/2649372/former-police-officer-convicted.html
Quite frankly I’m impressed. At least they made a serious effort to get these scumbags off the street, and succeeded. Any time you have a “company” that has hundreds of thousands of employees like the US police force does, you are going to have bad actors. Please don’t roast me because you think I’m defending them, I’m not, trust me. But making the effort to bust them is much better than the local DA making an effort to exonerate them.
This is an outrage that the bond was lowered for these scumbags. The cop starts crying in court and the judge lowers his bond? What is that crap? Did anyone see the news and he is caught smirking on camera leaving the court room. These scumbags thought they were above the law, and were caught. Now it seems they are recieving special treatment. These is a sad day for the judicial system.
Devil: nice list. Oh, who in estivated and arrested all of those guys? I’ll wait…… …… ……. …….
Three little piggies went to the market. It was years before the three little piggies came home. The wolf that was dressed in sheep’s clothing got them busted.
Hmm, still waiting to hear who it was that investigated and then arrested them………..
??
OK, I’ll just give you the answer. It was the police.