Posted on 05/09/2006 4:08:09 AM PDT by Sybeck1
Two Memphis police officers have been arrested on federal charges of buying and selling drugs and escorting dealers safely through the city on Interstate 40.
In the latest investigations, which were initiated by the Memphis Police Department, authorities say Terrance Lashun Harris, 32, made enough extra cash in drug deals to buy a Humvee, a Chevrolet Corvette, a large home in Southaven and two Dixie Queen restaurants.
He made regular bank deposits of about $15,000 a week in cash that sometimes had "an odd odor," according to court documents, and between March 2004 and September 2005 deposited $835,422.
In a separate case, officer Ted M. Williams, 43, is accused of accepting money for protecting undercover FBI agents posing as drug dealers. Officials also say that in February he allegedly stole $9,000 in drug money from a hotel room while dressed in his police uniform and under surveillance.
Harris and Williams were arrested Sunday while off duty and have been suspended without pay. On Monday, a $10,000 bond was set for Williams, but Harris, who faces more serious charges, is being held pending a detention hearing Thursday.
Public defenders were appointed for both men, who authorities say were not working together.
"The vast majority of law enforcement officers are good, hardworking and upstanding," said U.S. Atty. David Kustoff, "but if there are renegade law enforcement officers breaking the law, we're going to prosecute them."
Authorities were tipped to the two officers' alleged drug activities by jail inmates, narcotics dealers and other criminal defendants, according to court records. Confidential informants, undercover officers and audio and video surveillance recordings were used in the investigations.
Harris allegedly paid government informants thousands of dollars to buy cocaine and marijuana, which he would resell for a profit and launder the proceeds.
"I'm ready to rock and roll with it, man," Harris told an informant in February while discussing the purchase of cocaine in Texas.
Federal authorities said Williams conspired to rob drug dealers and that on Feb. 7 he entered a hotel room and took a Bud Light case containing $9,000 in cash that an informant had told him was drug money. Williams was in uniform and on surveillance videotape, the affidavit said.
In March, according to the charges, he accepted $500 from an informant after arranging to escort agents posing as drug dealers through the city on Interstate 40 to avoid stops by teams of drug interdiction law enforcement officers.
Harris is charged with attempted possession of more than five kilograms (11 pounds) of cocaine, which carries punishment of 10 years to life in prison and substantial fines. He is a nine-year veteran assigned to the Southeast Precinct.
Williams is charged with theft of government property -- purported drug money -- and faces up to 10 years in prison. He is a 12-year veteran assigned to the Traffic Enforcement Unit.
They are the 18th and 19th officers accused of wrongdoing in Operation Tarnished Blue.
The long list of fallen officers includes David Tate, who last year was sentenced to 14 years in prison for a wide array of police corruption, and Patrick Joynt, who already had been called up on disciplinary charges nearly 50 times in the past.
Joynt pleaded guilty this year to theft of government funds -- $12,000 that he and a partner thought belonged to a drug dealer. He faces up to 10 years in prison when he is sentenced next month.
-- Lawrence Buser: 529-2385
Copyright 2006, commercialappeal.com - Memphis, TN. All Rights Reserved.
Sounds like another house for sale in Southaven.
Odd, I thought seizing drug money was legal. Any money the police claim is drug money.
How did these guys pas the litaracy test to become cops in the first place. Any fool knows that placing $15,000 a week in cash in a bank sets off the pinball machine down at police headquarters. All the bells and whistles go off and the dancing girls come out.
Sounds like they didn't pay off the inmates, narcotics dealers, and other criminal defendants enough. Of course one would have hoped their chief would have noticed something a long time ago.
According to this story, depositing $15 grand a week in a bank account didn't set off alarms with our stupid federal bureaucrats. The drooling idiots in congress set up a system to flag suspicious banking activity. I can't withdraw a couple of grand without my idiot bank asking me to reveal half my life history. Where do they think this cop got the money from - panning for gold on Beale St?
In the latest investigations, which were initiated by the Memphis Police Department, authorities say Terrance Lashun Harris, 32, made enough extra cash in drug deals to buy a Humvee, a Chevrolet Corvette, a large home in Southaven and two Dixie Queen restaurants.
Well, it IS Memphis...
Not exactly known for higher education.
Well, at least they got two of the lower level criminals in Memphis. There are much larger fish to fry if the law enforcement agencies just try. If they did, many of them will go down too I bet.
"King Kong Ain't Got Nuthin' On Me!"
Is it just me, or does it seem like more news stories seem to be running "product placement" ads?
"Humvee, Chevrolet Corvette, Dixie Queen, Bud Light."
I'm sure the "Dixie Queen" is simply thrilled to have their name associated with a corrupt police officer.
Wait! You got to be kidding! Good thing this is ok in Texas. Other wise we wouldn't have a police force... : ) <<< me
"Odd, I thought seizing drug money was legal. Any money the police claim is drug money."
I was on a site the other day that caters to police officers and they were discussing how to confiscate property. One officer was asking for advice on the legality of confiscating a car that had been used in a crime but was stolen from an innocent third party. He really wanted to steal that car from the rightful owners.
"In the event that your memory doesn't serve you correctly on the above you must be able to correctly state the current day of the week or what month Santa Clause comes."
Do you have to be able to spell Santa Claus correctly?
Affirmative Action in action.
BUT NOT FOR PRIVATE USE.
Intentionally ironic... or just funny?
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