Newsbrief:
This
Week's
Corrupt
Cops
Story
5/28/04
Greedy, greedy, greedy. The allure of easy riches continues to prove too much for some of our men in blue. There have been two corrupt cop cases in the news this week. Based solely on the weights of the dope involved, runner-up honors go to Malden, Massachusetts, police detective David Jordan, who was one of four men arrested May 20 for possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. Jordan and Jon Minotti, Anthony Bucci, and Francis Muolo were also charged with conspiracy to possess more than 500 grams with the intent to distribute. According to a statement issued by US Attorney Michael Sullivan, Jordan and his trio of buddies had hatched a scheme to disguise a drug deal rip-off as a bust. According to an affidavit filed with the court, "On December 24, 2003, Minotti, Bucci, Muolo, and Jordan conspired to steal three kilograms of cocaine from a scheduled drug deal. It is alleged that Minotti made arrangements for a supplier to bring three kilograms of cocaine to a meeting at the Malden Medical Center parking lot where Bucci was to purchase the cocaine. It is alleged that shortly after the supplier arrived with the cocaine, Jordan, a detective with the Malden Police Department, arrived on the scene, blocking the supplier's vehicle with his own." The affidavit continued: "Jordan identified himself as a police officer and then Minotti fled into nearby woods with the three kilograms of cocaine. It is alleged that Jordan then allowed the supplier and Bucci to leave the scene. It is alleged that, as had been previously arranged, Muolo, who had been waiting in his car on the other side of the nearby woods, picked up Minotti after he had run through the woods with the cocaine." A pretty nifty scheme, indeed. But there was a problem, according to the affidavit. "At the time, DEA agents were involved in a drug investigation and had a wiretap on the drug supplier's telephone. As part of the separate investigation, the DEA agents were surveilling the supplier and observed the incident." A DEA investigation ensued, and now, Jordan and his buddies are in jail facing mandatory minimum five-year prison sentences and a maximum of 40 years. But Detective Jordan's exploit doesn't compare with the efforts of former Chicago police officer Mario Morales, who this week was sentenced to 24 years in prison for stealing more than 200 pounds of marijuana from one dealer, attempting to rip-off three other dealers, and abusing a baby in the process. Morales pleaded guilty in January to racketeering conspiracy and brandishing a firearm charges for the series of incidents. In one of them, Morales stole more than 220 pounds of pot and $10,000 in cash from a Latin Kings gang leader in May 2001. A month later, Morales and a codefendant tried to steal more drugs and money from the man's girlfriend, only to leave her handcuffed with her baby on her lap when they didn't find anything. In a third robbery attempt, Morales and another codefendant tried to kidnap another drug dealer, but the man struggled and fled. Morales admitted that he flashed his police badge and brandished his weapon during that incident, automatically adding another eight years to his sentence. Morales' attorney pleaded for mercy, saying his client had been an alcoholic, steroid abuser, and was strung out on pain pills.
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