Law
Enforcement:
This
Week's
Corrupt
Cops
Stories
1/13/06
Another pair of drug-dealing prison guards, a drug-dealing small-town cop, a drug-dealing big city cop, and a really big time, big city drug-dealing cop make the news this week. Just another week of the same old same old. Let's get to it: In Missoula, Montana, a former guard at the Montana State Prison pleaded was charged January 3 with attempted possession of marijuana, heroin, and methamphetamine with the intent to distribute and with being a drug user in possession of a firearm. Michael Short, 50, a five-year veteran guard, was indicted on federal charges that he tried to buy and distribute a quarter-pound of pot, a half-ounce of meth, and two grams of heroin while employed at the prison in Deer Lodge. While federal prosecutors would not say the drugs were destined for the prison, Warden Mike Mahoney told the Missoulian that the investigation leading to Short's arrest began within the prison. Short resigned from his post in July. Although he faces 30 years in prison, he was released "under supervision." In Greenville, South Carolina, prison guard Leon Rhodes was arrested January after being busted with "a quantity of green plant material in excess of 28 grams which tested positive as marijuana," according to his arrest warrant. He faces four counts: possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute, conspiracy to distribute, distribution, and furnishing contraband to prisoners. He was nailed after a joint investigation by the State Law Enforcement Division and the South Carolina Department of Corrections. The Perry State Prison guard currently resides at the Greenville County Detention Center. In Bunkie, Louisiana, city police officer Bryan Bordelon, 27, has been jailed without bail since January 6 after state police seized approximately $10,000 worth of drugs at his residence. Bordelon went down after the town police chief and mayor asked the state police to look into allegations of misconduct against Bordelon and another, unnamed officer involving a juvenile. He is charged with possession of narcotics with the intent to distribute, illegal possession of a stolen firearm, and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. In Buffalo, former Narcotics Detective Rene Gil is heading to federal prison for 21 on cocaine distribution charges for being part of a family drug-dealing operation. Although he faced up to 20 years, Gil got a sweet deal for ratting out two other corrupt narcs who were later convicted of planting evidence and stealing from drug suspects. In Chicago, former Chicago Police Officer John Smith was sentenced to 24 years in federal prison January 5 for stealing cocaine from the police evidence room, selling it to drug dealers, and then claiming his new, extravagant lifestyle came from winning big in Los Vegas. Smith maintained his innocence at the sentencing hearing, but US District Judge Elaine Bucklo was not impressed, noting he used more than $1 million in drug deal profits to buy property, luxury cars, and expensive gifts for mistresses. He was found guilty of drug conspiracy, money laundering, tax evasion, and filing false statements on tax returns. Among items seized from Smith was a $177,000 Rolls-Royce.
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