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This Week's Corrupt Cops Stories

Submitted by Phillip Smith on (Issue #817)
Drug War Issues

This week, we have a trio of jail guards gone bad, as well as another cop with a pain pill problem and sticky fingers. That's a bad combination. Let's get to it:

In Miami, a Miami-Dade jail officer was arrested last Friday on charges he smuggled drugs and cell phones into the Miami-Dade County Jail. Officer Lavar Lewis, 27, also known as "The Love Doctor," went down after a 19-month investigation into persistent smuggling at the jail. At least three other jail guards are under investigation in the ongoing probe. Lewis, a day shift officer since his hire in November 2008, has been suspended since September 2013. He was charged with unlawful compensation and conspiracy to introduce contraband into a jail and was being held Friday night at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center in West Miami-Dade.

In Honolulu, a Halawa prison guard was arrested Monday on charges he was smuggling methamphetamine into the prison. James Sanders III was indicted by a federal grand jury after an FBI investigation. The indictment accuses him of distributing at least five grams on one occasion and at least 50 grams on another. He is charged with two counts each of distributing methamphetamine, conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and bribery. He's out on bond already, but forbidden from working in any prison.

In Baltimore, a jail guard was sentenced last Wednesday to 3 ½ years in prison for her role in a vast drug-smuggling operation at the Baltimore City Detention Center. Adrena Rice is one of nine jail guards who have pleaded guilty in the conspiracy. She admitted to smuggling contraband including marijuana and prescription pills into the lock-up. She had copped to one count of racketeering conspiracy.

In Price, Utah, a former Carbon County sheriff's deputy was sentenced Monday to 30 days in jail for stealing drugs out of the evidence room. Christopher Howard Basso, 38, must also undergo substance abuse treatment and limit himself to one doctor and one pharmacy. Basso was put on leave in January 2013 after failing two drug tests, but suspicious colleagues noticed he was continuing to enter the sheriff's office without permission and set up a surveillance camera that caught him breaking into the evidence room. In a plea bargain, the 13-year veteran copped to possession of a controlled substance, tampering with evidence, and trespassing.

Permission to Reprint: This content is licensed under a modified Creative Commons Attribution license. Content of a purely educational nature in Drug War Chronicle appear courtesy of DRCNet Foundation, unless otherwise noted.

Comments

mark kremers (not verified)

Seems kinda shady how these officers seem to get of lightly.The feds will take care of their boy, he'll actualy get some time but 30 days in jail for the one is ludicris. If that was any of us it would be more like 3yrs.

Thu, 01/16/2014 - 10:22pm Permalink
TONY TONY (not verified)

In reply to by mark kremers (not verified)

Look up Tony Basso in Price and youll see why his kin got off so easily. He owns the Town of Price utah and is spreading through ither towns and states like cancer. Whats that song? I've got friends in low places? These guys stand in the same place.. Dont trust them.This bunch is bad to the bone.
Sun, 04/03/2016 - 7:19am Permalink
Utah's Rebel (not verified)

In reply to by mark kremers (not verified)

The name Basso seems to skate away from whatever they do. This tells our kids they will never accomplish a thing unless your in the good- ole- boy network. No wonder the good people of Price feel helpless. The cops cover the drug dealers,prostitutes, illeagl Government, crooked mining, oil and Gas companies.Karma is a Bitch!
Tue, 04/12/2016 - 10:24am Permalink
See bales (not verified)

Biggest drug house is ran by a state worker that golfs with the cops in Price, utah. He has felons in every room and they all collect food stamps. These drug houses have people on the inside of state and government to hide whats going on and bully up on people who talk. This guy works in child welfare and has never paid a dime in child support or Alimony. He golfs, they struggle. The state just made him second vice over Utah Public Employees Association State wide. These people are well trained dangerous actors that think nothing of tearing families apart. Cops do nothing because, they are bought by the mining, gas, oil and corrupt organizations. We deal with under age prostitution, suicides by the dozens but because of the good ole boy networks, they get away with it. We need military help right here in our own country. The terrorists are here and have been here working in Government jobs. Breaking up families with drugs, taking children to fostercare, prostitution,stealing homes. As long as these people involved can cram money away, drive the best vehicles and get more perks from these organisations then, no one stands up to defend us and it goes on and on. Im standing up!
Sun, 04/03/2016 - 6:46am Permalink
TONY TONY (not verified)

In reply to by See bales (not verified)

Im tired of all the garbage also. People working in social security sending money to people locked up on drug charges and using their food stamps while the individual that was issued the stamps is in lock up. We need to throw all officials out and start over with a biard made up of middle class Americans. They never get a chance to speek because we work constantly trying to make ends meet. The rich get richer and the middle class get poorer. I know welfare recipients that drive fancy cars, have the best phone and this and thats because of drug sales. Hey, I have an idea? Let every middle class American chip in a couple bucks to build these drug organizations a house right next door to our Governors house and let's see how they like it because, us hard working,family loving low life, look down from your mansion slaves dont like it, or your corruption.
Sun, 04/03/2016 - 7:05am Permalink
Utah's Rebel (not verified)

In reply to by See bales (not verified)

This is a big problem in Price, Utah. They aren't a few here and there to make it look good. The cops are going to work for the oil, gas and mining industries. After the pipe's are abanded, the pipes are used to distribution of drugs. Underground trains bring in illeagls to work underground drug labs with help from locals.
Tue, 04/12/2016 - 10:33am Permalink

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