This Week's Corrupt Cops Stories

A sticky-fingered Ohio cop heads for prison, so does a gun-smuggling Miami cop, an Indiana cop gets busted peddling dope, and more.

In Chicago, a former Cook County jail guard pleaded guilty December 5 to smuggling marijuana, alcohol, and tobacco into the jail. Jason Marek, 30, copped to one count of federal program bribery, which carries a maximum 10-year sentence. He smuggled the contraband into the jail inside sandwiches. He had agreed to smuggle in the pot and booze for an inmate after the inmate paid him $200 for used (!) chewing tobacco.

In Newark, New Jersey, a former Miami-Dade police lieutenant was sentenced last Wednesday to 10 years in federal prison for teaming up with cocaine smugglers to smuggle guns through airport security. Ralph Mata had been an internal affairs lieutenant, one of the agency's most sensitive jobs. He admitted buying six guns for an established cocaine smuggling ring, smuggling them through checkpoints at Miami International Airport, and onto planes bound for the Dominican Republic. He was a 23-year veteran of the force.

In Cleveland, a former Warrensville Heights police officer was sentenced Monday to three years in prison for stealing drugs and some $41,000 in cash from the department. Andre Harmon, 54, must also pay $10,000 in fines and $41,000 in restitution. He pleaded guilty last month to drug possession, theft in office and tampering with records. He was responsible for destroying seized drugs, but instead took them home and filed false affidavits that he had destroyed them.