Law Enforcement: This Week's Corrupt Cops Stories

Submitted by Phillip Smith on (Issue #579)
Drug War Issues

What's up with Pennsylvania? Yet more ugliness from the Keystone State, as well as the all too predictable border guard in trouble and jail guard with a bad habit. Let's get to it:

In Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled March 26 that a judge could throw out as many as 1,200 convictions of juveniles sentenced by a Luzerne County judge who agreed to plead guilty in March to taking bribes from a detention center owner to ensure he had a steady supply of juvenile offenders to house. Former Luzerne County Juvenile Court Judge Mark Ciavarella and his colleague, Judge Michael Conahan, agreed to cop a plea to taking $2.6 million in bribes from PA Child Care LLC and Western Pennsylvania Child Care LLC to send juveniles to prison for months for small-time offenses including possession of a pot pipe. The two crooked judges are looking at 87 months in prison each.

In Philadelphia, a Philadelphia police officer was arrested last Friday on charges he dealt drugs both before and after he joined the force. Officer Alhinde Weems, 33, went down after an informant working with a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agent snitched him out. That informant bought an ounce of crack cocaine from Weems in December and two more ounces in January. Later that month, the feds set up a sting in which Weems was videotaped selling what he thought was a pound of cocaine to a man he thought was a big-time drug dealer, but was actually an undercover agent. In February, Weems was videotaped telling the undercover agent he wanted to do a home invasion robbery of a drug dealer to steal his stash, and last Friday, as he was on his way to the fake bust, he was really busted. Now Weems faces up to 25 years in federal prison on conspiracy and drug dealing charges.

In Laredo, Texas, a former Border Patrol agent was sentenced Wednesday to 14 years in federal prison for taking a bribe to ensure a load of cocaine could move safely through Zapata County, on the Mexican border. Leonel Morales pleaded guilty in January to bribery after being caught on tape negotiating, planning, and accepting a $9,000 bribe to protect a 20-kilogram load. He also bragged that he could get other border agents out of the area when the load was ready to be moved. He must pay an $11,000 fine, too.

In Bellefontaine, Ohio, a Logan County jail guard was arrested Tuesday on charges she stole prescription drugs belonging to inmates. Guard Theresa Zook went down after inmates reported seeing her taking drugs belonging to someone being booked into the jail. After failing a polygraph exam, she admitted taking the pills, as well as taking drugs from a locked cabinet in the nurse's office. She was fired and now faces two counts of theft. She said she stole the pills because she was anxious.

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Comments

Anonymous (not verified)

Are the most disgusting example of a waste of space. These M F'er's deserve the death penalty, or at least life, without possibility of parole, in general population. 7.25 years is an insult, a f*cking joke. This is the worst possible conduct imaginable, right up there with child molesting, it is child molesting, false imprisonment of a minor, kidnapping,abuse of power, accepting a bribe, violating the oath of office to uphold the law, not to mention destroying what little credibility the "legal system" had. Calif. has judges that take bribes too, and I'm sure there are a lot of kids in jail that don't belong too.
Face it, we live in a terrorist nation, our government is so corrupt,inept,incompetent,agenda driven,dishonest,lying,one way,sh*t eating,threat to the public,terrorist regime, in the world.
How can anybody be a proud Amerikan, with crap like this in charge of protecting the people.
When are we gonna do something about this kind of activity, like bring back public hangings?

Fri, 04/03/2009 - 3:59pm Permalink
Anonymous (not verified)

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

there is no cure for greed and corruption, but this avenue of profit can easily be replaced by only permitting public, nonprofit facilities. Release of all nonviolent drug users from jail will provide well enough room for the dangerous sociopaths.

The profferer of the bribe should also be sentenced to death for the magnitude and heinousity of this offense. It is simply beyond outrage.

Tue, 04/07/2009 - 7:34am Permalink
Anonymous (not verified)

Those criminals in black robes can't be facing just 87 months for routinely and repeatedly violating the constitution they are sworn to uphold and protect.

At a minimum all involved should face 3-5 years federal prison... for each count... not 87 months total! That's just bad mythmatics!

The 2 criminal judges, and the people that bribed them, should be immediately imprisoned for purjury, bearing false witness, and bribery... just for starters. Obviously, capital charges will follow after the full extent of the constitutional violations are known.

Time to stop swearing on that stupid bible and time to start swearing on what really matters... the founding documents of this country... under penalty of death!

Fri, 04/03/2009 - 9:12pm Permalink
Moonrider (not verified)

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

for ALL elected officials in government, not just judges.

Violate the Constitution, in any way (including even merely proposing any unconstitutional legislation) and one becomes immediately subject to the death penalty, no appeal, no second chances.

I am usually an opponent of capital punishment (if the person turns out to be innocent after the penalty is carried out there is no way to bring them back to life), but if we are going to have the death penalty as a legal option in our nation, I think the crime of violating one's oath of office to be the most egregious crime of all, worse than mass murder, and totally deserving of paying that capital punishment price.

How many in congress would have to be immediately executed? All but one -- Ron Paul is the only member of congress who has NEVER violated his oath or the Constitution.

I'm pro-choice on EVERYTHING!

Sun, 04/05/2009 - 4:40pm Permalink
Anonymous (not verified)

"First prize is one night in Philadelphia. Second prize, two nights in Philadelphia."
--W.C. Fields

Mon, 04/06/2009 - 2:17pm Permalink
Anonymous (not verified)

The county in central Pa known as 'mifflin county' needs a survellience (sp) or undercover internal investigative team in place to monitor corrupt goings on.
I've done what I can in regard to implementing an internal invest. within the county...contacted Dorbett, attorney gen. as well as other (aclu) advocated and have gotten little response.

Here's to more illegal goings on within the 'law enforcement' cohort here in central pa.

Mon, 04/06/2009 - 8:07pm Permalink
Anonymous (not verified)

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•
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•
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Sun, 04/12/2009 - 9:30am Permalink
Anonymous (not verified)

I was much distressed to learn of the two Pennsylvania County level judges taking over 2 million in cash from the PA and West Penn 'child care' reform schools; privatized limited liability companies which illustrate so well one huge pitfall of the prison industrial complex.

Is our lust for greed so terrible that we would throw 1,200 kids away like garbage over marijuana cigarettes, pipes, and other minor possession offenses ?

Your article does not specify what type of consequences face these two bribe-paying LLC's, privatized corporate reform schools for poor neighborhood kids, who will now have scars that follow them into adulthood, but I'm sure it won't be harsh enough.

The whole idea of a "penal-system for profit" has dubious overtones. Especially for juveniles from low income backgrounds over minor 'pretext' infractions.

How come this one story isn't on page one of the New York Times?

Wed, 04/15/2009 - 1:42pm Permalink
mila (not verified)

umm i do not believe this is true cuz alhinde weems got set up for robbery and drugs by his own best friend.. dey make it seems like he's a real criminal and if u guys get to no him you'll understand dis cant b true.. so don't listen to them, listen to his story and his family!!!!! dats what made me mad and wanted to send a comment to this thing. i will not tell u who iam

Mon, 12/14/2009 - 8:06pm Permalink
Anonymous1 (not verified)

I, am 46 yrs old and other than some traffic tickets some yrs ago I've never been in truble in my life. I, was sued by a hosp. I, had a horrible accident I, will never completely recover from. I, had paid on this bill for many yrs. After the accident I, was unable to work and had missed some payment so back to court I, went. I, was shoked to be told I, would have to serve jail time due to being late to court and even more shocked to find out once I'm in jail I, have to strip, squat and cough! I, never committed a criminal offense in my life but yet I'm being treated like a common criminal all because I, was late to court. I, have to serve my time at the same jail c.o zook, stoled meds from an inmate and the nurses cabinet! I, hardly find this fair. I, tried to get to court as quickly as I, could. I, wasn't purposly late not to mention I've never been in trouble in all my 46 yrs! What kind of a system are we running in logan.co anyway? This is why its so important to get out there and vote ppl! Now ill have a mug shot and contempt . Not beccause I, ran from court, only because I, was accidently late! Only in bellefontaine. Would a 46 yr old woman who's never been in trouble in her life be treated like a comon criminal. Not only will I, be required to strip ,squat and cough but I, will also be deloused! I, hardly find this fair! And this is in a jail where even the cos prove to be crooked
Tue, 07/19/2011 - 10:47am Permalink

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