WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A Los Angeles, Calif.,
jury today found former Los Angeles Police Department Officer William
Ferguson and his brother, former Long Beach Police Department Officer
Joseph Ferguson, guilty of conspiring to violate civil rights, conspiring
to possess narcotics with intent to distribute, and possession of narcotics
with intent to distribute, the Justice Department announced. William
Ferguson was also found guilty of several firearm offenses and deprivation
of rights under color of law.
William Ferguson faces a sentence of up to life imprisonment and a
significant fine. Joseph Ferguson faces a sentence of up to 50 years
imprisonment and a fine. A sentencing hearing was scheduled for April 21,
2008. Fifteen other co-conspirators, including other law enforcement
officers from the Los Angeles Police Department, the Long Beach Police
Department, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, and the California
Department of Corrections have previously pleaded guilty to federal crimes
in connection with the conspiracy.
The evidence at trial consisted of testimony from victims and multiple
co-conspirators, including former Los Angeles Police Department Officer
Ruben Palomares. The evidence showed that the Ferguson brothers were part
of a wide-ranging criminal conspiracy that committed over 40 burglaries and
robberies throughout the Central District of California between early 1999
and June of 2001. The robberies generally were committed after the group
received information that a particular location was involved in the
narcotics trade. After planning the operation and conducting surveillance,
the robbery team -- which usually consisted of multiple sworn police
officers in uniform or displaying a badge -- gained access to the residence
by falsely telling any occupants that they were conducting a legitimate
search for drugs or drug dealers. Victims were often restrained,
handcuffed, threatened or assaulted during the search. These assaults
included firing a stun gun at a victim, striking victims with police
batons, and putting a gun in the mouth of a victim. When the group stole
narcotics, they would use co-conspirators to sell the drugs and they would
then split the profits among the group.
"These defendants, who were sworn to serve and protect the people of
Los Angeles, went from enforcing the law to breaking the law," said Grace
Chung Becker, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights
Division. "While the vast majority of law enforcement officers carry out
their difficult duties in a professional manner, the Department of Justice
will not hesitate to prosecute those who cross that line."
"This case exposed a dark world of corrupt law enforcement officers who
defiled their badges and compromised the good work of their colleagues,"
said U.S. Attorney Thomas P. O'Brien. "The home invasion robberies
committed by these former officers shocks the conscience and will lead to
lengthy prison sentences that they so richly deserve."
"The FBI counts public corruption as its top criminal program priority,
and this case illustrates that commitment. Investigators and detectives
tirelessly pursued a small number of law enforcement officers who, in
betrayal of their sworn duty to serve the public, used their badges and
guns as instruments of terror and personal gain," said Salvador Hernandez,
Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI in Los Angeles. "The FBI, along
with its law enforcement partners, will continue to root out the small
percentage of sworn personnel that act outside the law."
This case was investigated by Special Agent Phil Carson of the Federal
Bureau of Investigation, with the assistance of Steve Sambar, Roger Mora
and Mark Bigel of the Los Angeles and Long Beach Police Departments. This
case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas M. Miller of Los
Angeles and Department of Justice Trial Attorneys Jeffrey S. Blumberg and
Joshua D. Mahan.
The Civil Rights Division is committed to the vigorous enforcement of
the federal criminal civil rights statutes, such as laws that prohibit
willful acts of misconduct by law enforcement officials. In Fiscal Year
2007, the Criminal Section convicted the highest number of defendants in
its history, surpassing the record previously set in Fiscal Year 2006.
The Department of Justice has compiled a significant record on criminal
civil rights law enforcement misconduct prosecutions in the last seven
years. During the last seven years, the Criminal Section obtained
convictions of 53 percent more defendants (391 v. 256) in color of law
cases than the previous seven years.
SOURCE U.S. Department of Justice
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Related links:
http://www.USDOJ.gov
CONTACT:
U.S. Department of Justice Office of Public
Affairs, CRT, +1-202-514-2008, TDD, +1-202-514-1888
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