4 San Francisco cops plead not guilty to federal corruption charges

Four San Francisco police officers pleaded not guilty Friday to charges in federal corruption indictments.

The four men were among five current officers and one former officer charged Thursday in the two separate indictments.

Three defendants are accused of taking money, drugs, electronics and gift cards seized during investigations. The others are accused of violating the civil rights of suspects through warrantless searches of residences.

All but one of the defendants have entered not-guilty pleas and were freed on $50,000 bond pending trial.

Mike Rains, an attorney for Officer Arshad Razzak, said outside court that he expected all the defendants to take their cases to trial rather than accept plea bargains, the Associated Press reported.

“These are very serious accusations,” Rains said.

Razzak, 41, and Officer Richard Yick, 37, both of San Francisco, and Officer Raul Eric Elias, 44, of San Mateo each face three civil rights charges that carry possible penalties of up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The other defendants are accused of taking a $500 Apple gift card and other valuables during a 2009 arrest, an indictment states, according to the AP.

Two days later, former Officer Reynaldo Vargas, 45, of Palm Desert, used the card to buy an iPhone and iPod Nano, prosecutors said.

Sgt. Ian Furminger, 47, of Pleasant Hill and Officer Edmond Robles, 46, of Danville also are charged in that case.