6 Officers Plead Not Guilty in Money-Skimming Case
A half-dozen Los Angeles County narcotics officers pleaded not guilty Monday to 34 counts of money-skimming and civil rights violations that allegedly took place during drug raids from 1985 through 1988.
The five sheriff’s deputies and one Los Angeles Police Department detective entered their pleas in federal court in Los Angeles. U.S. Magistrate George King tentatively scheduled their trial to begin March 5.
Deputies John L. Edner, Roger R. Garcia, Edward D. Jamison, J.C. Miller and Robert S. Tolmaire pleaded not guilty, along with Police Department Detective Stephen W. Polak.
The officers, who worked together on an anti-drug team in southwest Los Angeles, were indicted last week by a federal grand jury and are accused of beating drug suspects, stealing cash and valuables, and planting drugs on some suspects.
If convicted, the six face prison terms ranging from 33 years to 63 years and fines from $1 million to $2.5 million. Each are free on $25,000 bail.
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