Two Former Officers Sentenced to Prison in Corruption Cases

Two former law enforcement officers were sentenced to 30 months each in federal prison Monday, one for tipping off a narcotics suspect and the other for taking part in a smuggling plot and accepting bribes.

Richard Casas, a veteran U.S. Customs Service agent, had pleaded guilty earlier to conspiracy to smuggle 10,000 counterfeit Microsoft computer programs from Hong Kong to the United States.

Casas, 46, of El Monte also admitted taking $14,000 in bribes in connection with his official duties.

Appearing before U.S. District Court Judge Lourdes G. Baird in Los Angeles, he apologized to his family and the court.

Under terms of a plea agreement, U.S. prosecutors had promised to recommend a lighter sentence in return for Casas’ substantial assistance in an ongoing investigation.

But Assistant U.S. Atty. Edward B. Moreton Jr. told Baird that Casas reneged on the agreement by giving false or misleading answers when questioned by investigators about other suspects in the case. Moreton said that would have compromised Casas’ usefulness as a witness in court.

However, defense attorney Stephen Sadowsky asked for leniency because Casas has an autistic child at home who needs the care of both parents. Baird declined.

Casas faced a 24- to 30-month prison term under federal sentencing guidelines. Moreton recommended 27 months, but Baird gave Casas the maximum, saying that corrupt law enforcement “is very tough to swallow.”

Four other defendants were convicted in the smuggling case. Casas’ brother, Edward, 40, of Sylmar was sentenced to two years probation. Lawrence Boyle, 54, an attorney from Westminster, received three years probation. Peter Yi, 36, of Chino Hills and his brother, Sung K. Yi, 32, of Cypress are scheduled to be sentenced April 8.

In the bribery case, Casas admitted taking about $11,000 from an importer of magnets in exchange for confidential information that the importer could use to drive a competitor out of business. Casas also accepted $3,000 from a former police officer who allegedly used a shill to collect informant fees from the Customs Service.

Casas, who remains free on bail, will begin serving his sentence May7.

In an unrelated case Monday, Douglas John Bos, a onetime Ontario police officer assigned to a federal anti-drug task force, fought back tears as he apologized for his criminal conduct before U.S. District Judge George H. King.

“I’m just very sorry,” Bos told the judge. “It’ll never happen again. I hope I will be able to come back to this court someday and show you I’ve turned it around.”

Bos, 34, of Canyon Lake pleaded guilty last year to obstructing a major narcotics investigation by warning a criminal target that he was about to meet with a government informant. Bos asked for an unspecified amount of money.

The suspect, Nidal Hamayel, 45, met with the informant anyway, telling him that his cover had been blown by a drug agent assigned to the case. The conversation was taped and heard by other agents.

When confronted, Bos admitted telephoning Hamayel three times previously. Hamayel was subsequently arrested in a nationwide crackdown on illegal importers of pseudoephedrine, a chemical used to make methamphetamine.

In court Monday, defense lawyer Edward Robinson said Bos was going through an emotional crisis when he committed his crime.

But Assistant U.S. Atty. Rebecca Lonergan said that a month after pleading guilty in the federal case, Bos was arrested in Claremont on a charge of illegally possessing a loaded firearm. He pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor and received probation.

Bos, who is free on bond, was ordered to turn himself in by April19.