Ex-officer convicted in Calif. robbery ring sentenced

The AP reports:

A former Long Beach police officer was sentenced Monday to more than eight years in prison for being part of a ring of corrupt officers who robbed homes while carrying out fake drug raids.

Joseph Ferguson, 33, was convicted in January of charges that included conspiring to violate civil rights and conspiring to possess drugs with the intent to distribute them.

Ferguson was sentenced to eight years and one month in prison and four years of supervised release.

Prosecutors said Ferguson was part of a ring that committed at least 40 thefts from 1999 through 2001. Ring members would conduct raids on places they believed drugs were being sold, telling occupants the raids were legitimate.

People in the homes were often restrained, threatened or assaulted during the search, the U.S. attorney's office said in a statement. The ring would then steal drugs, sell them and split the profits.

Fifteen people, including other members of the Los Angeles Police Department and Los Angeles Sheriff's Department, have pleaded guilty in the case, Assistant U.S. Attorney Doug Miller said.

Ferguson's brother, former LAPD officer William Ferguson, also was convicted of firearms offenses and deprivation of rights under the color of law and is due to be sentenced May 19.

This is a really good case on why an armed populace is needed.Corrupt police officers shouldn't have a monopoly on gun ownership.No word yet from Mayor Daley or Mayor Bloomberg on this one.