Six LA deputies sentenced to federal prison happened to current or former Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies on Tuesday. According to multiple reports, the six LA deputies sentenced were convicted with conspiracy and obstruction of justice in connection with an FBI investigation into the beatings and corruption in the downtown jails in their county. The former officers from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department were sentenced to at least two years in jail.
According to the Los Angeles Times, on Tuesday, a federal judge said he wanted to send the message that "blind obedience to a corrupt culture has serious consequences" when he had the current and former six LA deputies sentenced years-long in federal prison.
Consisting of five men and one woman, the deputies sentences ranged from 21 to 41 months, to less than the 28- to 60 months in federal prison, reports KPCC as can be found in court papers.
U.S. District Court Judge Percy Anderson said during the nearly three-hour hearing to the six LA deputies sentenced, "You broke the vow you made to protect the public, to protect the community."
Anderson added that the six LA deputies sentenced had acted to "shield the dirty deputies.... Perhaps it is a symptom of the corrupt culture within the Sheriff's Department."
Anderson also said, "You didn't serve the public by concealing what was happening in the jails. None of you have shown even the slightest remorse."
According to the LA Times, the defendants were made up of two lieutenants, two sergeants and two deputies, with each ordered to surrender in January of this year.
Meanwhile, acting U.S. Attorney Stephanie Yonekura addressed the six LA deputies sentenced and said in a written statement, "In their corrupt attempt to shield the Sheriff's Department from scrutiny, these deputies brought scandal and shame to themselves and their department."
"These deputies decided to impede a federal investigation, and in doing so they threw away their careers and their freedom," Yonekura added.
Each of the deputies' attorneys had reportedly asked the judge for home confinement or probation. The attorneys pointed out to the court to that the six LA deputies sentenced had personal histories serving the public as law enforcement officers. Anderson replied and said he did take this fact into account, which is why he adjusted the sentences downward.
According to KPCC, the deputies' crimes took place in August 2011. They reportedly discovered a cellular phone in the cell of inmate Anthony Brown, and when they traced its call history, they found it linked to the FBI's civil rights division. The deputies interrogated Brown, who had no choice but to admit he was working as an informant for the FBI and that his phone had been part of a sting which led to a deputy's arrest who smuggled it in for cash.
Even with what they found out, the deputies hid Brown and moved him from jail to jail under fake names. They reportedly faked records to make it appear he had been released.
Fast forward to today, the six LA deputies sentenced not only for hiding Brown, but also for attempting to deter the cooperation of witnesses. According to prosecutors, three of the defendants even attempted to intimidate the federal authorities by going to the home of an FBI agent and threatening her arrest.
Even after the judge had made the final decision on the six LA deputies sentenced, according to KPCC, the defendants maintained that they were only doing their jobs.
Former sheriff's deputy Gregory Thompson said after he left the U.S. District courthouse in downtown Los Angeles post hearing, "I thought were following lawful orders."
Peter Johnson, a criminal defense attorney representing former sheriff's deputy Stephen Leavins, said his client only received and followed direct orders from former L.A. Sheriff Lee Baca.
Johnson said, "Disobeying these orders would have been insubordination."
Meanwhile, when asked why higher ranking officials weren't made responsible for any wrongdoing, prosecutors reportedly declined to answer.
According to officials, former undersheriff Paul Tanaka, who is running for L.A. Sheriff in November, has also been part of the investigation into the crimes.
The six LA deputies sentenced on Tuesday were former Lt. Gregory Thompson, sentenced to 37 months; Lt. Stephen Leavins, sentenced to 41 months; Sgt. Scott Craig, sentenced to 33 months; Sgt. Maricela Long, sentenced to 24 months; Deputy Gerard Smith, sentenced to 21 months; and Deputy Mickey Manzo, who was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison.
The conviction of the six LA deputies sentenced happened in July.
As of the current moment, none of the deputies are on active duty.
Meanwhile, Anderson said he hopes other deputies and police officers will learn from the case when they find themselves in a similar situation.
Anderson said, "No person, whether he wears a badge or not, is above the law." However, Anderson still allowed the deputies to spend one last holiday season with their families before going to jail.
But he did allow the six LA deputies sentenced to spend one last holiday season with their families before being locked up. He said they should turn themselves in Jan. 2.
According to Reuters, the sheriff's department is accountable for managing the Los Angeles County jail system. The jail houses around 18,000 inmates and is reportedly the largest number of any county jail system in the nation.
Six LA deputies sentenced reportedly counts as the sheriff department's latest blow. The department has been overwhelmed with civil rights violations and corruption allegations, as well as a federal investigation of its jails. Former County Sheriff Lee Baca has already retired earlier this year instead of seeking re-election.
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