Chicago Cop Sentenced to 11 Years

On November 22, 2008, we published a blog about the trial of former Chicago cop Mahmoud Shamah who was on trial for using his office to steal. There was testimony at the trial that Shamah and his partner would plant evidence on motorists when stops came up empty and would steal money from suspected drug dealers during traffic stops. His partner testified that it was easy to steal money from suspected drug dealers because they could not complain that their drug money had been stolen. On December 9, 2008 we informed our readers that Shamah was convicted of the charges. Shamah's partner, Richard Doroniuk, was sentenced to 11 years in prison today for his part in the crimes. During the sentencing hearing, federal district court judge Robert Gettleman stated that "in this city, it seems to me that we are bombarded by stories and cases and prosecutions of police misconduct," Gettleman went on to say that "it's been accelerating . . . it's very discouraging."

Shamah is scheduled to be sentenced on Thursday.

For more information about the Chicago criminal defense attorneys at Legal Defenders, P.C., visit us at www.thelegaldefenders.com or call us anytime at 1-800-228-7295.