OURAY DEPUTY CONVICTED IN DRUG RING KILLS SELF

Todd Hangs Self Hours Before Start Of 18-Year Prison Term

Saturday, January 05, 2002 - Former Ouray County sheriff's deputy LeRoy
Todd hanged himself early Friday, hours before he was to be transferred to
a federal prison in Minnesota to serve an 18-year sentence, authorities said.

Todd was in his cell at the Federal Detention Center in Englewood, where he
had been held since his conviction in July of conspiring to distribute
methamphetamine.

Despite rescue efforts by prison staff and the West Metro Fire and Rescue
unit, Todd was pronounced dead at 2:53 a.m.

Todd, 55, was linked to a methamphetamine ring uncovered in the tiny
mountain town of Ouray after a three-year undercover investigation by
federal agents.

Todd's lawyer, Scott Baroway, called the whole episode tragic. "He was a
good person," he said. "He participated in the schools, he cared about
everybody in the community. The current sheriff testified he was "a big
baby Huey.' He would do anything for anyone."

Baroway contended the justice system failed Todd.

"LeRoy never saw any drugs, he never used any, he never dealt any," he
said. "If this had been tried in the state courts, he would have gotten a
short probation sentence."

Todd was convicted of conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and for
carrying his service revolver during the commission of a crime.

The fact that he was a law enforcement officer compounded his sentence.

Federal sentencing regulations do not allow time off for good behavior, and
he would have been 73 by the time of his release.

Todd was accused of conspiring with then-Undersheriff John Radcliff to
distribute the drug.

His involvement included tipping off others in the drug ring about movement
by law enforcement, sidetracking investigators and cleaning out homes of
incriminating evidence, according to testimony.

The most notable event during the three-week trial was testimony that Todd
had sex with an alleged drug kingpin's girlfriend while another deputy was
preparing a warrant to search her trailer home.

In exchange for the sex, Todd allegedly allowed the girlfriend to clean out
her trailer before the search warrant was served on her. Todd never was
accused of dealing methamphetamine.

A total of 19 people were indicted in the case; 16 were convicted, one was
acquitted and charges against two were dismissed.

Those convicted included Radcliff; his wife, Lisa; and two of former
Sheriff Jerry Wakefield's daughters. The undersheriff received a sentence
of 19 years.

Todd is survived by his wife, Christy, and stepdaughter, both of Ouray.