NYC DETECTIVE IN DRUG SCANDAL SENTENCED IN STATE CASE

NEW YORK - A retired police detective serving a federal sentence for
stealing nearly $800,000 in drug money was sentenced Tuesday on state
charges related to the case.

Thomas Rachko, 48, was sentenced to four and a half years to be served
concurrently with his seven-year federal sentence.

The case was part of a damaging corruption scandal at the New York
Police Department. Rachko and his one-time police partner, Julio
Vasquez, were caught on tape stealing $169,000 from a drug courier and
pleaded guilty to state charges of second-degree larceny.

Confronted with the evidence, Rachko, who retired from the police
department in 2002, began cooperating with federal investigators and
helped provide evidence that led to charges against several other detectives.

Rachko said he stole because he needed money to fuel a gambling
addiction. He could have gotten up to life in prison on federal
narcotics conspiracy charges.

Vasquez was awaiting sentencing on the state charges. He also
cooperated and was sentenced to six years in federal prison earlier
this month for stealing and reselling cocaine. He resigned after his
arrest in 2003.