TWO FORMER OFFICERS SENTENCED TO PRISON IN CORRUPTION CASES

Two former law enforcement officers were sentenced to 30 months each
in federal prison Monday, one for tipping off a narcotics suspect and
the other for taking part in a smuggling plot and accepting bribes.

Richard Casas, a veteran U.S. Customs Service agent, had pleaded
guilty earlier to conspiracy to smuggle 10,000 counterfeit Microsoft
computer programs from Hong Kong to the United States.

Casas, 46, of El Monte also admitted taking $14,000 in bribes in
connection with his official duties. Appearing before U.S. District
Court Judge Lourdes G. Baird in Los Angeles, he apologized to his
family and the court.

Under terms of a plea agreement, U.S. prosecutors had promised to
recommend a lighter sentence in return for Casas' substantial
assistance in an ongoing investigation.

But Assistant U.S. Atty. Edward B. Moreton Jr. told Baird that Casas
reneged on the agreement by giving false or misleading answers when
questioned by investigators about other suspects in the case. Moreton
said that would have compromised Casas' usefulness as a witness in
court.

However, defense attorney Stephen Sadowsky asked for leniency because
Casas has an autistic child at home who needs the care of both
parents. Baird declined.

Casas faced a 24- to 30-month prison term under federal sentencing
guidelines. Moreton recommended 27 months, but Baird gave Casas the
maximum, saying that corrupt law enforcement "is very tough to swallow."

Four other defendants were convicted in the smuggling case. Casas'
brother, Edward, 40, of Sylmar was sentenced to two years probation.
Lawrence Boyle, 54, an attorney from Westminster, received three years
probation. Peter Yi, 36, of Chino Hills and his brother, Sung K. Yi,
32, of Cypress are scheduled to be sentenced April 8.

In the bribery case, Casas admitted taking about $11,000 from an
importer of magnets in exchange for confidential information that the
importer could use to drive a competitor out of business. Casas also
accepted $3,000 from a former police officer who allegedly used a
shill to collect informant fees from the Customs Service.

Casas, who remains free on bail, will begin serving his sentence
May7.

In an unrelated case Monday, Douglas John Bos, a onetime Ontario
police officer assigned to a federal anti-drug task force, fought back
tears as he apologized for his criminal conduct before U.S. District
Judge George H. King.

"I'm just very sorry," Bos told the judge. "It'll never happen again.
I hope I will be able to come back to this court someday and show you
I've turned it around."

Bos, 34, of Canyon Lake pleaded guilty last year to obstructing a
major narcotics investigation by warning a criminal target that he was
about to meet with a government informant. Bos asked for an
unspecified amount of money.

The suspect, Nidal Hamayel, 45, met with the informant anyway, telling
him that his cover had been blown by a drug agent assigned to the
case. The conversation was taped and heard by other agents.

When confronted, Bos admitted telephoning Hamayel three times
previously. Hamayel was subsequently arrested in a nationwide
crackdown on illegal importers of pseudoephedrine, a chemical used to
make methamphetamine.

In court Monday, defense lawyer Edward Robinson said Bos was going
through an emotional crisis when he committed his crime.

But Assistant U.S. Atty. Rebecca Lonergan said that a month after
pleading guilty in the federal case, Bos was arrested in Claremont on
a charge of illegally possessing a loaded firearm. He pleaded guilty
to a misdemeanor and received probation.

Bos, who is free on bond, was ordered to turn himself in by April19.