OFFICER FACES NEW INDICTMENT

Grand Jury Says Roanoke Cop Took $16,000 From Drug dealers

The indictment alleges that the Roanoke police officer bought, sold and used drugs, had people "roughed up," tipped dealers about upcoming busts and orchestrated $10,000 in drug shipments to New York.

A federal grand jury that earlier accused a Roanoke police officer of taking bribes in return for not arresting drug dealers has alleged additional criminal acts in support of the racketeering charge against him.

Frederick Pledge was charged last month with racketeering and drug conspiracy after a yearlong Drug Enforcement Administration investigation into several officers in the Roanoke City Police Department. The grand jury's action Wednesday issued no new charges against Pledge, but added more examples of how investigators say Pledge abused his position as a police officer.

The new indictment alleges that the period of criminal activity lasted six years, rather than the five years originally disclosed. According to the indictment, Pledge was taking cash, guns, alcohol and drugs from at least 18 known drug dealers - and failing to arrest them - from 1994 until July of this year. The 29-year-old officer, who has been with the department seven years, was placed on administrative leave in late June.

The indictment added at least five more drug dealers as "witnesses" to the list of people from whom Pledge is alleged to have accepted bribes or drugs.

Among other things, the indictment alleges that Pledge bought, sold and used drugs, had people "roughed up," tipped dealers about upcoming busts and orchestrated $10,000 in drug shipments to New York.

It also states Pledge took bribes for not arresting habitual traffic offenders and probation violators and allowed drug dealers to buy him lunches, dinners, drinks and haircuts in return for not arresting them.

Initially, the indictment charged that Pledge had taken about $3,000 in bribes. Wednesday's indictment listed seven more racketeering acts in which Pledge is alleged to have used bribery, extortion and robbery tactics to get more than $13,000 in additional cash.

That brings to nearly $16,000 the amount Pledge is alleged to have taken from drug dealers in the past six years. Besides cash, Pledge is accused of accepting alcohol, guns, crack cocaine, marijuana and a $2,600 platinum chain in exchange for not arresting people.

In all, the indictment alleges 23 acts of bribery, extortion and robbery to support the racketeering charge and 13 activities that led to the drug conspiracy charges.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Bondurant has said that Pledge admitted to a DEA agent that he was guilty of some of the charges. But Pledge's lawyer, Rickey Young, has said that, at most, Pledge did favors for a few friends. Young has also pointed out that most of the evidence against his client comes from drug dealers.

"This is harassment. Sounds like a 'Get-Out-of-Jail card' for drug dealers," Young said Wednesday. "It's all speculation."

Pledge has been free on $100,000 bond since his arrest July 24. He is still an employee of the Roanoke City Police Department, but police spokeswoman Shelly Alley would not say Wednesday whether Pledge was still being paid. In July, Alley said Pledge was on administrative leave with pay.

Two other officers were placed on administrative leave during the DEA investigation.

Last month, Bondurant said the investigation into whether other officers were involved was continuing. The indictment says that Pledge "and other members of the Roanoke City Police Department" conspired to "shake down" or steal drugs and drug money from dealers. No other officers have been charged or named in the indictments made public so far.

If convicted, Pledge could be sentenced to 10 years to life in prison and be fined up to $4.25 million.

Bondurant could not be reached for comment after the new indictment came out Wednesday.