EX-DETECTIVE TURNED DRUG DEALER GETS 6-YEAR PRISON SENTENCE

A corrupt former detective who was arrested in 2003 after he and his
retired partner were caught on videotape stealing $169,000 from a
drug courier was sentenced yesterday to six years in federal prison.
He had faced nearly 22 years for stealing and reselling cocaine over
five years.

The judge in the case, Carol B. Amon, of United States District Court
in Brooklyn, handed down the sentence after listening to anguished
remarks from the former detective, Julio C. Vasquez. Mr. Vasquez
resigned from the Police Department days after he and his former
partner, Thomas Rachko, were arrested on Nov. 27, 2003, on charges
they robbed the courier. Mr. Vasquez began cooperating with federal
authorities a short time later.

Standing before the judge, Mr. Vasquez, 46, dressed in a dark gray
suit and a maroon tie, called his own acts reprehensible and
acknowledged that he had violated the public trust and his oath of
office "for no logical reason other than greed, avarice and an
egotistical attitude."

He added: "I just became greedy, I became obsessed with acquiring
things and that took me down this horrible path that I find myself on
today." He said he had caused tremendous suffering for his wife and
four children. His distraught wife sat in the courtroom gallery, at
times crying during the proceeding.

After Mr. Vasquez's statement, Judge Amon asked him what had caused
him to "go so wrong."

"I wish I could go back and I wish I could make things right, but
unfortunately I can't," he said, wiping away a tear. "I realize what
I have done is horrible, there is no excuse for it -- there is
absolutely no excuse for it. I know I should be punished for my
actions, I deserve to be punished and I expect to be punished."

Mr. Vasquez, who was assigned to the elite Firearms Investigation
Unit, pleaded guilty in April 2004 to one count of conspiracy to
possess and distribute five or more kilograms of cocaine. He and Mr.
Rachko were accused of stealing and selling roughly 100 kilos of
cocaine, and Mr. Vasquez returned to prosecutors more than $740,000
in cash from his crimes, money he kept stashed in a self-storage
locker. Judge Amon called Mr. Vasquez's crimes "extraordinarily
serious," saying he used his position as a police officer to steal
drugs, steal money and let drug dealers go free.

"There is nothing more serious than police officers who engage in
this conduct and dishonor the badge," she said. "To me, it's more
serious than drug dealing by a drug dealer."

Eric Franz, a lawyer who, along with Steven Brill, represented Mr.
Vasquez, made a forceful argument to the judge.

He contended that she should take into account not only that the
former detective cooperated with prosecutors, but also that the
sentencing guidelines in his case -- 210 to 262 months -- were driven
so high by his client's own statements and admissions to prosecutors.

The judge acknowledged the point, which was also made by the
prosecutor in the case, Adam Abensohn, who filed a letter enabling
her to sentence Mr. Vasquez to a term below the guidelines -- and
below the mandatory 10-year minimum for the crimes -- because of his
cooperation.

Ten current and former officers were implicated in the case after Mr.
Vasquez and Mr. Rachko were arrested, prompting a sweeping corruption
inquiry. But only two others have been charged criminally. All four
pleaded guilty.

Mr. Rachko and a retired lieutenant, John Maguire, who the judge
suggested played more of a leadership role in the crimes, are to be
sentenced next week. Another former detective, Carlos Rodriguez, was
sentenced to two years on money-laundering charges.

One other detective, Luis Nieves-Diaz, was fired as a result of the
investigation, and the Police Department is seeking to fire another,
Eric Wolfe, who has been accused of stealing drugs with Mr. Vasquez
and committing perjury.

Mr. Franz said that his client would have considered a 10-year prison
term a victory "because he had utter disdain for his own conduct."

"We're relieved that Judge Amon delivered upon him a sentence that
will enable him to return to his wife and family before the glory
years of his life are behind him," he said.