TURNCOAT TROOPER IS JAILED

Mom Weeps As He's Sentenced For Drugs

Wearing prison khakis and standing before a federal judge yesterday,
ex-Pennsylvania State Trooper Antonio Romero Jr. cried and begged for mercy.

Romero's mother, a soft-spoken Philadelphia School District retiree,
expressed similar sentiments.

But little mercy could be shown, and Romero, an admitted turncoat in the
war on drugs, was sentenced to eight years in prison without chance of parole.

Romero, 32, a trooper for 11 years who last worked on a narcotics task
force based at the Belmont Barracks in Philadelphia, had done the
unthinkable in police circles.

He'd been conned in 1998 into helping a Colombian cocaine trafficker
escape, expecting a $3 million payoff that never arrived.

Also, he'd been stealing marijuana seized as evidence for about a year, in
1997 and 1998, a total of nearly 50 pounds.

The stolen "pot" was sold on city streets by Romero's cousin, Jose L.
Davila, who awaits sentencing, for about $750 per pound, and more than
$30,000 in profits was shared equally.

The FBI caught Romero and Davila red-handed last year in a "reverse sting."

Agents supplied five kilograms of "sham" cocaine to Davila, pretending it
was partial payment from the escaped drug dealer.

Davila was arrested after taking the "bait" and he quickly informed on his
cousin, the trooper, and even recorded the trooper giving the go-ahead to
sell the cocaine.

"There is just no excuse for what he has done. It is a very bad crime,"
U.S. District Judge Robert J. Kelly said before imposing punishment in the
middle of the guideline range of 87 to 108 months.

Romero's tears dried quickly and he seemed more angry than sad as he was
led away from the courtroom in handcuffs by deputy U.S. Marshals.

His mother's tears wouldn't dry so quickly.

Three troopers, plus a dozen federal agents who had worked with Romero on
the drug task force, were in court to lobby for a long prison term.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Ewald Zittlau had them stand and told the judge
that Romero's corrupt conduct caused "great harm" to law enforcement
agencies, particularly the state police.

In area courtrooms, defense attorneys now question the integrity of
officers who worked with Romero, the prosecutor said.

"Romero has brought this day upon himself," he added.