FORMER LAKE CITY POLICE OFFICER TO SERVE 20 YEARS

A former Lake City police officer found guilty of drug trafficking and
extortion in October will serve 20 years in federal prison.

Shanita McKnight, 35, was convicted Oct. 21 of drug trafficking and
extortion charges after a five-day federal trial.

U.S. District Court Judge Terry L. Wooten sentenced her Wednesday to
20 years in federal prison for each count, but the sentences will run
concurrently.

McKnight also must serve five years of probation for the drug
trafficking charge and three years of probation for extortion. Wooten
ordered the probation sentences to run concurrently, as well.

Before her sentence was handed down, a very emotional McKnight
addressed the court and begged for mercy.

"I want you to know ... I'm a good person," a sobbing McKnight said.
"I don't care what these people say in this courtroom ... I was a good
officer. My family needs me and I need my family. I've lost everything
I've worked hard for. I'm not the person they have made me out to be!"

At least five others addressed Wooten on McKnight's behalf, including
her husband, James McKnight.

"I just want to tell my wife that I love her," he said. "I'm trying to
be a mother and a father at home."

James McKnight said his two children cry at night and ask for their
mother.

The eldest child, an 11-year-old girl, keeps asking her father why
people are telling lies about her mother, James McKnight said.

He said he begged his wife not move back to Lake City, but she told
him she felt that she could make the city better.

Others who lauded Shanita McKnight during the sentencing said she was
guilty by association and agreed it was a bad choice for her to move
back to Lake City and become an officer there. They also said
McKnight's character was impeccable and she was always willing to help
others, especially children.

Her attorney, Joseph Henry of Columbia, pointed out court she'd worked
for the Lake City Police Department from 1998 until 2005 and had no
prior criminal record.

Henry also said she had limited involvement, if any, in the drug
conspiracy that operated in Lake City.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Debbie Barbier, who prosecuted the case, said
Shanita McKnight played a role in 119 kilograms of crack cocaine being
distributed in Lake City.

"She wasn't a major player in the conspiracy," Henry said. "My client
was a low person on the totem pole."

Shanita McKnight was given small amounts of money from drug dealers
whenever they were inclined to give her money, he told Wooten.

Wooten said he considered Shanita McKnight's role in the conspiracy
before handing down a sentence and agreed some reduction in sentence
would be appropriate.

While her role was certainly a serious one, "a good part of what they
(drug dealers) did would have been done without her involvement,"
Wooten said.

According to sentencing guidelines, Shanita McKnight should have
received between 292 and 365 months in prison, but the actual sentence
is left to a judge's discretion.

Judges can sentence within the guidelines or depart from them, as
Wooten did in McKnight's case.

Before the sentence was handed down, Barbier told the court Shanita
McKnight allowed a lot of drugs to come into the small rural community
of Lake City.

"She made a mockery out of our system," Barbier said. "She put a price
tag on justice, and society cannot put up with that."

Barbier refuted Henry's statement that Shanita McKnight was cooperated
with federal and state authorities.

"She took this opportunity and wasted it," Barbier said. "She told a
little bit of the truth .. and made numerous false statements. She
also failed a polygraph, which was a breach of her agreement."

Shanita McKnight faced a maximum penalty of 10 years to life in prison
and fines ranging from $4 million to $8 million. She also faced a
maximum penalty of a $250,000 fine and/or 20 years in prison for the
extortion charge. Per federal guidelines, she had to remain
incarcerated until her sentencing.

Shanita McKnight was charged Aug. 9, 2005, with acceptance of money to
conceal an offense involving a felony, misconduct in office, misprison
of a felony and obstruction of justice.

The criminal affidavit accompanying the warrants alleged Shanita
McKnight, during her years with the Lake City Police Department,
tipped off drug dealers to police activities to help them elude arrest.

In addition, the affidavit indicated that Shanita McKnight was present
during many drug transactions but never did anything about them and
also that she was given money by drug dealers in exchange for
information about law enforcement activity in the area.

Shanita McKnight and her aunt, Albergail McFadden, 52, both of Lake
City, were indicted June 26, 2007 on drug trafficking charges.
McKnight also was charged with extortion for using her position as a
police officer to "wrongfully obtain monies from other
individuals."

McFadden was sentenced Nov. 13 to 20 years in prison and 10 years
supervised release by Wooten. McFadden could have been ordered to pay
a large fine, but Wooten said he would not impose a fine in the case
because she didn't have the ability to pay. McFadden did not testify
during her niece's trial.

Shanita McKnight was co-owner of 104 Samuel St., Lake City where a
nightclub called Mamie Lou's was located. Testimony established that
Mamie Lou's was operated by McFadden and was a well-known drug haven
in Lake City where crack cocaine was sold and smoked, and prostitutes
were available.