FORMER POLICEMAN FROM WEST COVINA GETS PRISON FOR DRUG THEFTS

A former Huntington Park policeman was sentenced to 15 years in
federal prison on Monday for his role in a ring that stole drugs from
dealers and then sold them.

Alvaro Murillo, 45, of West Covina, worked as a sergeant before his
arrest. He was convicted in May of two drug conspiracies, one count of
extortion and one count of submitting a false tax return, according to
the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Prosecutors say Murillo stole at least 700 pounds of marijuana, four
pounds of methamphetamine and 10 pounds of cocaine from dealers
between 2002 and 2006. They say he was arrested while trying to steal
another 60 pounds of cocaine from an undercover federal agent posing
as a drug dealer.

Prosecutors say Murillo worked with informants to identify drug
dealers who could be robbed and then used law enforcement databases
for information about the dealers.

When Murillo and his accomplices obtained the drugs, they sold them,
and Murillo took his cut in cash, prosecutors said.