FORMER ATLANTA COP'S SENTENCING POSTPONED

The sentencing for a former Atlanta police officer who pleaded guilty
to protecting drug traffickers has been postponed.

Lucius T. Solomon III, 31, is facing 20 years to life in prison and a
fine of over $4 million. He had been scheduled for sentencing Tuesday
morning before U.S. District Judge Richard W. Story. Solomon pleaded
guilty to corruption and drug charges in September.

He was an officer in March when he was arrested after he got caught up
in an FBI sting. He agreed to protect people he thought were drug
dealers in exchange for $2,000, U.S. Attorney Sally Quillian Yates
said, and he provided that protection twice, while on duty, in uniform
and in his marked patrol car.

After his arrest, Solomon, a 9-year veteran with the Atlanta Police
Department, pleaded not guilty to charges of attempting to distribute
5 kilograms of cocaine and possessing a firearm while participating in
multiple sales of cocaine, according to court documents.

The former Zone 6 officer was arrested March 24 after several
interactions with undercover FBI agents.

Solomon discussed the rising price of cocaine with an agent posing as
a buyer, Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Hathaway has said. The
agent asked Solomon to get 5 kilograms of cocaine for less money,
Hathaway said at Solomon's bond hearing in March, and Solomon called
someone twice "to see if he could beat the price of $130,000."

"We know he's dealing with actual drug traffickers, and he's
protecting drug traffickers," Hathaway said at that March hearing.

Solomon's lawyer contended Solomon didn't have ties to actual drug
dealers. Solomon did accept money to protect people he thought were
dealers from other cops, his attorney, Wilmer "Buddy" Parker, told the
AJC .

"The question is not whether he should go to jail. He should," Parker
said. "The question is: how long?"