FORMER POLICE OFFICER GETS 21 MONTHS FOR SELLING DRUG

BUFFALO - A former police detective was sentenced Friday to 21 months
in prison after pleading guilty to selling cocaine.

Rene Gil, 47, is one of seven former narcotics unit members who have
been convicted of corruption in the past four years.

Gil pleaded guilty in January 2002 to obtaining and selling drugs
while employed as a police officer. As part of the plea agreement, Gil
testified against former fellow officers in exchange for a lighter
sentence.

Among those Gil took the witness stand against was former detective
Sylvestre Acosta, who was sentenced in May to 45 years in prison after
being convicted at a trial of violating the civil rights of drug
suspects by using phony information to raid their homes and steal
cash, jewelry and other items while planting evidence.

Prosecutors said Gil, along with Acosta and brothers Paul and Gerald
Skinner and Robert Hill, was involved in the conspiracy. At Gil's
sentencing, U.S. District Judge Richard Arcara referred to the group
as a "sanctified gang."

Paul Skinner was previously sentenced to 93 months in prison, while
Gerald Skinner received a 30-month term.

The charges arose out of an FBI corruption probe.