EX-COP GETS 24-YEAR PRISON TERM

A former Chicago police officer who claimed his post-retirement
wealth came from luck at casino slot machines was sentenced Thursday
to more than 24 years in prison in connection with the theft of
cocaine from an evidence warehouse.

John L. Smith, 57, of Olympia Fields continued to assert his
innocence at a hearing in U.S. District Court in Chicago, saying that
successful gambling allowed him to afford a $177,000 Rolls-Royce and
a luxurious home.

"Everyone the prosecution brought in to testify against me lied,"
said Smith, speaking in a calm, measured voice. "The entire situation
is made up by the prosecution because of my [gambling] lifestyle. ...
I learned how to win."

But U.S. District Judge Elaine Bucklo said Smith's statements showed
only that he had no remorse. Instead of apologizing, Smith "asks me
to ignore all the evidence ... [and] accuses the government of
changing the evidence," Bucklo said.

In 2001, Chicago police discovered more than 20 kilograms of cocaine
missing from what all sides agreed was a badly mismanaged evidence
warehouse in the basement of the Cook County Criminal Courts
Building. Smith, a 23-year police veteran, had worked there for years
before retiring in 1999.

In 2004, a federal jury convicted Smith of narcotics conspiracy,
money laundering and three counts each of tax evasion and filing
false tax returns in connection with the theft of the drugs.

"He made easily in excess of $1 million," Assistant U.S. Atty.
Christopher Niewoehner said Thursday in court. "That's because he
paid nothing for his drugs. So everything was pure profit."

Niewoehner asked Bucklo to sentence Smith to at least 24 years and 4
months, which was the sentence she imposed.

Smith's defense lawyer, George Pappas, urged Bucklo to sentence Smith
to the minimum possible sentence of 10 years. Pappas said Smith was a
Vietnam veteran, had been a good police officer and deserved a chance
to someday be released from prison.

Niewoehner said Smith and his wife together made more than $100,000 a
year, but that Smith stole to finance a lifestyle that included the
Rolls-Royce, a 1995 Mustang convertible, a Chicago apartment
building, fur coats and jewelry.

"It's pure greed," Niewoehner said.