FORMER POLICE DETECTIVES CONVICTED OF CORRUPTION

BUFFALO - Two former police detectives were convicted Friday of
violating the rights of drug suspects by planting evidence, stealing
money and falsifying information to get search warrants.

A federal jury convicted Paul Skinner, 46, and Sylvestre Acosta, 50,
following a three-week trial.

Acosta faces a mandatory prison term of at least 55 years for his
conviction on three counts each of deprivation of civil rights,
conspiracy and using a firearm in a crime of violence. Skinner faces
at least five years in prison after being convicted of one count each
of the same charges, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Sentencing was scheduled for March.

The two, both of whom received a number of commendations from their
department, were indicted in January 2003. Neither testified at trial.

A key prosecution witness was Rene Gil, a former police colleague, who
earlier took a plea deal to drug trafficking charges.