RULING UPHELD IN EX-OFFICER'S APPEAL

Panel Agrees: Robbery, Not Extortion, Was Committed

Had the conviction been overturned, the former Roanoke officer would have
faced a lighter sentence.

A panel of federal appeals judges upheld the ruling of a federal judge that
the actions of a former Roanoke police officer were robbery and not extortion.

With the decision, the former officer, Frederick Pledge, still faces a
sentence of more than eight years in federal prison.

Pledge, now 31, pleaded guilty in March 2001 to racketeering in connection
with abusing his position as a police officer to get drug dealers to pay
him off, providing security for the transport of drugs, and taking drugs
from dealers and not reporting the seizures. This happened while Pledge was
working for the Roanoke Police Department from 1994 to June 2000. He is
serving his sentence in a federal prison in Ohio.

Pledge's attorney, Chris Kowalczuk of Roanoke, reserved the right to argue
at Pledge's sentencing whether Pledge's criminal activity was bribery or
extortion instead of robbery. That determination could have resulted in a
much lighter sentence for Pledge. Pledge appealed the ruling of U.S.
District Judge James Turk.

But the panel decided that Pledge's behavior toward some people constituted
robbery, a determination which carries with it that victims feel a threat
of force or violence.

"Although he may not have directly threatened any of them," the panel
ruled, "his speech, conduct, and actions during the encounters implied a
threat of harm if they did not comply with his requests."