JURY CONVICTS EX-OFFICER IN THEFT OF DRUG MONEY

A former Memphis police officer was convicted Friday in a multicount
federal indictment stemming from the theft of more than $135,000 in drug
forfeiture money.

Alandas McGraw, who has been fired from the Police Department, was
convicted by a federal court jury of conspiracy, money laundering and
defrauding a government agency.

He was the forfeiture and settlement officer of the Police Department's
vice and narcotics unit. Authorities said McGraw had the authority and
control of the necessary paperwork to pave the way for the city to cut two
settlement checks that were split among himself and two others.

McGraw, 32, faces a maximum of more than 100 years in prison when he is
sentenced in December by U.S. Dist. Judge Jon McCalla. Under a criminal
forfeiture count, a judgment was returned against McGraw for $135,070.

In July, co-defendants Victor Bowen, 32, and Barbara Patrick, 41, pleaded
guilty to federal conspiracy, mail fraud, embezzlement and money-laundering
charges. They are set to be sentenced in October.

Bowen is McGraw's cousin.

All three also face related state charges.