EX-COP ADMITS TAKING BRIBES, AIDING SCAM

BELLWOOD -- A former Bellwood police detective pleaded guilty Monday to
aiding and protecting an extensive credit card scam run by his cousin.

Luis Disotuar, who was a member of a joint drug task force between Bellwood
and Maywood, also admitted extorting bribes totaling $3,700 from a drug
dealer he arrested in 1999.

U.S. prosecutors are seeking a long prison term for Disotuar under tough
drug laws, contending he looked the other way after pocketing bribes,
allowing the dealer to continue to distribute crack cocaine and heroin.

If the government prevails at sentencing Feb. 15, Disotuar could get almost
20 years in prison, Assistant U.S. Atty. Virginia Kendall said.

Disotuar's lawyer, Robert Gevirtz, said he will seek a sentence of less
than 4 years, citing Disotuar's problems with alcohol, stress and depression.

Disotuar, 39, of Chicago pleaded guilty to a federal racketeering charge,
admitting he helped his cousin, Aldo Utria, make more than $500,000 in
purchases with fraudulent credit cards and counterfeit checks. Utria has
pleaded guilty.

Disotuar admitted he stole personal information about individuals from law
enforcement computers and passed on information to his cousin for use in
the fraud, authorities said.