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This Week's Corrupt Cops Stories

Submitted by Phillip Smith on (Issue #833)
Drug War Issues

More jail guards gone bad, a Florida cop slinging steroids heads for prison, a California cop stealing pain pills from the elderly does, too, and so does a TSA agent who took bribes to look the other way. Let's get to it:

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In Chaparral, New Mexico, an Otero County jail guard was arrested last Wednesday on charges he was smuggling drugs into the jail. Luis Delgadillo, 37, went down after he was caught on surveillance cameras handing a package to a prisoner and another prisoner was overheard on a jail phone call saying Delgadillo had brought the dope in. The inmates tested positive for opiates, and Delgadillo was found in possession of meth, heroin, and Suboxone when the FBI subsequently searched his vehicle. He is charged with federal drug trafficking conspiracy. He's looking at up to 40 years.

In Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, a York County Prison guard was arrested last Wednesday for allegedly selling drugs, although no sales are alleged to have taken place at his workplace. Marino Magaro, 24, was arrested following an undercover drug investigation and is charged with delivery of a controlled substance, three counts of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. He's out on bail now.

In Fort Lauderdale, Florida, a former West Palm Beach police officer pleaded guilty last Friday to selling drugs illegally while in uniform and carrying his service weapon. Dewitt McDonald pleaded guilty in federal court to illegally selling steroids and other prescription drugs. McDonald also admitted in March that he delivered drugs to another police officer while carrying his weapon and on duty. He faces a sentence of between five years and life in prison. A Fort Lauderdale federal judge is scheduled to sentence him on July 18.

In Martinez, California, a former Concord police officer was sentenced last Friday to six months in jail for stealing prescription drugs from the elderly at a senior housing complex. Matthew Switzer, who had been a drug dog handler, copped to two counts of first-degree burglary, one count of second-degree burglary, one count of fraudulently obtaining prescription drugs and one count of elder abuse. He was actually sentenced to 2 ½ years in prison, but had two years suspended.

In Los Angeles, a former TSA officer was sentenced Monday to nearly six years in federal prison Monday for taking bribes to allow drugs to be smuggled through her screening station at the Los Angeles International Airport. Joy White, 29, is one of seven screeners arrested in April 2012 in the scheme to smuggle drugs, including kilos of cocaine, through X-ray checkpoints and onto planes. Screeners made up to $2,400 each time they looked the other way as suitcases filled with drugs passed through their X-ray machines. White is the fourth of the seven sent to prison; three others await sentencing.

Permission to Reprint: This content is licensed under a modified Creative Commons Attribution license. Content of a purely educational nature in Drug War Chronicle appear courtesy of DRCNet Foundation, unless otherwise noted.

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