Post by WaTcHeR on Oct 25, 2006 14:28:32 GMT -5
10.25.2006 - Two Chicago cops were arrested this morning for allegedly stealing $31,000 from self-storage lockers they thought were rented by a drug dealer.
Officers Richard E. Doroniuk, 30, and Officer Mahmoud “Mike” Shamah, 27, were picked up at their homes this morning without a struggle. A civilian, Larry “Peanut” Cross, also is implicated. They are charged with conspiracy to commit theft.
Doroniuk allegedly was caught on an Aug. 17 wiretap — the day before one of their ripoffs — discussing that he needed to be careful because other cops had recently been busted.
They also planned to conduct a home invasion on one of the drug dealers whose lockers they targeted, but the ripoff was never carried out, officials said. They intended to buy a diamond necklace or something else valuable for an unidentified person who was going to help them with the robbery, authorities said.
“Today’s arrests result from the department’s ongoing commitment to remove bad cops from the streets,” said police Supt. Phil Cline.
The arrests come just a month after four police officers were arrested for allegedly invading homes and robbing people of valuables. More cops are expected to be arrested in that case. Earlier this month, the Chicago Police Department launched an evaluation of officers with 20 or more complaints lodged against them to identify problem cops.
The FBI and the police Internal Affairs Division conducted the sting. The FBI learned from an informant that Cross was discussing ripoffs by Doroniuk and Shamah. Cross allegedly asked the informant to provide information about locations for the officers to commit thefts, authorities said.
The FBI directed the informant to tell Cross about the Grand-Pulaski Self Storage facility, where undercover agents rented a unit and left a black backpack-style bag containing $20,000, according to an FBI affidavit.
On June 13, Doroniuk and Shamah allegedly went to the storage unit with a search warrant and two other unidentified officers. Surveillance agents allegedly saw them enter and exit the unit carrying bolt cutters. When they left, the money was allegedly missing.
As of early October, there were no police records showing the money was seized or inventoried, authorities said.
On Aug. 18, the FBI set up another sting at a storage facility at Grand and Kilbourn, where the FBI informant told Cross there were drugs and at least $30,000 in cash from drug sales, authorities said. The FBI put $18,100 in the locker.
Doroniuk, Shamah and four unidentified officers went to the storage unit with a search warrant and seized the money, authorities said. They turned in $7,000 as evidence from the search and allegedly stole the remaining $11,100. Cross told the informant the officers gave him $800, authorities said.
During a wiretapped conversation on Aug. 17, Doroniuk allegedly discussed the arrest with Shamah, saying “We got to be ... real smart about this ... man.” Doroniuk also was caught on tape talking about the arrest of other officers with an unidentified accomplice.
Doroniuk joined the department in January 2000 and Shamah’s been a Chicago Police officer since August 2001. Both officers are tactical officers in the Morgan Park District on the Southwest Side.
It was unclear whether any of the unidentified officers who participated in the seizures face any disciplinary action.
www.suntimes.com/news/metro/110266,cops102506.article
Officers Richard E. Doroniuk, 30, and Officer Mahmoud “Mike” Shamah, 27, were picked up at their homes this morning without a struggle. A civilian, Larry “Peanut” Cross, also is implicated. They are charged with conspiracy to commit theft.
Doroniuk allegedly was caught on an Aug. 17 wiretap — the day before one of their ripoffs — discussing that he needed to be careful because other cops had recently been busted.
They also planned to conduct a home invasion on one of the drug dealers whose lockers they targeted, but the ripoff was never carried out, officials said. They intended to buy a diamond necklace or something else valuable for an unidentified person who was going to help them with the robbery, authorities said.
“Today’s arrests result from the department’s ongoing commitment to remove bad cops from the streets,” said police Supt. Phil Cline.
The arrests come just a month after four police officers were arrested for allegedly invading homes and robbing people of valuables. More cops are expected to be arrested in that case. Earlier this month, the Chicago Police Department launched an evaluation of officers with 20 or more complaints lodged against them to identify problem cops.
The FBI and the police Internal Affairs Division conducted the sting. The FBI learned from an informant that Cross was discussing ripoffs by Doroniuk and Shamah. Cross allegedly asked the informant to provide information about locations for the officers to commit thefts, authorities said.
The FBI directed the informant to tell Cross about the Grand-Pulaski Self Storage facility, where undercover agents rented a unit and left a black backpack-style bag containing $20,000, according to an FBI affidavit.
On June 13, Doroniuk and Shamah allegedly went to the storage unit with a search warrant and two other unidentified officers. Surveillance agents allegedly saw them enter and exit the unit carrying bolt cutters. When they left, the money was allegedly missing.
As of early October, there were no police records showing the money was seized or inventoried, authorities said.
On Aug. 18, the FBI set up another sting at a storage facility at Grand and Kilbourn, where the FBI informant told Cross there were drugs and at least $30,000 in cash from drug sales, authorities said. The FBI put $18,100 in the locker.
Doroniuk, Shamah and four unidentified officers went to the storage unit with a search warrant and seized the money, authorities said. They turned in $7,000 as evidence from the search and allegedly stole the remaining $11,100. Cross told the informant the officers gave him $800, authorities said.
During a wiretapped conversation on Aug. 17, Doroniuk allegedly discussed the arrest with Shamah, saying “We got to be ... real smart about this ... man.” Doroniuk also was caught on tape talking about the arrest of other officers with an unidentified accomplice.
Doroniuk joined the department in January 2000 and Shamah’s been a Chicago Police officer since August 2001. Both officers are tactical officers in the Morgan Park District on the Southwest Side.
It was unclear whether any of the unidentified officers who participated in the seizures face any disciplinary action.
www.suntimes.com/news/metro/110266,cops102506.article