Pubdate: Sat, 17 Nov 2001 Source: Naples Daily News (FL) Copyright: 2001 Naples Daily News. Contact: http://www.naplesnews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/284 Author: Associated Press Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/corrupt.htm (Corruption) SARASOTA WOMAN FRAMED BY CORRUPT DEPUTIES FILES FEDERAL LAWSUIT TAMPA - A Sarasota woman is seeking up to $3 million in damages from five Manatee County sheriff's deputies who planted drugs in her home. Sarah Louise Smith filed the lawsuit late Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Tampa. Smith lost custody of her baby daughter for 18 months after she was convicted in 1997 on drug charges during a trial in which the deputies lied to jurors. All five deputies were sentenced to prison for their role in the scheme, which involved planting drugs on suspects, stealing money from people under arrest and lying. The men were part of an elite drug- fighting group called the Delta Task Force and prosecutors said their scheme lasted from 1995 to 1999. Smith is suing former deputies Christopher Wilson, Lance Carpenter, Thomas Wooten, Paul Maass and Wayne Wyckoff. During the sentencing hearings for the officers, Smith testified the false charges led her family and friends to doubt her innocence. Last year, Smith settled a claim with the sheriff's department for $275,000, said her attorney, Greg Zitani. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake