Pubdate: Sat, 08 Dec 2001
Source: Clarion-Ledger, The (MS)
Copyright: 2001 The Clarion-Ledger
Contact: http://www.clarionledger.com/about/letters.html
Website: http://www.clarionledger.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/805
Author: Sherri Williams

EX-JPD SERGEANT ENTERS GUILTY PLEA IN DRUG CASE

Gaddis One Of 7 Officers Accused Of Taking Payoffs

Fredrick Gaddis, one of seven Jackson police officers accused last year of 
taking payoffs to escort drug dealers, pleaded guilty Friday, thus cutting 
the maximum time he faces in prison by 12 years.

His plea before U.S. District Judge William Barbour came a day after former 
Jackson Police Department Patrolman Tim Henderson and former Detective 
Wallace Jones drew the harshest prison terms of other officers sentenced.

Gaddis, 38, a former Precinct 3 sergeant in charge of a drug unit, was 
scheduled to go on trial Monday on an extortion charge, which carries a 
maximum of 20 years imprisonment upon conviction.

But Assistant U.S. Attorney Don Burkhalter said Gaddis agreed Thursday to 
plead guilty to two counts of use of a communications facility in a drug 
crime. Gaddis now faces a maximum eight years in prison.

John Colette, Gaddis' lawyer, was in the courtroom Thursday when Barbour 
sentenced Henderson to eight years and Jones to four years.

Colette would not comment when asked whether the sentencings affected 
Gaddis' decision to plead before Barbour Friday evening. Gaddis also would 
not comment.

Gaddis, an officer for 13 years, is set to be sentenced Feb. 15. He remains 
free on bond.

Gaddis pleaded guilty to accepting $1,000 for providing protection of a 
shipment of 10 kilograms of cocaine March 16, 2000, and to accepting $1,000 
for providing protection for 10 kilograms of cocaine on June 2, 2000. He 
used a telephone and a pager to arrange the protection, according to 
prosecutors.

Burkhalter said the government was prepared to present "absolutely 
overwhelming evidence" against Gaddis, including still and video 
photographs of the escorts, taped conversations and the testimony of two 
informants and former JPD Sgt. Ronald Youngblood, who worked with Gaddis in 
Precinct 3.

Youngblood's cooperation with authorities led to the indictments against 
Gaddis and Henderson in the same sting operation that netted a total of six 
officers. Jones was indicted in a separate FBI investigation.

Cases against two other officers charged with Gaddis and Henderson have 
ended in convictions, either by trial or plea. Charges against another 
officer, Joe Wade, were dismissed.

Charges against Youngblood were dismissed without prejudice Dec. 14, 
meaning they could be brought up again. "That issue is being considered by 
our office right now," Burkhalter said of prosecuting Youngblood.

Burkhalter said the nearly concluded prosecutions of the six officers bring 
closure to an era of corruption in the city.

"The city can now put this behind them and a hovering cloud can be removed 
from the (police) department," he said. "This allows good police officers 
to get along with their jobs without any doubt lingering from the public."

However, Ward 3 City Councilman Kenneth Stokes, who lives in Precinct 3, 
said he has doubts about the entire investigation.

"I am concerned about the issue of entrapment," he said. "I do believe that 
some of these officers were good officers and simply because of bad 
judgment and entrapment some of their careers and lives have been 
destroyed. I feel there are crooked police officers in JPD but I don't 
think a vast majority of the crooked officers were set up in the sting." 
Also charged were Stanley Butler and Nate Thomas, both eight-year officers. 
Butler was sentenced to a year in prison in May after being convicted Feb. 
23 of taking two $200 payments on Feb. 7 and 14, 2000.

Thomas pleaded guilty Feb. 7. He accepted $150 payments eight times between 
Aug. 24-Oct. 12, 1999. He was sentenced to four months' imprisonment and 
five months' house arrest in April.
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