Pubdate: Tue, 09 Nov 2010 Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution (GA) Copyright: 2010 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Contact: http://www.ajc.com/opinion/content/opinion/letters/sendletter.html Website: http://www.ajc.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/28 Author: Ty Tagami Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/corrupt.htm (Corruption - United States) FORMER ATLANTA COP'S SENTENCING POSTPONED The sentencing for a former Atlanta police officer who pleaded guilty to protecting drug traffickers has been postponed. Lucius T. Solomon III, 31, is facing 20 years to life in prison and a fine of over $4 million. He had been scheduled for sentencing Tuesday morning before U.S. District Judge Richard W. Story. Solomon pleaded guilty to corruption and drug charges in September. He was an officer in March when he was arrested after he got caught up in an FBI sting. He agreed to protect people he thought were drug dealers in exchange for $2,000, U.S. Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said, and he provided that protection twice, while on duty, in uniform and in his marked patrol car. After his arrest, Solomon, a 9-year veteran with the Atlanta Police Department, pleaded not guilty to charges of attempting to distribute 5 kilograms of cocaine and possessing a firearm while participating in multiple sales of cocaine, according to court documents. The former Zone 6 officer was arrested March 24 after several interactions with undercover FBI agents. Solomon discussed the rising price of cocaine with an agent posing as a buyer, Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Hathaway has said. The agent asked Solomon to get 5 kilograms of cocaine for less money, Hathaway said at Solomon's bond hearing in March, and Solomon called someone twice "to see if he could beat the price of $130,000." "We know he's dealing with actual drug traffickers, and he's protecting drug traffickers," Hathaway said at that March hearing. Solomon's lawyer contended Solomon didn't have ties to actual drug dealers. Solomon did accept money to protect people he thought were dealers from other cops, his attorney, Wilmer "Buddy" Parker, told the AJC . "The question is not whether he should go to jail. He should," Parker said. "The question is: how long?" - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake