DETROIT – Two Detroit police officers convicted of using their police status to rob drug dealers will be sentenced Wednesday.
Lt. David Hansberry, 35, and Officer Bryan Watson, 47 were convicted on July 11, 2016 on charges of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by extortion and robbery.
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Hansberry and Watson were members of the now-disbanded Narcotics Unit of the Detroit Police Department, but were suspended in October 2014.
Hansberry, a 16-year veteran officer, and Watson, a 22-year veteran, used their status as police to set up drug deals and rob victims, evidence showed.
According to authorities, they would conduct traffic stops and fake arrests, and then steal drugs, money and property from their victims. Hansberry and Watson would wear police uniforms, drive police vehicles, activate lights on the vehicles, carry firearms and display official badges while carrying out the robberies.
Police said Hansberry and Watson would identify themselves as police as a way to get victims to comply and flee so that property, money and drugs could be stolen.
"These defendants tarnished the badge that is worn with honor by their fellow officers, using their power as police officers to steal money and drugs from criminals who have no recourse," said U.S. Attorney Barbara L. McQuade.
They would also not log money and drugs as evidence seized while searching homes. Instead, they would split the money and arrange to sell the drugs, also splitting the money from the sale of the drugs, authorities said.
For instance, during a drug seizure Hansberry and Watson participated in during July 2010, more than $3 million came from the seizure, but only $2.2 million was placed in the evidence room.
"We are committed to the highest standards of integrity, and we will remove any officers who do not live up to those high standards,” said Detroit police Chief James Craig.
The case was investigated by the by the FBI Detroit Area Public Corruption Task Force, in collaboration with the Detroit Police Department's Office of Internal Affairs and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Hansberry and Watson were acquitted of all other charges, including conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute narcotics, possession with intent to distribute five or more kilograms of cocaine and two counts of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and drug trafficking crime.
They pleaded not guilty to the charges. A third defendant, Kevlin Omar Brown, 45, was also charged with one count of interference with commerce by robbery and extortion. He pleaded not guilty.
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