Source: Administrative Office of the United States Courts, District of Illinois
A federal jury in Chicago sent a blunt message Friday, convicting former Phoenix patrol officer Antoine “Bell” Larry of conspiring to rob motorists of cash and drugs during traffic stops and of extortion. After roughly two weeks of testimony and about half a day of deliberations, jurors returned guilty verdicts on all four counts, a rare federal win in a corruption case involving south suburban officers.
According to the Chicago Tribune, Larry was convicted on charges that included bribery, conspiracy, extortion, and attempted extortion. Prosecutors said he and Sgt. Jarrett Snowden shook down drivers for cash, offering to reduce, drop or skip charges, or to avoid towing their vehicles, if they paid up. The Tribune reports the jury found Larry guilty on all four counts after about a half-day of deliberations. Larry’s attorney, Beau Brindley, told the paper his team will keep fighting the case and blasted what he called unreliable witnesses and problematic FBI work…