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"Take it easy. Drug pushers going to prison gets them upset."

Not always...sometimes it brings a welcome smile.

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Three Chicago Police Officers Charged With Drug Conspiracy
Tuesday, January 28, 2003, 6:53 a.m.

CHICAGO (AP) -- Three Chicago police officers have been indicted on charges they conspired to possess and distribute cocaine in a case that grew out of an investigation of another police officer convicted of drug trafficking, officials said Monday.

U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald said the indictment stems from the investigation of former Chicago police officer Joseph Miedzianowski who was sentenced in federal court here last Friday to life in prison for running a Miami-to-Chicago cocaine ring.

One of the officers in the new indictment, James Benson, 34, a 12-year veteran, pleaded guilty Monday to one count of conspiracy to possess and distribute cocaine between March 1998 and July 1999, according to Fitzgerald.

Benson was released on his own recognizance by U.S. District Judge John Darrah, who postponed sentencing.

Also indicted on drug charges were Jon Woodall, 40, a detective since 1995, and Peter Matich, 40, an officer since 1994. The indictment was handed down Jan. 23 and unsealed Monday. All three officers were placed on restricted duty in July 1999.

The indictment accuses the three officers of removing about seven kilograms of cocaine and a firearm that were secreted in an auto, a Buick, impounded in a police lot and agreeing to keep for themselves 5 kilograms of the cocaine and the firearm.

Fitzgerald said the officers created false police reports claiming the remaining two kilograms of cocaine taken were from another auto, a Camaro, causing a man to be wrongfully charged with possession. The charges were later dropped.

According to Benson's plea agreement, Woodall, Benson and Matich were directed to the cocaine by the driver of the Camaro. The officers had received a tip the man was involved in drug trafficking.

After he was arrested by police on suspicion of possessing cocaine, the driver of the Camaro allegedly told the three officers that there was a car in a police impound lot which contained illegal drugs in a hidden compartment which had not been discovered by the authorities who had seized the vehicle.

According to Benson's plea agreement, the three officers went to the police pound on March 4, 1998, took seven kilograms of cocaine from the impounded car and kept five for themselves. The driver of Camaro was allowed to go free.

The indictment also alleges that three weeks after the Buick was impounded, its driver at the time was murdered March 23, 1998.

Woodall allegedly obstructed the homicide investigation by causing a witness to withhold material information.

The indictment claims Woodall, Matich and Benson sold the cocaine they took from the impounded car, and they agreed each of them would receive $12,000.

The visit to the auto pound by the indicted police officers was observed by three other police officers who have not been indicted, prosecutors said, adding that the federal investigation continues. (Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)