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BUFFALO---An ex-narcotics cop convicted of distributing cocaine while on duty will serve less than two years in a federal prison.
Rene Gil, 47, has been sentenced to 21 months amid assurances from federal prosecutors that no favoritism was shown.
He had pleaded guilty to the charges in January, 2002 as part of a plea bargain in which he agreed to testify against fellow officers. Gil was one of seven former narcotics officers who have been convicted in a FBI corruption probe in the last four years.
While he was free on bail following his plea, Gil was arrested in Tampa, Fla., on charges of theft, forgery and fraud related to alleged incidents while he was employed in a Tampa pawn shop. He was sentenced to 18 months probation on those charges, ordered to wear an ankle bracelet and placed under house arrest in Florida.
Gil was a government witness against former detective Sylvestre Acosta who was sentenced to 45 years in prison after being found guilty of violating the civil rights of defendants by using falsified information to raid houses of drug suspects, stealing cash, jewelry and other items while planting evidence against the inhabitants who he later arrested and charged with drug crimes. 1-15-06
© 2005 North
Country Gazette
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