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Press Release

Former Chicago Police Sergeant Sentenced to Six Months in Prison for Passing Government Information to Store Clerk in Exchange for Cash

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Illinois

CHICAGO — A former sergeant in the Chicago Police Department was sentenced today to six months in federal prison for taking cash payments from a liquor store clerk in exchange for disclosing government information.

RAY M. RAMIREZ served as a sergeant in the 12th Police District on the city’s Near West Side.  Ramirez admitted in a plea agreement that he obtained information from law enforcement databases and passed it to the store clerk in exchange for cash payments of $150 to $200.  The information included a criminal background check on a prospective store employee, a vehicle registration check, and a review of police incidents occurring in and around the store.

Ramirez also admitted that he shook down the clerk and other store employees for cash payments ranging from $70 to $200.  Ramirez often wore his police uniform and was on duty when he demanded the payments.

Ramirez, 53, of Chicago, pleaded guilty last year to one misdemeanor count of exceeding his authorized use a police department computer.  U.S. District Judge Ronald A. Guzman imposed the six-month sentence in federal court in Chicago.

The sentencing was announced by Zachary T. Fardon, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; and Michael J. Anderson, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Cunniff Church.

Updated December 8, 2016

Topic
Public Corruption