(CN) - A 19-year veteran of the Houston Police Department was convicted Tuesday of taking a bribe to escort narcotics using his police car. Leslie Aikens, 46, of Houston, took a $2,000 bribe to provide protection for a vehicle he believed to be transporting 7 kilograms of cocaine.
Aikens was convicted of aiding and abetting possession of a controlled substance, extortion under color of official right and of violating the Hobbs Act.
Before convicting him after less than 2 hours of deliberation, the federal jury watched a video and listened to audiotapes detailing the transaction.
Aikens' attorney claimed his client had no knowledge of the cocaine, but the jury didn't buy it.
Aikens faces 10 years to life in federal prison and up to a $10 million fine for the drug offense. He faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the Hobbs Act violation. He will be sentenced on Feb. 2, 2012.
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