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Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

Six L.A. Deputies|Sentenced to Prison

LOS ANGELES (CN) - A federal judge Tuesday gave six Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies an earful in sentencing them to prison for obstructing a federal investigation into misconduct at the Men's Central Jail.

U.S. District Judge Percy Anderson said the deputies lacked "courage to do what was right" and that none of them showed "even the slightest remorse."

A jury on July 1 convicted the officers, including two lieutenants, of attempting to influence witnesses, threatening to arrest an FBI agent, and concealing an FBI informant.

The conspiracy began in 2011 when sheriff's officers learned that an inmate was an FBI informant and was cooperating in the federal investigation of corruption and civil rights violations at the jail.

"Blind obedience to a corrupt culture has serious consequences," Judge Anderson told them as he sentenced them to terms of 21 to 41 months.

Lt. Gregory Thompson, 54, (retired) who oversaw the sheriff's Operation Safe Jails Program, was sentenced to 37 months and fined $7,500.

Lt. Stephen Leavins, 52, of the sheriff's Internal Criminal Investigations Bureau, was sentenced to 41 months.

Deputy Gerard Smith, 42, was sentenced to 21 months.

Deputy Mickey Manzo, 34, got 24 months.

Sgt. Scott Craig, 50, of the Internal Criminal Investigations Bureau, was sentenced to 33 months.

Sgt. Maricela Long, 46, also with Internal Criminal Investigations, was sentenced to 24 months.

All six were convicted of conspiracy and obstructing justice, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

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