Feds Announce Indictments Against Former East Cleveland Officers

Federal prosecutors today indicted former East Cleveland police Sgt. Torris Moore for her role in a conspiracy to commit illegal searches and seizures in several drug trafficking and possession cases. In all, three former officers are accused of fabricating evidence and using false, confidential informants to obtain search warrants to enter the private homes of suspected drug dealer and to take property for themselves.

Former officers Antonio Malone and Eric Jones join Moore in the indictment. 

Read the full indictment below.

After illegally taking money and property from private residences, the officers kept the goods "for their own enrichment," U.S. Attorney Steven Dettelbach said today. "They were nothing more, according to the indictment, than thieves."

As an example, on Sept. 11, 2012, the three officers met in an East Cleveland park to divide a portion of $20,000 in cash seized from a Sheldon Avenue home. Each officer received between $2,000 and $3,000. The police report later noted that the officers had seized only $11,000 from the house. Additional instances of the conspiracy are listed in the indictment.

"They viewed the drug trade not as a public safety risk, but as a chance to get rich themselves," Dettelbach said.

County Prosecutor Timothy McGinty noted that some drug-related cases in East Cleveland were dropped as a result of these defendants' actions.

USA v. Torris Moore by sandyatscene