Public
Corruption
The
FBI's highly sensitive public corruption investigations
focus on all levels of government (local, state, and
federal) and include allegations of judicial, legislative,
regulatory, contract, and law enforcement corruption.
Law enforcement corruption accounts for more than one-third
of the current corruption investigations. These cases
typically involve law enforcement officers accepting
money to protect (or facilitate) drug-trafficking and
organized criminal activity. Uncovering cases of public
corruption is a unique FBI responsibility.
PUBLIC CORRUPTION CASE: COLOR OF LAW
On April 8, 1999, Orange, New Jersey, Police Department (OPD) Officer Joyce
A. Carnegie was shot and killed after confronting a robbery suspect. On April
11, 1999, Earl D. Faison was arrested as the suspect in Officer Carnegie's
murder. While in police custody, Faison subsequently died as a result of complications
from asthma. Another suspect ultimately confessed to the murder.
Faison's family alleged police brutality during his arrest and incarceration,
and in April 1999, the FBI's Newark Field Office initiated a Color of Law investigation.
They conducted numerous interviews, crime scene analyses, and extensive use
of the federal grand jury. On June 20, 2000, five OPD officers were indicted
by a federal grand jury in the District of New Jersey. All five were convicted
of beating Faison.
PUBLIC CORRUPTION CASE: COLOR OF LAW
On October 19, 1999, Rafael A. Perez, a now former officer with the Los Angeles
Police Department (LAPD), began confessing to local prosecutors about a number
of criminal acts performed by him and several other LAPD officers assigned
to the Rampart District. The FBI initiated an investigation. In exchange for
leniency on a state cocaine theft charge and immunity from prosecution for
other local crimes, Perez began cooperating with local prosecutors. He revealed
that on October 12, 1996, Javier F. Ovando, an arrestee who was unarmed and
handcuffed, was shot multiple times by Perez and Nino Durden. After the shooting,
the officers planted a sawed-off .22 caliber rifle on the victim, filed false
criminal charges against him, and testified falsely at his criminal trial.
On February 9, 2001, Durden admitted his role in the shooting and subsequent
cover-up involving Ovando. He entered guilty pleas and is awaiting sentencing.
On November 29, 2001, Perez was charged with firearms violations and conspiracy.
He entered into a plea agreement with the government, admitted to his role,
and is awaiting sentencing. Ovando served three years of a 23-year sentence
before he was released.
