Prosecutors lay out case against ex-undercover drug officers
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PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Federal prosecutors in Philadelphia have laid out their case against six former undercover drug officers charged in a sweeping police corruption probe.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Wzorek told jurors in his opening statement Monday that if police steal money from drug dealers it’s still a robbery because “it’s not yours to take.”
He said the former officers routinely broke into homes without search warrants, ransacked them and stole drugs, cash and other valuables.
Prosecutors say the lucrative scheme ran from 2006 until 2012. Scores of convictions based on the unit’s work have been overturned.
One former officer is slated to testify for the prosecution. Defense lawyers say he and the drug suspects also set to testify can’t be trusted. The trial is expected to last about 10 weeks.