Former Detroit Police officer sentenced to 80 months in prison for extortion scheme

(Bill Oxford/Unsplash)

By Ashanti Lee Seabron

(DETROIT) According to Acting United States Attorney Saima Mohsin, former Detroit Police Department officer Deonne Dotson was sentenced to 80 months in federal prison on Tuesday after being convicted for extortion.

Per Fox 2 Detroit, Dotson, 49, was convicted following an 8-day jury trial before United States District Judge Robert H. Cleland. The trial was conducted in November 2019, but Dotson’s sentencing was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dotson took bribes from owners and operators of automobile collision shops in exchange for referring stolen and abandoned vehicles recovered in Detroit to their shops.  Dotson would then manufacture false reports for money from the owners and operators of the same collision shops.

Vehicle owners were unaware that Dotson was receiving funds from the same collision shops where they agreed to have their cars fixed.

Along with Dotson, five other Detroit Police officers pleaded guilty and served time in federal prison for committing similar criminal activity. These officers were:

• Charles Wills
• James Robertson
• Jamil Martin
• Martin Tutt
• Anthony Careathers

Mohsin spoke about Dotson's conviction, and sent a stern reminder that no one is above the law.

"The overwhelming majority of Detroit Police Officers are honest, hard-working, and superb public servants," Mohsin said. "Dotson’s conviction and 80 months’ sentence shows that no one is above the law, and when police officers commit crimes and violate their oath to protect and serve the public, they will be held accountable."

Follow me to see more articles like this.

...

Follow