By Allan Lengel
ticklethewire.com
Atlanta cop Lucius T. Solomon got tripped up in an FBI sting and will likely head off to prison.
The 31-year-old, now a former cop, pleaded guilty Thursday in U.S. District Court in Atlanta to corruption and drug charges. He could get up to life in prison at sentencing, which is set for Nov. 9.
According to authorities, Solomon on three occasions in 2009 and 2010 provided protection for what he believed to be multi-kilogram cocaine deals, but in reality it was all part of an FBI sting that has been carried out in other cities around the nation over the years.
On two occasions, Solomon was on duty, in uniform and in his marked police car when he provided the protection, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. In each deal, he agreed to provide protection for $2,000.
“Instead of protecting and serving the people of this community from the scourge of the illegal drug trade, this former police officer took money to protect the very drug dealers he had sworn to pursue and arrest,” Sally Quillian Yates said in a statement. “There is no greater breach of a police officer’s oath than to actively participate in criminal conduct that so powerfully harms the community.”
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