FOUR FORMER POLICE OFFICERS PLEAD GUILTY
TO PUBLIC CORRUPTION CHARGES

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Four former police officers of the Prichard Police Department (PPD) pleaded guilty today to numerous police corruption and criminal civil rights charges filed in the federal district court in Southern Alabama. The defendants were arrested and charged as part of a 25-count federal indictment filed in August of 2001.

Specifically, former PPD Lieutenant James Stallworth pleaded guilty to one count of racketeering. The plea agreement details that the extortion occurred on two occasions and involved individuals whom the PPD detained by threatening them with prosecution on alleged criminal offenses. Stallworth admitted that he committed these acts with other PPD police officers while they acted in the course of their official police duties. The plea agreement also states that he and and the other defendants kept the money for themselves.

Former PPD Sgt. John Stuckey, former supervisor of the PPD Vice and Narcotics Squad, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine.

Former PPD Vice and Narcotics Detective Nathan McDuffie pleaded guilty to one count of participating in a conspiracy to deprive individuals detained by the PPD of property without due process of law. In particular, McDuffie admitted that he and other PPD police officers, took money from detained individuals and kept some or all of that money for themselves rather than turning the money over to the PPD or to a court for forfeiture proceedings.

Former PPD Vice and Narcotics Detective Derek Gillis pleaded guilty to one count of depriving an individual of rights under color of law. Specifically, Gillis admitted that he participating in seizing money from an individual detained by the PPD and permanently depriving that person of the money without due process of law.

As part of the plea agreements, all four of the former police officers agreed to provide complete and truthful cooperation regarding their criminal activities and the criminal activities of others.

The two remaining defendants charged in the August indictment, former PPD Detectives Frederick Pippins and Anthony Diaz are scheduled to go to trial on January 28, 2002. The previous trial of all six defendants in October 2001 resulted in a mistrial after a jury could not reach a unanimous verdict.

This case was handled by the Public Integrity Section of the Criminal Division and Mobile, Alabama office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

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