Cops Took Drug Cash, Feds Allege
Posted: 5/10/2007 5:34:00 PM
Cops took drug cash, feds allege
Source: KRQE News 13
Watch Kim Holland's story.
Federal agents searched officers' homes today.
Veteran officer one of two charged.
ALBUQUERQUE Two Santa Fe police officers accused of taking cash seized as evidence in a drug case were in federal court today facing charges.
The two sergeants, Stephen Altonji and Danny Ramirez, walked into federal court in handcuffs this afternoon. Both worked in the narcotics division.
They both pleaded not guilty to 24 counts each including a charge that they pocketed more than $5,000 recovered in a drug bust in May 2006.
"That's the allegations, and it's based on the word apparently of a drug dealer," Ramirez's attorney Jason Bowles said. "We're going to fight it hard.
"I can't wait for the trial to be set."
The case against the two police officers has been sealed until today's hearing.
Altonji has been with the force 10 years and has been on leave since November. Ramirez has been on the force for 19 years and was working today before turning himself in and being arrested.
Investigators executed search warrants on the officers' homes today collecting potential evidence including a pound of marijuana allegedly found in one of the homes.
The judge released both officers on their recognizance and ordered they be monitored by electronic bracelets.
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