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Ex-East St. Louis cop gets 5 years in drug case

Posted May 10, 2014 1:01 am

Associated Press

EAST ST. LOUIS - A former East St. Louis police detective has been ordered to spend five years in federal prison on cocaine-related charges.

Forty-two-year-old Orlando Ward pleaded guilty in November to conspiracy to distribute cocaine and to possessing the drug with plans to deal it. During his sentencing hearing Friday in East St. Louis, Ward told the judge he was remorseful.

A federal prosecutor has described Ward in court as a corrupt police officer who for bribes was willing to provide information, police protection and resources to the drug conspiracy.

Ward resigned in May of last year after a dozen years on the police force.

Ward also has been ordered to do 250 hours a year of community service for each of the three years he will be on supervised release.

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