A former Alabama police officer has been sentenced to prison for stealing money and property from motorists on I-65. The latter day highwayman, Jessie Alan Fuller, 25, of Pensacola, Florida was sentenced to 37 months in prison and two years supervised release, the Justice Department announced.
Fuller pleaded guilty on 26 April 2012 to one count of conspiracy against rights, a felony, and one count of deprivation of rights under color of law, a misdemeanor. These charges came from Fuller’s stealing money and property from motorists on Interstate 65 in central Alabama while he was a police officer with the Fort Deposit Police Department.
During his plea, Fuller admitted that he and another former Fort Deposit police officer agreed to pull over vehicles under the guise of legitimate law enforcement activity and to steal cash from drivers and passengers. (See Ex Alabama Cop Arrested for Stealing from Motorists on I-65)
Fuller also admitted that between May and June 2009, he and the other officer – Carlos Tyson Bennett – committed numerous thefts together, including thefts of $200 each from two separate victims and $120 from a third victim.
Bennett, 36, of Greenville, Alabama is now under an eight-count indictment. He is charged with one count of conspiracy against rights, four counts of deprivation of rights under color of law, and three counts of obstruction of justice. If convicted, Bennett could face a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 on the conspiracy charge; one year in prison and a fine of $100,000 on each of the deprivation of rights charges; and 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 on each of the obstruction charges. Trial is scheduled to begin in Bennett’s case on next month. However, as the Fuller sentencing indicates, a similar plea deal is probably underway.
In each of these highwayman incidents, Fuller and Bennett worked together, acting with each other’s knowledge and cooperation, and shared the stolen money. In each incident, the two officers used a marked patrol car, wore police clothing and carried a firearm. Fuller also admitted to stealing a GPS device from a driver whom he pulled over and arrested on March 14, 2009.
“Fuller abused his power as a law enforcement officer for his own financial gain. He violated not only the law, but also the public trust,” said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Division, DOJ.
