Two former San Francisco police officers have been found guilty of corruption in a mixed verdict that found they conspired to steal money and property from suspects during searches, but rejected allegations of extortion and a conspiracy to distribute drugs.
Jurors convicted Ian Furminger and Edmond Robles of conspiring to violate the civil rights of suspects by theft of computers, gift cards and money and to enrich themselves while the former officers worked in the Mission Station. In addition, jurors found the men guilty of two counts of wire fraud in 2009 text message and a police report.
But jurors acquitted the men conspired to distribute drugs by allowing confidential informants to keep drugs, including cocaine and heroin, to sell later, or that they deprived the city of their honest services. The verdict also found the men not guilty of extortion from suspects in the alleged scheme and deadlocked on a single theft count against Furminger.
The government was aided in its prosecution by a third officer, Reynaldo Vargas, who was originally charged in the case but agreed to plead guilty to lesser charges and testify against Furminger and Robles.
The trial before U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer began Nov. 10 and included four days of jury deliberations. Both officers were charged in a nine-count indictment of conspiracy, theft of property from suspects during searches, conspiracy to distribute drugs taken from suspects, extortion, fraud and conspiracy against civil rights.
On October 21, Vargas, struck a plea deal with the government and agreed to testify against Furminger and Robles.
The indictment alleged the men conspired to threaten and intimidate suspects during serving of search warrants and arrests and took gift cards, computers, money and electronic devices.
Prosecutors contended that Robles stole $2,000 from the bedroom of a San Francisco home during a search by federal agents. Vargas and Robles were called in to assist Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agents in the search and Vargas will testify Robles took $2,000 in cash without the ATF agents knowledge, according to the allegations.
Case: U.S. v. Furminger, No. 14-102CRB
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