A former Ford Heights police officer indicted in 1996 in a federal corruption probe of the beleaguered south suburban police department entered a plea of guilty Thursday before U.S. District Judge George Lindberg as part of an agreement with federal prosecutors.
Keith Jones, 38, pleaded guilty to a single count of racketeering stemming from the federal investigation. Among other things, federal prosecutors charged Jones with taking payoffs from drug dealers to look the other way and helping to facilitate the sale of drugs in Ford Heights.
He is one of seven officers either facing charges or serving jail time as a result of the probe.
As a part of the agreement, Jones has agreed to cooperate with the government, said Assistant U.S. Atty. Jon Bunge.
Last year, Jones’ former boss, Capt. Jack Davis, was sentenced to 20 years; former Officer Dale Jones was sentenced to 14 years; and former Officer Cordell Williams was sentenced to 2 years probation.
Cpl. Odell Boxley and Cpl. Kerwin Hall are scheduled to enter pleas on Monday before U.S. District Judge George Marovich.
Sgt. Vincent Taran Hunter is scheduled to appear in court on June 10 before U.S. District Court Wayne Andersen.
