Feds nab 2 cops in theft sting
Accused of taking what they thought was drug cash
October 26, 2006
BY FRANK MAIN AND NATASHA KORECKI Staff Reporters
Two Chicago cops were arrested Wednesday in an FBI sting for allegedly stealing $31,000 from self-storage lockers they thought were rented by a drug dealer.
Tactical Officers Richard Doroniuk and Mahmoud "Mike" Shamah are charged in federal court with conspiracy to commit theft. Paroled felon Larry "Peanut" Cross is charged with helping them.
"Today's arrests result from the department's ongoing commitment to remove bad cops from the streets," Police Supt. Phil Cline said.
A lieutenant, a sergeant and three other officers participated in the storage locker raids in June and August, authorities said. They were not identified.
"We're going to look at the culpability of supervisors and see if there's any other involvement," said Cline, whose Internal Affairs Division is investigating with the FBI.
The arrests come a month after four officers in the Special Operations Section were charged with invading homes and robbing people. More arrests are expected in that case.
'Negative results' cited
Doroniuk, 30, and Shamah, 27, popped onto the FBI's radar when an informant alleged the officers were planning ripoffs with Cross, 55, officials said.
Through the informant, the FBI fed a tip to Cross that a drug dealer was storing cash at Grand-Pulaski Self Storage. Cross notified Doroniuk and Shamah, who executed a search warrant June 13, according to an FBI affidavit. They allegedly cut a lock and swiped a bag containing $20,000. They filed a report saying the search turned up "negative results," officials say.
On Aug. 18, they allegedly hit a storage facility at Grand and Kilbourn where they thought the same drug dealer was storing more cash. They are accused of taking $18,100 put in the locker by the FBI. On a wiretapped call, Cross said the officers paid him $800, officials said. Doroniuk and Shamah allegedly turned in $7,000 to the Police Department as evidence.
In one intriguing wiretapped conversation, Doroniuk allegedly called five Chicago Police officers "stupid" for getting arrested after stealing $1 million from a suitcase with their fingerprints on it that they then left in their car. No such arrests have been made public. A police spokeswoman would only say "the investigation is ongoing."
Named dog for him
Wednesday, the officers were ordered held until a bond hearing next week. Doroniuk's attorney said "he's going to have a full hearing." Lawyers for Shamah and Cross declined comment.
Constance Marie Tracy, who said she was Doroniuk's girlfriend, appeared at the hearing in federal court. She said the FBI gave her shocking news that Doroniuk was married with a child.
"He treated me like I always wanted to be treated," Tracy said, adding that he bought her a Coach purse and took her to the Sybaris getaway. She said she even named her pet Chihuahua Richard after Doroniuk. Her cell phone bore his picture. "This is how much I love him," she said.
Doroniuk and Shamah -- partners in the Morgan Park District -- also face lawsuits. In one case, they are accused of beating Talmon Hegwood in 2003 and planting cocaine on him. Prosecutors dismissed drug charges against Hegwood, but he was returned to prison for a parole violation, said his attorney, Nicholas Pavich.
Doroniuk will be named in a lawsuit being filed by the estate of Dantwain Betts, said Kevin B. Rogers, an attorney for the family. Doroniuk fatally shot Betts on April 30 after Betts allegedly tried torun over another officer with his car, sources say. Police officials said the shooting was justified.
Doroniuk faces another suit for allegedly pointing a gun at off-duty Officer Chauncey Moore and spraying Mace into his eyes as Moore waited in the Morgan Park District parking lot to pick up his wife, a sergeant. An internal investigation found Moore at fault and he was disciplined, records show.
Contributing: Fran Spielman
fmain @suntimes.com
nkorecki @suntimes.com
