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Ex-Yuba City Police Officer Sentenced for Bribery
Harminder Phagura, a 37-year-old former Yuba City Police officer, has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for taking bribes in exchange for sensitive information.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, during the course of the crime, Phagura exchanged sensitive information gained from his official position for money.
The investigation revealed that Phagura worked with his co-defendant, Gursharan Phagura, who transmitted the information to a government source posing as a cocaine trafficker.
On July 29, 2014, federal agents observed the two men meeting in a Yuba City Police vehicle, where they exchanged text messages regarding the state of police presence in the area.
As part of the undercover operation, the government source paid a total of $6,000 for the information, which was obtained through coded messages sent to the co-defendant’s phone.
At sentencing, U.S. District Judge Garland E. Burrell Jr. characterized Phagura’s conduct as ‘reprehensible and a breach of the public trust.’
‘When a police officer violates the public trust, the community suffers,’ said U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert. ‘My office takes seriously any allegation of official misconduct. We hope that this prosecution makes clear that no one is above the law – especially those who have taken an oath to protect the community.’
The case is the product of an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Yuba City Police Department.
Co-defendant Gursharan Phagura is charged with possessing with intent to distribute cocaine and is scheduled to appear in court on March 31, 2017.
Key Facts
- State: California
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Public Corruption
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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