Price Montgomery, Corruption, Michigan 2013

Former Highland Park Police Officer Sentenced to Prison for Bribery

A former Highland Park police officer has been sentenced to prison for taking a $10,000 bribe and conspiring with other officers to protect cocaine shipments.

Price Montgomery, 40, of Detroit, Michigan, was sentenced to 18 months in prison and two years of supervised release for his role in the bribery scheme. Montgomery, who served as a Highland Park police officer for two years, accepted the bribe with his partner, former police officer Anthony Bynum, in return for agreeing not to appear as a witness at a man's trial in November 2012.

The bribery scheme involved Montgomery, Bynum, and two other Highland Park police officers accepting cash from an FBI informant in exchange for protecting a shipment that contained what they believed were four kilograms of cocaine. The officers used their police guns and badges to protect the shipment.

Montgomery's sentencing completes the case against the four former Highland Park police officers. His co-defendants, Craig Clayton, Shawn Williams, and Anthony Bynum, were previously sentenced to 12 months, 15 months, and 18 months in prison, respectively.

U.S. Attorney Barbara L. McQuade stated that the court's sentence sends a strong message that public officials who use their positions of trust to personally profit will be punished. FBI Special Agent in Charge Paul M. Abbate added that government officials who breach the public trust for their own selfish purposes will be pursued aggressively and brought to justice.

Montgomery's case was investigated by agents of the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David A. Gardey. The case highlights the importance of holding public officials accountable for their actions and ensuring that they do not use their positions for personal gain.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edmi/pr/former-highland-park-police-officersentenced-prison-taking-10000-bribe