By Brian Witte, The Associated Press
Baltimore -- Former Police Commissioner Edward T. Norris pleaded guilty Monday to using thousands of dollars in police funds to pay for liquor, extramarital affairs, lavish meals and nights at fancy hotels.
Norris, 43, also pleaded guilty to filing a false federal income tax return in a plea agreement reached at U.S. District Court in Baltimore. He had been scheduled for arraignment before Judge Richard Bennett on three tax charges added to his original indictment, but instead entered the guilty pleas.
U.S. Attorney Thomas DiBiagio said that Norris, by pleading guilty, admitted spending as much as $30,000 from three off-the-books police accounts. The police funds were set up in the Depression era to benefit officers.
“Public officials who lie, cheat and steal undermine our fundamental right to fair and honest government,” DiBiagio said. “We deserve better. We deserve public officials who are both effective and honest.”
DiBiagio described the case as “a reminder of the embedded corruption here and the emerging resolve not to look the other way.” He declined to elaborate on what he meant by “embedded corruption” or any other public corruption cases.
“The law will be enforced against drug dealers, bank robbers and corrupt public officials with the same vigor,” DiBiagio said.
Norris declined to comment as he left the courtroom. His attorney, David Irwin, said Norris “accepted full responsibility for the mistakes outlined in the charges to which he pled guilty.”
“He made the decision that a long, drawn-out trial would bring too much pain and embarrassment to his family, his friends and the city of Baltimore,” Irwin said. “Now he’ll try to pick up the pieces with his family and put this behind him.”
Norris and his former chief of staff, John Stendrini, were accused of misusing the money between May 2000 and August 2002. Although there were no written guidelines for using funds from the account, it “was required to be used for the benefit of the Baltimore Police Department,” according to the December indictment.
In a superseding indictment filed last week, Norris was also charged with three counts of filing false statements on tax returns in 2000, 2001 and 2002.
Norris pleaded guilty Monday to conspiracy to misuse city police funds and one count of filing a false tax form. The other charges -- misapplication of funds, making a false statement on a mortgage application and two more counts of filing a false statement on a tax return -- will be dropped.
Under the plea deal, Norris faces six to 12 months in prison on the conspiracy plea and six months in prison on the tax charge. He is expected to receive a sentence of between six and 12 months, the U.S. attorney’s office said.
Norris also faces a fine of up to $250,000 and restitution of up to $30,000. Irwin said Norris repaid the city $7,500 before he left at the end of 2002 to become head of the Maryland State Police.
Bennett said Norris’ case could be affected by a separate public corruption case the U.S. Supreme Court is considering. The case challenges prosecutors’ use of a law designed to protect federal funds. Under the statute, which DiBiagio used to prosecute Norris, federal authorities can investigate corruption in state and local agencies that have received more than $10,000 in federal aid.
If the Supreme Court strikes down that use of the statute, Norris could withdraw his guilty plea on the conspiracy charge. He would then face up to six months in prison on the tax charge -- time Irwin said he hoped Norris could serve under home detention.
Norris’ sentencing is set for June 21. He was released Monday on his own recognizance.
Stendrini, 60, was charged with conspiracy to misapply funds, misapplication of funds and obstruction of justice. He pleaded innocent to all charges. DiBiagio said his case was scheduled for trial in June.
Norris and Stendrini used false authorization letters for more than 40 withdrawals from the fund, the indictment alleged. They also caused the city to incur excessive overtime expenses by using police officers to “transport female companions in connection with romantic encounters” with Norris, DiBiagio said in December. Norris allegedly carried on the encounters in Baltimore and New York.
Norris joined the Baltimore department in May 2000 from the New York City police department, bringing with him a computer crime-tracking system called ComStat. Under his tenure, Baltimore cut its crime rates sharply.
He resigned Dec. 10 from his state position after the first indictments were unsealed and moved to Tampa, Fla. Irwin said he has not been able to find a job.
Gov. Robert Ehrlich said when Norris resigned that he could be reinstated if he was cleared of the charges. Ehrlich said Monday that Thomas Hutchins, the acting state police superintendent who stepped in after Norris resigned, will remain in the job.
Ehrlich described Norris as “a very strong leader,” if “somewhat controversial.”
“What had occurred obviously in prior years during his tenure in Baltimore city was the focal point here, and it’s a shame for all concerned,” the governor said.