The Associated Press
DETROIT, Mich. - A former city police officer was sentenced Thursday to two years in prison for stealing illegal drugs and giving them to users who agreed to be shown using them on his commercial Web site, authorities said.
Ceiere Campbell, 29, was convicted in January of distributing crack cocaine and heroin and conspiracy to distribute the drugs. Each charge carried a maximum 20 years in prison.
Prosecutors said Campbell stole the drugs from police raids, then distributed them to the users, whom people paid to watch on Campbell’s Web site.
A relative of Campbell’s notified police in May 2003. Agents raided Campbell’s home and found drugs and drug paraphernalia, a stolen handgun and waivers the drug users signed to permit footage of them to be on the Internet.
Defense attorney Bertram L. Marks had argued that the relative falsely accused Campbell and that the Web site was meant as an educational tool to teach young people about the dangers of drug abuse.
Marks said a decision on an appeal has not been made.
Campbell was suspended without pay following his arrest and was fired after his conviction.