The Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Two police officers in northeastern Pennsylvania were indicted Wednesday by a federal grand jury for allegedly planting narcotics during searches last year.
Also, two former police chiefs from the same two departments were charged separately regarding an alleged illegal sale of a machine gun, U.S. Attorney Thomas Marino said Thursday.
In the drug case, Lansford Police Officer Jeremy K. Sommers, 28, and former Coaldale Police Officer Michael R. Weaver, 35, were charged with planting cocaine during a March 2003 search of the Coaldale home of George Becker.
A third officer, who was not named, also participated but has not been indicted, Marino said.
Sommers, Weaver and the third officer also allegedly planted heroin at the Lansford home of Vincent Becker during a July 2003 search.
Lansford and Coaldale are neighboring municipalities located about 10 miles southeast of Hazleton.
George and Vincent Becker were both arrested as a result of those searches. Marino’s spokesman Martin Carlson said he did not know whether the two men are related.
Prosecutors said Sommers and Weaver lied about the searches to FBI investigators, and Sommers allegedly created false documentation to mislead agents.
Sommers and Weaver are charged with conspiring to violate civil rights, conspiracy to obstruct the investigation, obstruction and lying to federal agents.
In the weapons case, former Lansford Police Chief Joseph Stawiarski allegedly sold a registered machine gun to former Coaldale Police Chief Shawn P. Nihen, 32, without registering it as required in the National Firearms Registration Record. Stawiarski, 47, allegedly lied about the sale to federal agents in March.
Stawiarski was indicted Wednesday for aiding and abetting the illegal possession of the gun and lying to investigators. Nihen was charged with illegal firearms possession and has agreed to plead guilty, Carlson said.
Lawyers for Sommers and Stawiarski declined comment, and phone messages left with lawyers for Nihen and Weaver were not immediately returned Thursday.