By Maryclaire Dale
Associated Press
PHILADELPHIA -- Federal authorities say three Philadelphia police officers plotted with drug dealers and staged a traffic stop and drug seizure in a scheme to steal $15,000 worth of heroin from a supplier.
Officers Mark Williams, James Venziale and Robert Snyder, along with Snyder’s wife Christal, were named in a 14-count indictment announced Tuesday. Three suspected drug dealers also were named in the indictment.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Virginia Gibson said the officers’ plan went awry when they tried to sell 300 grams of heroin to an undercover federal agent.
The officers are in custody, pending detention hearings later this week. It was not immediately clear if they had lawyers.