A former East Cleveland police sergeant will spend nine years in prison for her role in a conspiracy in which she kept thousands of dollars collected during drug raids, many of which were conducted illegally.
According to the FBI, Torris Moore pleaded guilty to conspiracy against rights, Hobbs Act conspiracy and false statements to law enforcement as well as theft concerning programs receiving federal funds.
She was sentenced this week.
Moore took part in the conspiracy alongside officers Antonio Malone and Eric Jones. They both previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy against rights and Hobbs Act conspiracy. They are scheduled to be sentenced Monday.
Moore was a sergeant in the East Cleveland police department where she supervised the street crime unit. Malone and Jones were detectives in that unit.
According to the indictment against them, between 2012 and June of 2014 the three officers would unlawfully enter property, seize property and money for themselves and create false reports to conceal their illegal searches.
The illegal searches took place in East Cleveland, as well as other locations throughout the Greater Cleveland area.
For example, in June of 2013, Jones and other officers searched a home on East 85th Street without a search warrant, officials said. Malone allegedly forced his way into a home that was secured by a padlock and seized about $100,000 in cash. According to the indictment, Moore, Malone and Jones took a portion of the money for themselves before putting the rest in the evidence room. Later that day, they all allegedly met at an East Cleveland park to divide the money, with each officer keeping about $10,000. Malone later reported that they seized $74,670, the indictment states.
“Torris Moore acted like a cunning criminal rather than an honorable public servant who swore to protect and serve,” said FBI special agent Stephen Anthony. “She will now serve time behind bars for her reprehensible, unlawful conduct.”
