Florida Officer Gets Two Years for Public Corruption

TAMPA, Fla. -- A former St. Petersburg homicide detective was sentenced Tuesday to two years in federal prison for public corruption after he admitted accepting cash and gifts to falsely vouch for a criminal informant.

Anthony V. Foster, 40, pleaded guilty in October to wire fraud to deprive the public of honest services.

According to court documents, Foster lied to judges and prosecutors, claiming the informant helped him on cases that the informant was not involved in. In exchange, Foster had the informant give him more than $7,000 and a flat-screen television.

Before he was sentenced, Foster apologized to his family and the community.

His attorney, Frank Louderback, asked U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday not to send his client to prison. Foster has lost his job, his civil rights and the ability to ever work in law enforcement again, Louderback said.

Born and raised in St. Petersburg, Foster has dedicated his life to his job and his community, his lawyer said. When two police officers were killed in St. Petersburg last year, Louderback said, Foster was the first to establish contact with the suspect who was hiding in an attic.

Louderback said even after his arrest and firing, Foster has continued to receive tips on homicide investigations, which he has relayed to his old unit. A St. Petersburg police spokesman, however, said the department knew of no such tips.

"You look like you were a good cop and a good man," the judge said as he passed sentence. "I don't understand why this had to happen. I'm sorry it's happening. I have to deal with the fact that it's happening."

Copyright 2012 - Tampa Tribune, Fla.

McClatchy-Tribune News Service