New York State Trooper Convicted for Tipping Off $10 Million Gambling Ring

01:00
23 Dec

A former New York state trooper has managed to avoid prison time after revealing confidential information about an ongoing investigation to a suspect involved in illegal gambling activities.

Thomas J. Loewke, 52, of Rochester, was sentenced to two years probation earlier this week, along with 100 hours of community service and a $4,000 fine.

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The former trooper's actions have sparked a debate about the integrity of law enforcement officers and the potential damage such behaviour can inflict on public trust.

This incident is just one of many that highlight the growing concern over corruption and misconduct within the ranks of state troopers across the United States.

Loewke’s lawyer ran a defence of pointing out that no harm was actually done to the investigation. All suspects have been arrested and charged and are awaiting trial.

Michael Schiano told Rochester TV station WROC:

“The judge pointed out that this is a crime involved the alleged tipping-off of the gambling ring, they have already made an arrest in this case.

“So, in terms of whether or not his activities or actions stopped this, they didn’t, they got indicted, they’re all still charged, they’re facing federal gambling charges.”

The court was also told that Loewke had a significant gambling addiction, shedding some light on why he accepted the bribe.

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$10 Million Gambling Ring

The investigation that Loewke attempted to hinder began in October 2020, focussing on bringing down Louis P. Ferrari.

Ferrari was the head of a gambling operation that had made more than $10 million in profit over the five years following 2016.

Loewke contacted Ferrari on December 27, 2021, to explain what the police knew and intended to do. Following this conversation, Ferrari changed his password and deleted records of previous wagers from more than 1,700 customers.

In recent years, several cases have come to light that underscore the severity of this corruption issue. A former New York state trooper was exposed for lying about a high-speed chase that resulted in the death of an 11-year-old girl.

In another case, a former Massachusetts State Police Lieutenant and Sergeant were convicted for conspiring to steal overtime funds, a scheme dating back to 2015.

Another New York state trooper was convicted for stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from union members, using the funds for personal luxuries.

In West Virginia, state police faced allegations of theft, kidnapping, and even rape, following an anonymous letter detailing these abuses.

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