PHILADELPHIA
A federal judge sentenced a Philadelphia cop to eight years in prison for extorting drugs and money from drug dealers, officials said.
Christopher Saravello, 38, of Philadelphia, plead guilty on Feb. 6 to one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act extortion and five counts of extortion, authorities said.
Between November 2011 and June 2012, while employed as a Philadelphia police officer assigned to the 6th District, officials said Saravello conspired with others to rob drug dealers and drug buyers of cash and Oxycontin and other controlled substances.
Saravello’s co-conspirators would alert him to a drug transaction.
Authorities said Saravello would then interrupt the planned drug transaction, driving up in a marked police vehicle, wearing a police uniform, displaying an official badge and identification, or verbally identifying himself as a police officer.
He then extorted drugs or money from his victims.
In two extortions, officials said Saravello used his personal car and, rather than wearing a full uniform, wore clothing identifying himself as a police officer.
During one extortion, Saravello unholstered his weapon, pointed his gun at the victim, ordered the victim to stand against a wall and threatened to shoot him if the extortion demand was not complied with, officials said.
Saravello seized the money or narcotics brought to the transaction by the buyer or seller victim and shared the seized proceeds with his co-conspirators. The scheme resulted in the illegal taking of more than $9,800 in drug money and quantities of Oxycontin and other narcotics, according to authorities\
The case was investigated by the FBI and the Philadelphia Police Department.