Former Chicago Police Officer Convicted on Corruption Charges
A former suburban Chicago police officer, Antoine Larry, 49, of Bolingbrook, has been convicted on federal corruption charges for participating in a scheme with his sergeant, Jarrett Snowden, that involved stealing more than $15,000 in cash and drugs from at least 10 motorists during traffic stops.
Larry was found guilty on all four counts against him, including conspiracy, extortion, and attempted extortion, following a two-week trial in Chicago. The U.S. Attorney’s Office stated that the scheme took place while Larry was serving as a patrol officer for the Village of Phoenix Police Department and ran from at least 2020 until April 2022.
According to prosecutors, Larry and Snowden would solicit and demand cash and controlled substances from vehicle occupants during traffic stops in Phoenix and Harvey. The officers would order the occupants out of their vehicles, physically restrain them, and then obtain bribes in exchange for reducing charges, dropping them entirely, or agreeing not to tow or impound the vehicles.
The officers used various methods to conceal their thefts, including falsifying police reports to avoid reflecting the items they had seized. Snowden’s plea agreement revealed that the officers used coded language when demanding bribes, arranged for payments to be dropped off at a gas station, or used an intermediary to collect cash on their behalf.
The stolen amounts ranged from minimal sums to over $1,000 each, with bribes totaling more than $15,000 taken from at least 10 individuals. In some cases, the officers allegedly sold stolen controlled substances to a drug dealer and split the proceeds.
Both Larry and Snowden are awaiting sentencing for their crimes.
