Cop Gets 30 Months For Extorting Sex From a Traffic Offender

Lying to the FBI didn't help his cause

 A former East St. Louis police officer who lied to federal agents about demanding sex from a traffic violator was vilified in federal court here Thursday as a prime example of poor law enforcement that fosters rampant crime in his community.

By day's end, Ramon T. Carpenter was ordered to 30 months in prison — 21/2 times the maximum recommended under sentencing guidelines. He had pleaded guilty Sept. 26 of lying to federal agents about the encounter.

Although the bulk of the more than three-hour sentencing hearing turned on whether Carpenter, 40, should face more time because he violated the civil rights of the woman, the subtext was the dual plagues of crime and official corruption.