From [HERE] A former Helena-West Helena police officer indicted in a drug trafficking and corruption scheme wept and apologized Wednesday before he was ordered to serve 14 months in prison.
Robert "Bam Bam" Rogers pleaded guilty to extortion in January and federal prosecutors dropped other charges filed against him in the investigation known as Operation Delta Blues. A 16-month prison term had been requested but prosecutors asked to drop it to 14 months because of Rogers' cooperation.
At his formal sentencing hearing, assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Peters said she thought Rogers had "learned his lesson," the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported (http://is.gd/6Ka8MB ) Wednesday.
Rogers cried as he spoke of his family in the courtroom. He thanked a federal agent for "treating me human" and apologized to the court for "going through this trouble."
"I don't want to reflect the person brought up in these charges," Rogers said. "Because that's not me."
Rogers also was ordered to serve two years of supervised release after his prison term, of which he already has served 10 months while awaiting sentencing.
He is one of five police officers and dozens of civilians who were indicted last year in connection with the FBI-led probe into drug dealing and corruption, centered in Helena-West Helena and surrounding areas.
The officers charged were accused of guarding drug shipments or protecting drug dealers. Four of them have pleaded guilty pleas and received prison terms.
The fifth officer charged in the case, former Helena officer Marlene Kalb, has maintained her innocence and is scheduled to go to trial in December.