NEW YORK (AP) — A federal judge Wednesday sentenced a longtime U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agent to four years in prison for leaking DEA intelligence to defense lawyers in a $100,000 bribery scheme that prosecutors said jeopardized drug cases and the lives of confidential informants.
John Costanzo Jr. was found guilty last year of bribery and honest-services wire fraud, joining a growing list of DEA agents convicted of federal crimes. Another former DEA supervisor, Manny Recio, is scheduled to be sentenced next month in the same case.
U.S. District Court Judge Paul Oetken, in handing down his sentence, noted that the 49-year-old Costanzo was “especially culpable” as a supervisor because he “knew what he was doing was wrong.”
Costanzo, addressing the judge before sentencing, expressed regret for his actions. “This is my cross to bear,” he said. “I will try to find a silver lining in all of this.”
Austria coach Ralf Rangnick confirms Bayern Munich contact
How Phish is using the Las Vegas Sphere's technology
Now Brits holidaying in Tenerife could be slapped with a tourist tax, Canary Islands leader warns
A great escape! Family poodle gets trapped underneath kitchen
Bucks open their playoff run without Giannis Antetokounmpo
Airport near volcano reopens as Indonesia lowers eruption alert level
Tennessee lawmakers join movement allowing some teachers to take guns into schools
China moves to provide convenient payment services for foreigners
Surging auto insurance rates squeeze drivers, fuel inflation
Japan helicopter crash: Flight data show no sign of mechanical failure