Former Savannah-Chatham (Ga.) Metropolitan Police Chief Willie Lovett when he was on the job. (Photo: WTOC TV)
Former Savannah-Chatham (Ga.) Metropolitan Police Chief Willie Lovett has been sentenced to 90 months (7.5 years) in prison and a $50,000 fine for his part in a federal gambling and extortion case.
"I don't know why, Mr. Lovett, you made a decision to dishonor your badge. Dishonor your name and dishonor your department. That is a decision you made a long time ago and now you are going to have to live with the consequences of that decision," Judge William T. Moore Jr. said after reading his sentence.
Lovett's lawyers said they plan to appeal the sentence within the next two weeks, WTOC TV reports.
Lovett was convicted of extortion, making false statements and violating gambling laws in a federal court in November. Prosecutors said the former chief took bribes to protect carnival gambling. However, the judge decided Lovett was not a ringleader in the crime.
