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Former FBI Agent Indicted

By TChris, Section Misconduct
Posted on Thu Mar 30, 2006 at 12:41:32 PM EST
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by TChris

A couple of months ago, TalkLeft wrote about a lawsuit against R. Lindley DeVecchio, an FBI agent who allegedly ended surveillance of Nicholas Grancio at the request of an informant so that Grancio could be killed by the Colombo crime family. The lawsuit has become the least of DeVecchio's worries.

DeVecchio was indicted today for conspiring with members of organized crime who committed four murders.

"This is the most stunning example of official corruption I have ever seen," [District Attorney Charles J. Hynes of Brooklyn] said in a statement. He said a federal agent whose job is to protect lives instead assisted in murder.

Mr. Hynes said the most recent investigation began in February 2005 after a member of the House Judiciary Committee, William Delahunt, Democrat of Massachusetts, brought allegations involving Mr. DeVecchio to his attention. Mr. Delahunt had been investigating F.B.I. involvement with organized crime.

Mr. Hynes said that Mr. DeVecchio diverted to himself "more that $66,000" in F.B.I. funds intended for Mr. Scarpa as payment to information.

If the indictment leads to a conviction, the Justice Department will need to explain why it investigated and cleared Agent DeVecchio of improper conduct. If the Justice Department thinks criminal informants are untrustworthy sources of information, many of us would agree -- but why doesn't the Justice Department apply that same standard to accusations that informants make against individuals who don't work for the FBI?

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    Former FBI Agent Indicted | 2 comments (2 topical)
    Re: Former FBI Agent Indicted (none / 0) (#1)
    by TomStewart on Thu Mar 30, 2006 at 01:46:14 PM EST
    Where's Ephrem Zimbulist Jr. when you need him?

    Re: Former FBI Agent Indicted (none / 0) (#2)
    by jimcee on Thu Mar 30, 2006 at 04:41:46 PM EST
    I know that most people who frequent TalkLeft would scoff at this recommendation but the NY Post has the best coverage of this story. The NYTimes is more verbose but the NYPost is better at the schematics.

    Former FBI Agent Indicted | 2 comments (2 topical)