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Jury Finds FBI Agents Framed Former Cop
AP ^ | 1/25/05
Posted on 01/24/2005 5:23:55 PM PST
Jury Finds FBI Agents Framed Former Cop By MIKE ROBINSON ASSOCIATED PRESS
CHICAGO (AP) - A former policeman who served 14 years in prison was awarded more than $6.5 million in damages Monday after a federal jury found that two FBI agents had framed him for murder and kidnapping.
Steven Manning, 54, spent eight years on death row in Illinois before his murder conviction was reversed, and several more years in prison in Missouri before charges in that state were dismissed.
He claimed in his civil suit that the agents framed him after he tried to stop working as an informant, according to his attorney, Jon Loevy.
Federal officials issued a statement saying they "respect the jury system, the work of this jury and its verdict." But they said they were "confident that the agents who were sued did not engage in any misconduct." Both agents remain with the FBI.
U.S. Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald and Richard K. Ruminski of the Chicago FBI office declined further comment.
Manning appeared relieved Monday. "It's a long, long way from death row to complete vindication," he said at a news conference.
Manning had left the Chicago police force and was working as a limousine driver and security guard when he was arrested.
He was convicted in 1992 of taking part in the 1984 kidnapping of two reputed Kansas City drug traffickers and was sentenced to two life terms plus 100 years. The next year, he was convicted of the 1990 murder of suburban Chicago trucking company owner Jimmy Pellegrino and was sentenced to death.
FBI agents Gary Miller and Robert Buchan investigated the Illinois case, and Buchan investigated the Missouri case.
AP ^ | 1/25/05
Posted on 01/24/2005 5:23:55 PM PST
Jury Finds FBI Agents Framed Former Cop By MIKE ROBINSON ASSOCIATED PRESS
CHICAGO (AP) - A former policeman who served 14 years in prison was awarded more than $6.5 million in damages Monday after a federal jury found that two FBI agents had framed him for murder and kidnapping.
Steven Manning, 54, spent eight years on death row in Illinois before his murder conviction was reversed, and several more years in prison in Missouri before charges in that state were dismissed.
He claimed in his civil suit that the agents framed him after he tried to stop working as an informant, according to his attorney, Jon Loevy.
Federal officials issued a statement saying they "respect the jury system, the work of this jury and its verdict." But they said they were "confident that the agents who were sued did not engage in any misconduct." Both agents remain with the FBI.
U.S. Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald and Richard K. Ruminski of the Chicago FBI office declined further comment.
Manning appeared relieved Monday. "It's a long, long way from death row to complete vindication," he said at a news conference.
Manning had left the Chicago police force and was working as a limousine driver and security guard when he was arrested.
He was convicted in 1992 of taking part in the 1984 kidnapping of two reputed Kansas City drug traffickers and was sentenced to two life terms plus 100 years. The next year, he was convicted of the 1990 murder of suburban Chicago trucking company owner Jimmy Pellegrino and was sentenced to death.
FBI agents Gary Miller and Robert Buchan investigated the Illinois case, and Buchan investigated the Missouri case.
