LOS ANGELES (AP) — The former second-in-command of the nation’s largest sheriff’s department has been sentenced to five years in prison in a federal corruption investigation that also brought down his boss.
Ex-Los Angeles County Undersheriff Paul Tanaka was sentenced Monday. He was convicted in April of obstruction of justice and conspiracy to obstruct justice.
Prosecutors say Tanaka helped orchestrate efforts to hide a jail inmate after deputies discovered he was an FBI informant. They say Tanaka played a key role in sending sergeants to intimidate an FBI agent in the case and threaten to have her arrested.
Tanaka’s boss, former Sheriff Lee Baca, pleaded guilty in February to lying to investigators. He faces up to six months in prison when he’s sentenced next month.
Nineteen other members of the department have been convicted.
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This is the second time I’ve read of this, and I still don’t know the details. Why would they hide an informant?