Nov 3, 2008 10:37 pm US/Central
Tow Company Operator Helps Snare Cops On The Take
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
For more than a year an FBI informant wore a wire and caught cops demanding payoffs, staging accidents and selling guns.
The FBI probe started after CBS 2 Investigator Pam Zekman exposed widespread fraud in the towing industry two years ago.
The evidence collected by a tow truck company operator could result in bribery and other charges against nearly a dozen officers in three districts. He talked with the 2 Investigators about these cops on the take on the condition that his identity remained concealed.
His work with the FBI began as an investigation of cops demanding payoffs from tow truck operators at accident scenes.
"We had to pay the cops in order to get the tows," he said. "Four hundred or more a car."
"I've paid $3,000 to one copper for getting me three tows on one accident," he added.
It turned into much more.
"We purchased guns. Called the cops up, say 'I need a gun.' Gave me good deals on 'em," the FBI informant told the 2 Investigators.
The FBI gave him a hidden recorder to document his dealings with Chicago police officers.
"They even tried to have me do crimes for them, which has been recorded," he said, which included stealing cars and planting drugs and guns in a vehicle.
And then there's insurance fraud. The federal investigation has also uncovered evidence that some cops help stage accidents to make more money. All it takes is a couple of damaged cars, a crooked insurance adjuster and a cop willing to fake an accident report.
"They'd come there, write the report, pay 'em some money right there on the spot. Two thousand, $3,000, and that was it," the informant said.
As for the insurance adjusters who inspect the damage, the informant said they could tell it was old damage, but "If he's hinting he wants some money I say OK, here's some money, and they approve it."
"I had one adjuster shake me down for $3,500," he said.
In one case a cop made himself the crash victim.
"We staged an accident so he could collect the insurance money," the informant said.
He says he also paid for a fence and concrete driveway.
"I've even had police say you know I need my vehicle fixed, take care of for me I'll make sure you get some accidents," he said.
He covered the costs of all the payoffs by charging inflated fees. And it paid off with huge payouts by insurance companies or car owners.
"That's enough to cover me, the cops and everybody I was paying off," the informant said.
The Maltbias complained to the 2 Investigators after they had to pay more than $1,000 to get their car back. They made the mistake of trusting the cop who responded to their accident scene.
"On the side of their car it says to serve and protect," Marco Maltbia said, "so I'm thinking that the police officer has my best interest in mind."
"He vouched for the towing company. He said 'this is a good man. We work with him often. I don't vouch for everyone, but him, he's good. You should go ahead and let him tow your car,'" Chevon Maltbia said.
They did, and the tow truck driver turned FBI informant said, "That particular car, I think I paid him between $500 and $1,000. I got both cars from the scene of the accident."
"How dirty is that?" Marco Maltbia said. "The cost of corruption is passed on to you the car owner."
"They took advantage of us," Chevon Maltbia said. "That's why I'm angry."
Now the tow truck operator has moved his business and his family. He says he's been threatened by cops under investigation.
"The cops were supposed to be taking criminals off the street," he said. "Why can't we take cops off the street that are criminals?"
The Chicago Police Department is cooperating in the FBI probe. A spokesperson said the department can't comment or take the cops involved off the street until charges are filed.
The FBI also refused to comment.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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