A former Chicago police officer has been sentenced to a year in prison for participating in a scheme to steer business to certain tow truck operators in return for bribes.
Francis Zoller was the last participant sentenced in the scheme, uncovered in the long-running FBI investigation called Operation Tow Scam. Eleven other police officers and several tow truck drivers were swept up by investigators. The 46-year-old Zoller pleaded guilty last year to fraud and extortion.
In handing down the sentence Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Samuel Der-Yeghiayan said Zoller disgraced police officers who do their jobs honestly.
The FBI recorded Zoller extorting money from a driver who was cooperating with the FBI. Authorities also alleged Zoller created a false auto accident report so the informant could submit a false insurance claim.
