SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (AP) - A former Massachusetts police chief convicted of extorting a $4,000 charitable donation from a couple in exchange for dropping a prostitution investigation has been sentenced to more than two years in prison.
In addition to a 27-month sentence, former Lee chief Joseph Buffis was sentenced Tuesday in federal court to two years’ probation and ordered to return the money.
The sentencing ended a four-year legal saga.
Buffis faced several charges, including taking the extorted money donated to a police department Christmas toy fund for needy children for personal use, but was acquitted of that and several other offenses.
The judge said he would have given Buffis a lighter sentence had he shown remorse.
His lawyer asked for probation and community service, saying the loss of career and reputation was punishment enough.
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