CHICAGO | Federal prosecutors previewed their case against former Harvey Detective Archie Stallworth in court Thursday, with audio recordings and pictures that allegedly show Stallworth taking $1,000 to help with what he was told was a major drug deal at a west suburban airport.
Chicago federal Judge Sidney L. Shenkier found probable cause to continue with court proceedings against Stallworth, 36, who is charged with attempting to possess and deal cocaine. Stallworth was arrested alongside 14 other police officers - including three other Harvey policemen - who face conspiracy charges based on accusations they took money to guard drug deals staged by FBI agents.
Prosecutors played covert audio recordings that purport to have captured Stallworth, of Harvey, agreeing to guard the fake deal at DuPage Airport. The recordings later seem to show the undercover agent, pretending to be a drug deal broker, bragging to Stallworth about the cocaine's purity. Later on the recording, the voice alleged to be Stallworth's advises the undercover agent against dealing drugs through the airport.
"That's why you're my consultant," the undercover agent says.
Prosecutors also produced a photo FBI agents say shows Stallworth carrying a duffel bag of fake cocaine to a sport utility vehicle. An agent testified Thursday he also video-recorded Stallworth carrying the duffel bag at the airport.
Stallworth's attorney, Benjamin Starks, argued unsuccessfully Thursday that prosecutors had no evidence that Stallworth ever truly possessed the fake drugs, and thus could not be charged.
"Yes, he was carrying it, but it didn't belong to him," Starks said.
Starks said after the hearing that Stallworth has his own convincing side of the story.
"We believe that what we have will evidence his innocence," Starks said.
Stallworth hurried out of Chicago federal court with his wide-brimmed hat blocking his face. He gave no substantive comment as television cameras and news reporters chased him on foot before he ducked into a building.
Stallworth resigned from the Harvey Police Department last week, and he is suspended without pay from his second job as a Metra conductor.
