Ex-Kentucky State Police trooper gets 8 months in prison after taking guns from agency
A former Kentucky State Police lieutenant colonel was sentenced in federal court Wednesday after he was convicted of conspiracy to defraud the U.S. government for illegally obtaining weapons from the state police armory.
Michael Crawford, 58, was sentenced Wednesday to eight months in prison by U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove. He is allowed to self-report to the Bureau of Prisons on April 18. Crawford faced the possibility of nearly two years in prison after a jury convicted him on one count of defrauding the government.
Crawford faced two charges of conspiracy to defraud the government — and five years in prison — following a federal indictment which alleged that Crawford asked another state trooper to “give him various calibers and gauges of ammunition” multiple times during the conspiracy, which ran from 2014 to 2018.
Crawford allegedly told the state trooper to put the ammunition in Crawford’s vehicle.
Former Scott County Coroner John Goble, who was also previously a state trooper, was charged in the case too. He pleaded guilty in the case and was sentenced to one year of home incarceration. He was also ordered to pay $10,000 and will be on supervised release for two years.
Crawford faced the possibility of being ordered to pay up to $250,000 in restitution, but no restitution was ordered by the judge. Crawford will also be on supervised release for two years.
Crawford’s attorney: Sentence shouldn’t be based on his ‘worst day’
Crawford’s defense attorney, Jarrod Beck, said Crawford was a member of law enforcement for decades and was a “life advertisement for public service.”
Because of this, he said that the judge should take into account all the good Crawford had done throughout his career, and not solely base judgment on his “worst day.”
“’I would ask that you take into consideration his dedication to the community,” Beck said. “This shouldn’t be based on his worst day, as he has more good days than bad. I doubt anyone in this room has had as many good days as Mr. Crawford has.”
Beck asked that the judge grant Crawford probation, and claimed he had already suffered enough with his “fall from grace.”
“That is the ultimate punishment,” Beck said. “He will be remembered for his conviction, rather than what he did everyday for us.”
Beck noted numerous letters sent to Van Tatenhove on behalf of Crawford from high ranking state police officials, a former employee with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and even the detective who investigated Crawford.
“I don’t believe I have ever had the pleasure of representing someone as honorable as Mr. Crawford,” Beck said.
Prosecutor: Crawford’s actions ‘make a mockery’ of law enforcement
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate Smith said that the protection on behalf of Crawford from other officers and high ranking officials speaks to the systemic “Old Boys Club” within law enforcement to protect their own.
Smith referenced a saying, “Riding tall with Mikey Paul (Crawford),” which is used by other members of law enforcement, when they feel they can get away with something. She said the lead detective writing on Crawford’s behalf was another example of state police’s “culture” to “flout the rules” in order to protect each other.
“It makes a mockery of law enforcement,” she said. “...It makes a mockery of those in (state police) who follow the rules.”
She said some tried to brush the charges off as being “not serious,” which she called an affront. She urged Van Tatenhove to promote and respect the law.
“Who suffers when a member of law enforcement breaks the law?” She asked. “Who suffers when a high-ranking official decides the rules no longer apply to them?”
Before imposing the sentence, Van Tatenhove said he took into consideration the seriousness of the crime, but also Crawford’s lifetime of service.
He said he felt it was true that Crawford had contributed a lot in his time of public service.
“But it is also true that you were convicted of a federal crime and I have to hold you accountable,” Van Tatenhove said. “Anytime someone in law enforcement takes advantage of their position, in essence stealing from all of us — that is a serious crime. ... It is about a debt you owe to the community in conduct you have engaged in destabilizing that community. “
This story was originally published January 25, 2023 at 1:58 PM.
