Seven ex-cops sentenced to prison

MIAMI, Dec. 13 (UPI) -- A U.S. federal judge sentenced seven former Miami police officers to prison terms for planting guns at police shooting scenes and lying about it afterward.

The seven were given sentences ranging from 13 to 37 months for the conspiracy that ran from 1995-97, the Miami Herald reported.

Three other former officers were acquitted and a solitary count the jury hung on against a fourth man was dropped by prosecutors.

The men will serve their sentences in federal prisons in Texas, Arkansas and Mississippi and all must surrender to federal authorities by noon Friday, the report said.

U.S. District Judge Alan Gold gave the harshest sentence of 37 months to Jesus "Jesse" Aguero. Arturo Beguiristain was given 27 months, while Jorge Garcia, Israel Gonzalez and Jose Quintero each got 16-month sentences. Jorge D. Castello and Oscar Ronda were sentenced to 13 months.