NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 2 (UPI) -- Ex-New Orleans police Lt. Michael Lohman was sent to prison for four years Wednesday for his role in the coverup of killings on the Danziger Bridge.
The 41-year-old Terrytown man is to serve three years of supervised release, perform 300 hours of community service, speak to police recruits on the temptation to break the law and pay a $2,500 fine for his part in a conspiracy to obstruct justice, and for concealing a known crime during a federal investigation of two police-involved shootings that left two civilians dead and four others seriously wounded in the days after Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Lohman pleaded guilty to the federal charges in February 2010.
In all, five New Orleans police officers were convicted in the deadly shootings.
Prosecutors asked the judge to sentence Lohman to less than the five years called for by sentencing guidelines because he provided cooperation that was critical to the prosecution of others.
"I'm pleased with today's sentence," Assistant Attorney General Thomas E. Perez said. "Mr. Lohman owes a serious debt to society for betraying the badge he had been trusted to wear. But he also deserves some leniency for the critical role he played in allowing other offenders to be brought to justice. The government is outraged by Mr. Lohman's crimes, but grateful for his cooperation in this case."
