Trial set for former police officers facing federal charges

by Leanne Tokars (ltokars@wsbt.com)

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Jamie Buford, Ryan Huston, and Andy Taghon

HAMMOND — Three former local police officers facing federal drug and fraud charges will head to trial in the fall. Former South Bend police officer Jamie Buford and former St. Joseph County deputies Ryan Huston and Andrew Taghon pleaded not guilty to all charges against them on Thursday, Jan. 10, 2008.

By WSBT News1

Story Created: Jan 10, 2008 at 6:34 PM EST

Story Updated: Jan 10, 2008 at 6:56 PM EST

HAMMOND — Three former local police officers facing federal drug and fraud charges will head to trial in the fall.

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Former South Bend police officer Jamie Buford and former St. Joseph County deputies Ryan Huston and Andrew Taghon pleaded not guilty to all charges against them on Thursday.

Federal prosecutors claim they used their positions as police officers to target trailers containing stolen items and cocaine, and pocketed the money from the sales.

Taghon also faces charges for selling two stolen guns to a convicted felon.

Plus, two new drug charges have been filed against Taghon and one additional drug charge against Huston.

“I don’t feel good about any charges being filed,” commented Huston’s lawyer Nick Thiros.

Taghon only said he was “disappointed” when asked what he thought of the new charges.

Federal prosecutors also revealed in court Thursday that they have an additional 600 pages of evidence, including bank notes and policy memos from the St. Joseph County and South Bend police departments.

“We're proceeding as planned. The trial is set in September sometime, and we're gong to pursue it,” said Buford’s lawyer William Padula.

A federal judge Thursday acknowledged the complexity in the case. He expects it to last two weeks in September.

WSBT also learned Thursday that William Speybroeck is in the custody of US Marshals.

Speybroeck is reportedly a key witness in this case. He told The South Bend Tribune that he was involved with the officers.

The government would not confirm whether he was in the custody because of security measures.

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