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Detroit Police officer Deonne Dotson was convicted Thursday in federal court on six charges of extortion in connection with a scheme involving collision shops.
Dotson, 47, will be sentenced March 19. Each count carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Evidence during the eight-day trial showed that Dotson accepted bribes from owners and operators of car collision shops. In exchange, he referred stolen and abandoned vehicles recovered in the city to their businesses.
Evidence also showed Dotson created false police reports in exchange for money from the same shops. Vehicle owners didn't know Dotson was being paid by the collision shops when they agreed to have their cars fixed.
Five other Detroit Police officers have pleaded guilty to similar crimes.