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U.S. NEWS Tuesday 1 augusT 2017

Joe Arpaio convicted after refusing to end immigrant patrols

By JACQUES BILLEAUD lems when he prolonged
Associated Press his signature immigration
PHOENIX (AP) — Former patrols for nearly a year
Sheriff Joe Arpaio was con- and a half after a different
victed of a criminal charge judge ordered him to stop.
Monday for refusing to stop That judge later ruled they
traffic patrols that targeted racially profiled Latinos.
immigrants, marking a final The lawman who made
rebuke for a politician who defiance a hallmark of his
once drew strong popular- tenure was found guilty of
ity from such crackdowns misdemeanor contempt-
but was ultimately booted of-court for ignoring the
from office as voters be- 2011 court order to stop the
came frustrated over his patrols.
headline-grabbing tactics The 85-year-old faces up to
and deepening legal trou- six months in jail, though at-
bles. torneys who have followed
The federal judge’s ver- the case doubt someone
dict represents a victory for his age would be incarcer-
critics who voiced anger ated. He will be sentenced
over Arpaio’s unusual ef- Oct. 5.
forts to get tough on crime, Critics hoped Arpaio’s
including jailing inmates eight-day trial in federal
in tents during triple-digit In this June 26, 2017 photo, former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, left, leaves U.S. District court in Phoenix would
heat, forcing them to wear Court with attorney Mark Goldman, right, in Phoenix. Arpaio has been convicted of a criminal bring a long-awaited
pink underwear and mak- charge Monday, July 31, 2017, for disobeying a court order to stop traffic patrols that targeted comeuppance for law-
ing hundreds of arrests in immigrants. man who had managed
crackdowns that divided (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) to escape accountabil-
immigrant families. Arpaio Arpaio, who spent 24 years Phoenix, skirted two ear- of his office. But he wasn’t ity through much of his six
is vowing to appeal. as the sheriff of metro lier criminal investigations able to avoid legal prob- terms.q

Shkreli jury ends first day of deliberations without verdict

By TOM HAYS the defendant. The witness- weren’t victims because for buying the rights to a covering his case. In one
Associated Press es told jurors the 34-year- they recouped their money drug called Daraprim and recent post, he wrote, “My
NEW YORK (AP) — The first old Shkreli concealed the when the drug company promptly raising the price case is a silly witch hunt
day of jury deliberations at fact that he lost millions of went public. Some even by 5,000 percent, from perpetrated by self-serving
the federal securities fraud dollars and made them made large profits when $13.50 to $750 per pill. The prosecutors. ... Drain the
trial of Martin Shkreli ended the victim of a scheme to the stock price took off. defendant, who didn’t tes- swamp. Drain the sewer
Monday without a verdict pay them back with worth- “Who lost anything? No- tify, also came into the trial that is the (Department of
for the former biotech CEO less stock in a startup drug body,” defense attorney with a reputation for troll- Justice).”
best known for hiking up company. Ben Brafman said in his ing his critics on social me- Shkreli faces eight counts of
the price of a life-saving The trial “has exposed Mar- closing argument. Some dia to a degree that got securities fraud, conspiracy
drug and for trolling his crit- tin Shkreli for who he really investors had to admit on him kicked off Twitter and to commit securities fraud
ics on social media. is — a con man who stole the witness stand that part- earned him the moniker and conspiracy to commit
The deliberations, which millions,” a federal pros- nering with Shkreli was “the “Pharma Bro.” wire fraud. If convicted of
resume Tuesday, follow ecutor, Jacquelyn Kasulis, greatest investment I’ve Rather than lay low like his the most serious counts, he
about a month of testimony said in closing arguments ever made,” he added. lawyers wanted, Shkreli got faces up to 20 years in pris-
in federal court in Brooklyn, last week. Before his arrest in 2015 in into the act, using Face- on but likely would receive
most it from investors in two The defense countered the securities fraud case, book to bash prosecutors far less time under sentenc-
failed hedge funds run by by arguing the investors Shkreli became notorious and news organizations ing guidelines.q