7th Officer Sentenced In Towing Extortion Scheme

BALTIMORE (AP) -- Prosecutors say a Baltimore city police officer has been sentenced to 30 months in prison for his role in a towing company extortion scheme.

A statement from the Maryland U.S. Attorney's Office says Johnn Corona, of Rosedale, Md., was sentenced Tuesday and ordered to pay nearly $21,000 in restitution.

Court documents say Corona, 33, was one of the officers paid by the owners of Majestic Auto Repair Shop in Baltimore County.

Prosecutors say Corona and other officers would direct vehicles at accident scenes to Majestic for towing and repairs, even though Majestic wasn't an authorized tow company for the city of Baltimore.

In return, prosecutors say the officers were paid for each vehicle brought to the shop.

Corona is the seventh officer to be sentenced in connection with the scheme.

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