Ex-police chief seeks lighter prison term
Former East Washington police chief Donald Solomon, whose original prison sentence resulting from an undercover FBI drug sting was recently overturned, is seeking a much shorter term, citing good behavior and his embrace of religion.
Solomon, 58, was East Washington’s chief when he was arrested in 2011. He pleaded guilty in January 2013 to three counts of extortion and was sentenced in June of that year to a minimum of 11.25 years to a maximum of 14 years in prison. Solomon acknowledged he offered to help protect drug dealers, who were really undercover FBI agents, during several controlled cocaine buys in 2011.
In September, the U.S. Court of Appeals, 3rd Circuit, vacated Solomon’s federal prison sentence, ordering the district court to resentence him under reduced guidelines. It was determined U.S. District Judge Joy Flowers Conti improperly increased Soloman’s sentence for abusing a position of trust.
Solomon’s attorney, Elisa Long, an assistant federal public defender, is now requesting a sentence of 7.25 to 9 years, “based upon the commendable efforts (Solomon) has made to rehabilitate himself both on pretrial release and since he began his sentence in the Bureau of Prisons.”
In a court filing this week, Long also said, “Mr. Solomon has seen the error of his ways and done everything in his power to recover and rehabilitate himself.”
Long said after his arrest, Solomon found employment at Giant Eagle in McMurray, became active with Trinity Bible Fellowship in Washington and received mental health treatment.
Once in Louisiana, where he is serving his sentence, Long said Solomon began working in the prison’s laundry facility, “enthusiastically embarked upon a spiritual journey” and completed several prison programs.
Long said Solomon, a father and grandfather, has not had any visits from family since his incarceration started.
“(He) considers this to be part of his punishment, that is to be separated from them.”
Solomon came to the attention of federal authorities in 2009 when, according to court records, “his behavior after his divorce … caused them to engage an unidentified confidential informant described by Solomon as ‘an erstwhile friend’ to probe Solomon’s criminal tendencies.” That behavior, investigators said, involved disturbing threats to an ex-girlfriend and an East Washington councilman.
After agreeing to work with the informant, Solomon was recorded boasting, “I’m the best cop money can buy,” and showed up at one of the staged drug deals in uniform, with his police cruiser, and carrying a shotgun, an AR-15 rifle and 9mm handgun, court records state.
Solomon’s resentencing hearing is scheduled for Jan. 6.