No jail time for cop who slipped information to gang-member pal

A former Boston cop got a year's probation and a $2,000 fine after admitting he lied to FBI agents investigating whether he had given information about an ongoing investigation of the the Academy Homes Street gang in Roxbury to a member of the gang.

Mel Steele, 36, was a member of the BPD's Youth Violence Task Force - its gang unit - who was also a longtime friend of a member of the gang. The US Attorney's office in Boston says:

During the course of joint FBI-BPD investigation of the AHSG from 2009 to 2011, Steele provided assistance to the AHSG associate. On one occasion, Steele allegedly used his BPD computer to run a license plate check on a vehicle which was later determined to be an unmarked BPD vehicle operated by a detective who was conducting surveillance on the AHSG. On another occasion Steele contacted a Massachusetts State Trooper to glean information about a gang member’s pending charges on another criminal case. In May 2011, Steele made false statements about these matters when confronted by FBI agents.

Steele pleaded guilty in November.