By Natasha Korecki
The Chicago Sun-Times
Copyright 2006 Chicago Sun-Times, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
A former Chicago firefighter faces 35 months in prison after admitting he dealt cocaine.
William Torpy, 50, of Chicago pleaded guilty Thursday in federal court. Torpy, a 17-year veteran of the Chicago Fire Department, resigned after he was charged.
Faces 35-month sentence
Torpy admitted buying cocaine from two others who are expected to plead guilty. In exchange for his plea, Torpy faces a 35-month sentence rather than the up to 87 months he could have received when he is sentenced in September.
Torpy’s drug dealing was discovered when a gang member told investigators that Torpy was about to be a victim of a home invasion by gang-bangers looking to steal his drugs, a spokesman with the U.S. Department of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has previously said. The gang member, in ATF custody, told investigators of the expected home ripoff.
In September 2005, federal agents found about one kilogram of cocaine, $9,000 in drug proceeds and 46 flash-powder explosive devices at Torpy’s Chicago home. The explosive items were likely to be used as firecrackers, but were still contraband.