Jury convicts ex-Antioch police officer Devon Wenger

(KRON) — Ten former East Bay police officers have been convicted in federal court for crimes ranging from using excessive force against suspects to fraud. One of the 10 officers, former Antioch Police Department officer Devon Wenger, was convicted by a jury on Thursday of conspiracy against rights.

The jury’s verdict followed a seven-day trial before U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White.

Wenger, 33, faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. Judge White ordered Wenger to be immediately remanded to custody. He will be sentenced on Dec. 2.

According to prosecutors, Wenger conspired with other APD officers to use unreasonable force to injure, oppress, threaten, or intimidate residents of Antioch.

“By using unnecessary and unreasonable force under the guise of law enforcement, Wenger betrayed the community he was entrusted to protect,” said United States Attorney Craig Missakian.

According to federal prosecutors, Wenger and two other Antioch Police Department officers, Morteza Amiri and Eric Rombough, communicated with each other and others about using and intending to use excessive force against suspects around Antioch. The uses of excessive force included deployment of Amiri’s K9 police dog, deployment of Rombough’s 40mm less lethal launcher, and other unnecessary violence. 

“Wenger and others deployed uses of force as punishment. Wenger also withheld details about uses of excessive force from police reports and other official documents,” the United States Attorney Northern District of California wrote.

The jury convicted Wenger of one count of conspiracy against rights. The judge dismissed a second count that charged Wenger with deprivation of rights under color of law.

Rombough, a former APD SWAT team member, pleaded guilty in January to conspiracy and deprivation of rights under color of law. Rombough has not been sentenced.

Ex-K9 Officer Amiri was sentenced to seven years in prison for using excessive force against suspects, falsifying police records, and participating in a scheme to obtain pay raises.

In a separate trial held in April, Wenger was convicted of conspiracy to distribute steroids and obstruction of justice.

FBI Agent Agustin Lopez said, “When an officer violates the civil rights of those he was sworn to protect, it will not be overlooked or excused. This marks the second time a jury has held Devon Wenger accountable, and it reflects the FBI’s commitment to pursuing justice in every instance where authority is abused. We will continue working with our partners to ensure that those who betray the public’s trust face consequences.”