Opinion ID: 792738
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Anthony Brown

Text: 9 On June 19 Polk proposed another theft to Grady, and Grady suggested contacting Kuykendoll. Polk and Kuykendoll had worked together as CHA police officers, and Polk said he knew Kuykendoll was a crook. On June 23 Grady told Polk he had spoken to Kuykendoll, now a state parole officer, and Kuykendoll remembered working with Polk at the CHA and agreed to participate in the scheme. Grady also reported that Kuykendoll had reminisced about the nefarious activities he and Polk had been involved in at the CHA, saying, Man, our days back in CHA, man we should of been indicted like a hundred, a hundred times over. Later that day, Polk called Kuykendoll, who was in a state car with Brown, another state parole officer who had previously worked with Polk as a CHA officer. Brown got on the phone and Polk asked him if he remembered a particular search they had done as CHA police officers. Brown and Polk laughed, but Brown reminded him, it's a State phone, so the subject was dropped. Brown agreed to meet with Polk to discuss the theft scheme. 10 They met the next day, and Polk told Brown about the plan, saying it's so ridiculous for us, man that's gonna put about at least, minimum five G's a piece. Polk explained that he knew a drug dealer who could set up a drug transaction they could hit. The hit would involve a large amount of cocaine and cash in a parked car: you know somebody got some work or something like two keys or whatever woo-woo. Polk testified at trial that work was a street term for narcotics and that by two keys he meant two kilograms of cocaine. Polk told Brown that his friend would tell him where the car was parked and also explained that he had another friend—Grady—who would break into the car. In Polk's words to Brown: He call me and tell me where the car is, Grady get in the car, it's all she wrote. We split up the cash and my boy always gets the dope. 11 Polk told Brown the theft would be set up for Friday, when the target would be coming into Chicago with about forty stacks.... It should be about forty-five, forty, forty-five stacks and shit. Grady'll get in the car, he gets in the car, we just grab the loot. Brown asked Polk if he was sure his friend was not working with no feds and all that. Polk assured Brown that he had already pulled at least three or four other jobs with this friend. Brown's role would be to stand as a lookout during the theft, and Polk confirmed this by describing Brown's job as security. Brown said he had to work on Friday but laughed and said that being on duty during the proposed heist would be even better security. 12 On Friday, June 27, 2003, Brown met Polk, Grady, and Kuykendoll; all four men got into Polk's car and drove to a parking lot where FBI agents had left a red Chevrolet Monte Carlo. Agents had placed a brown paper bag containing $20,000 and a sham kilogram of cocaine in the trunk of the Monte Carlo, behind the carpet paneling. 2 The agents also set up surveillance in the parking lot and videotaped the theft. 13 Polk parked his car next to the Monte Carlo. Grady broke into the Monte Carlo; Polk walked around to the driver's side, opened the door, and popped open the trunk. Brown and Kuykendoll then got out of Polk's car and stood near the trunk of the Monte Carlo. The videotape shows Brown looking into the trunk during part of the time he stood his security post near the back of the Monte Carlo. Polk or Kuykendoll pulled back the carpet paneling in the trunk, exposing the bag of cash and the sham cocaine package. Polk testified at trial that upon seeing these two items, both Kuykendoll and Brown asked, [T]hat's it? Polk confirmed that these were the items they wanted. Brown then opened the rear driver's side door of Polk's car, and Polk placed the sham cocaine package under the driver's seat. Kuykendoll placed the bag of cash under Polk's driver's seat as well. 14 The four men then got back into Polk's car and left the scene. As they drove away, Polk recalled a time five years earlier when he, Brown, and Kuykendoll had stolen items from a home where they were executing a search warrant while working as CHA police officers. Polk suggested that Brown made off like he owned a jewelry store. Brown corrected Polk and said he had taken a gold nugget watch. He said he still had the watch, but wished he had pawned it. 15 Polk also joked with Grady about being greedy. Next you're gonna be like man, can I, can I just take a piece of the kilo[?] Can I taste[?] Polk said. Brown chimed in: Can I get some for myself[?] Polk then reminded them that his friend would get the drugs: You know my man gets the coke. The four men split the money evenly, $5,000 each.