Ex-federal agent sentenced to 21 months

After his college football career, Greg Campion became a decorated law enforcement officer for cracking large-scale drug rings and apprehending high-valued suspects.

But on Thursday, with some of his old colleagues looking on, the disgraced former federal agent stood before a judge and begged for mercy.

“I have made a terrible mistake,” said Campion, 38, his hands clasped behind his back. “I will offer no excuse to you, whatsoever.”

U.S. District Judge Jack Camp sentenced the former agent to one year and nine months in federal prison for failing to report more than $200,000 in cash income. Camp also ordered Campion to pay back $92,614 to the IRS and the Georgia Department of Revenue.

Campion’s career as a special agent of the Drug Enforcement Administration ended in 2006 when he was indicted for embezzling drug money seized in narcotics investigations while serving as an agent in Atlanta.

When Campion pleaded guilty in March, his agreement with prosecutors called for a 15-month prison term. But Camp did not go along with it and instead sentenced Campion to an additional six months in prison.

Campion, who played tight end at the University of Central Florida, became a DEA agent in 1991 in Tampa. He won commendations for dismantling crack cocaine organizations and conducting an extensive investigation into drug dealing by members of the Hells Angels.

In 1998, he was transferred to the Atlanta DEA office and was assigned to a task force where he had access to millions of dollars in seized drug money. During Thursday’s hearing, Camp noted that Campion made cash deposits of more than $200,000 during 2004.

Campion, who now lives in Orlando, was indicted for 17 counts of embezzling the drug money. But 10 days before trial, Campion and prosecutors reached agreement on the tax charge.

“I think you got a very good deal with regard to your plea,” Camp said. The judge said he had been inclined to give Campion even more prison time, but had been moved by statements made on the former agent’s behalf by old law enforcement colleagues from Florida and his pastor, wife and friends.