PA - Former policeman sentenced for abetting sex trafficking scheme

Ronald Miko

Original Article

09/25/2012

By Joel Hendon

An FBI press release of September 24, 2012 announced that Ronald Miko, 37, of Reading, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today to 38 months in prison for obstruction of a criminal investigation. Miko was a police officer in the city of Reading when he utilized a room in a house at which convicted federal defendants Paul Sewell and Michael Johnson operated a prostitution business that trafficked females who were under the age of 18. Between May 2, 2011 and June 7, 2011, Miko wired money to Johnson’s federal prison account to prevent the communication of information to criminal investigators regarding Miko’s involvement in that business.

In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Court Judge C. Darnell Jones ordered three years’ supervised release with 450 hours community service and a $1,000 fine.

Ronald R. Miko, 38, told U.S. District Judge C. Darnell Jones II that he never expected to be addressing a judge about committing a crime. "I know what I did is wrong and I accept full responsibility," Miko said, "I am embarrassed before everyone in my life.” (The Reading Eagle)

"The defendant was a sworn officer who took an oath to protect the community," Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle L. Morgan said. "Instead, he openly associated for several years with a person actively engaged in egregious crimes - crimes which ultimately resulted in the exploitation of children." (Ibid)

The case was investigated by the Allentown Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Berks County District Attorney’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michelle L. Morgan.