Burbank Officer Sentenced For Lying To FBI

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A Burbank police officer has been sentenced to 2½ years in federal prison for lying to the FBI during an investigation of a suspected extortion scheme involving his girlfriend and her estranged husband.

City News Service reports Anthony Valento was also ordered Monday to serve three years of supervised release after he is freed.

He pleaded guilty in March to making false statements.

As part of a plea deal, Valento admitted telling FBI agents he wasn't dating Gayle Bassett, who was an alleged victim of restraining order violations in which Valento was the reporting officer.

Authorities say Valento told Bassett's husband that if he paid her more than $100,000, Valento could get pending domestic violence charges against him either reduced or dropped.

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