Ex- Police Chief Willie Lovett

Former Savannah-Chatham police chief Willie Lovett has been convicted of commercial gambling, extortion and other federal charges.

The Savannah Morning News reports that jurors acquitted Lovett on Friday of three extortion counts.

Prosecutors said Lovett "sold his badge" and looked the other way while Randall Wayne "Red" Roach cheated customers out of their money at his gambling operation.

Defense attorneys said Lovett was paid to provide security for Roach's city-licensed Magic Midway operation and did not know Roach was gambling. Prosecutors say Lovett and Roach schemed from 2004 until fall 2013, when Lovett abruptly retired.

They say Lovett was paid to protect Roach from police while Roach cheated customers with games they could not win. Lovett will remain free until he is sentenced. No date has been set.

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