Former East Chicago police commander sentenced to three years in federal prison for cocaine distribution

IL file photo

A former East Chicago police commander convicted of providing cocaine to an associate was sentenced to three years in federal prison Thursday.

Louis Arcuri, 55, of Portage, was sentenced by U.S. Northern District Court Judge Gretchen Lund after pleading guilty to distribution of cocaine.

Arcuri was sentenced to 36 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. He has been in federal custody since Feb. 29.

According to documents in the case, Arcuri was on duty and armed as an East Chicago police commander on June 11, 2021, when he provided cocaine to an associate.

In its sentencing memorandum to the court, the Indiana Northern District noted that Arcuri provided these drugs not only while he was an East Chicago Police officer of more than 30 years, but while he was on duty as a commander in the patrol division of the East Chicago Police Department.

“The violation of his oath is bad enough but to do so while he was meant to be a role model for patrol agents and set the tone for an entire department is particularly egregious,” the memorandum stated.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the East Chicago and the Whiting Police Departments.

“The public rightly expects that those charged with enforcing the law will themselves abide by the law. Most law enforcement officers live up to this expectation,” Indiana Northern District U.S. Attorney Clifford Johnson said in a news release. “However, this defendant, while a sworn officer, violated federal law by distributing illegal drugs. Today, the court sentenced him for his criminal activity. This case demonstrates my office’s commitment to promoting public safety through prosecution even when the offender wears a police badge.”

The case is United States of America v. Louis Arcuri, 2:24-cr-007.