TVA police officer provided protection for illegal million-dollar poker game

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A federal judge on Monday sentenced a retired Tennessee Valley Authority police officer to home detention and probation for his role in providing police protection for an illegal $1 million poker game.

U.S. District Judge Pamela Reeves ordered Benito D. Lopez to spend two months under house arrest and three years on probation for his plea of guilt to attempted extortion in connection with a November 2009 high-stakes poker game Lopez knew was illegal but turned out to be part of an FBI sting to catch dishonest law enforcers.

Lopez was working as a police officer for TVA at the time. He later retired with 30 years of service under his belt.

Read more from our news partners at KnoxNews.com.

Authorities say another former TVA police officer shot his ex-wife earlier this month.

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