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Drug Dealer Held Accountable For Chicago Cop's Murder

CHICAGO (CBS) -- A federal judge on Thursday held a drug dealer accountable for the murder of a Chicago police officer and his female friend and sentenced him to 35 years in prison, the Chicago Sun-Times is reporting.

U.S. District Judge Joan Lefkow found that it was "very likely" that Jason Austin gunned down Det. Robert Soto and Soto's friend, Kathryn Romberg, in a case of mistaken identity in August 2008.

An earlier criminal case in county court had collapsed against Austin after key witnesses recanted their statements out of fear, federal prosecutors have said.

The feds had convicted Austin of drug charges and argued druing a sentencing hearing that lasted several days that he should be held accountable for the double murder as well, and the judge agreed.

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