However U.S. prosecutors mentioned there was a second half to Rombough’s story: that after the previous officer was indicted by a federal jury in 2023, investigators witnessed “an amazing turnaround as properly, not like anybody else concerned within the case,” Assistant U.S. Lawyer Eric Cheng mentioned in the course of the sentencing listening to. “On this, we noticed a full and full acceptance of accountability.”
Federal attorneys beneficial a 36-month sentence — rather more lenient than the punishments meted out to Amiri and Wenger. In addition they famous that Rombough paid $3,308 to a person he shot together with his influence spherical launcher.
Rombough’s legal professionals additionally requested for leniency, saying that since he pleaded responsible, he has proven “real regret.” Lawyer Tony Brass famous that the misconduct came about in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, throughout which officers have been compelled to work longer hours at a time of heightened public pressure, and through a broader institutional breakdown at APD.
“You must be a wolf to catch a wolf,” Brass mentioned in the course of the listening to, quoting the 2001 movie Coaching Day. “The Antioch Police Division was infirm from the highest down. The construction was to encourage law enforcement officials to be intimidating, to have road credibility, which comes with violence and bending the principles.”
White finally sentenced Rombough to 50 months in jail. He instructed Rombough the choice had been difficult due to what he referred to as Rombough’s “heartfelt feeling of regret.”
“It’s a really painful factor, and it’s a really exhausting factor to do, however it’s one which must be finished. Police conduct should be judged on the highest stage of morality due to the facility that they maintain, and hopefully, this sentence will mood the justice with mercy,” White instructed Rombough.
Rombough, who wore a grey go well with and whose blond hair was cropped quick, fought again tears as he learn from a letter that he wrote to the decide earlier than the sentence was handed down.
“I’m selecting to be sincere now as a result of I need to have the ability to look my younger sons within the eyes … and inform them the reality,” he mentioned. “I need them to know that once you make critical errors, you continue to should attempt to make issues proper.”
Rombough, who just isn’t presently in custody, has 45 days to report back to the Federal Bureau of Prisons for his sentence.
On launch from imprisonment, Rombough might be positioned below supervision for 3 years. He additionally should chorus from managed substances, should make restitution and should not have contact with sure victims nor with every other defendant within the case, together with Amiri and Wenger.
Earlier this yr, White sentenced two different former Antioch law enforcement officials who testified towards colleagues, Timothy Manly Williams and Daniel Harris, to time served or probation for federal prices. And in December 2025, Antioch agreed to implement a collection of police reforms and pay $4.6 million to settle a civil rights lawsuit filed by the officers’ victims.
