CHiPS Star Wilcox Gets Probation
FT. LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami.com) – TV cop Larry Wilcox was sentenced to three year's probation and 500 hours community service Friday by a Fort Lauderdale judge.
He played a cop on TV in the 70's smash hit "CHiPs," but now, he's about to learn what it life is like for real convicted felons.
Wilcox has been convicted of securities fraud. Prosecutors claim he tried to convince a pension fund to buy shares of a company he founded by offering bribes.
Prosecutors said Wilcox was in dire financial condition. He needed money to stay afloat and to attempt to save his company, which was in trouble.
They say Wilcox, who played Highway Patrol officer Jon Baker, flew from California to South Florida to meet with a crooked pension fund manager.
He didn't know the crook was actually an undercover FBI agent.
Busted, Wilcox agreed to help the Feds. Going back to his cop-show roots, he wore a wire for the investigators to help make other cases.
His lawyer asked for leniency and got it. Sentencing guidelines say Wilcox could have faced up to two years in prison.
Wilson starred with Erik Estrada, known as Ponch, for five of the six years the show was on the air. Like Wilcox, Estrada's career diminished after CHiPS ended, and he has worked mostly as a TV pitchman and infomercial host.
The South Florida Sun Sentinel provided some material for this report.
