Guards Held In Jailbreak By Drug Boss // 3 Were Paid to Aid Escape: Sheriff

As many as three Cook County Jail correctional officers may havehelped accused drug dealer Erdogan Kurap escape and one was offered$50,000 to $100,000 to do it, Sheriff Michael F. Sheahan said Friday.

The Thursday escape "was bought and paid for with drug money,that's what we believe," Sheahan said.

While Sheahan would provide no further details, one of thecorrectional officers being questioned Friday was hired despite hisfailure of a written exam for job applicants. That guard was one ofmany who apparently were hired in a test-rigging scheme duringthen-Sheriff James E. O'Grady's tenure, according to disclosures infederal court this week.

One of the …