The Republic - The Associated Press - November 2, 2011
Tulsa, Okla. — A federal judge has granted a 10-day extension for prosecutors to reply to a motion for acquittal by a Tulsa Police officer convicted of perjury and Civil rights violations. U.S. District Judge Bruce Black approved the extension Tuesday for U.S. attorneys to prepare their response to Officer Jeff Henderson's request for a new trial and acquittal. Attorneys for Henderson suggest in their motion that jurors could have been confused when entering some of the verdicts against him, among other allegations. In August, jurors found Henderson guilty on eight of the 53 counts against him, including six counts of perjury and Civil rights violations. They cleared fellow officer William Yelton on all eight charges he faced. Five officers were indicted last year on more than 80 charges in a widespread corruption probe that roiled the department and the city.
********** BACKGROUND:
Corruption Investigation of the Tulsa Police Department
The Tulsa World - www.TulsaWorld.com
First police trial: May 31 to June 10
Defendants: Tulsa police officers Nick DeBruin, Bruce Bonham and retired Cpl. Harold R. Wells. DeBruin and Bonham are assigned to patrol; Wells was also a patrol corporal.
Indictments: Unsealed July 20, 2010, alleging the officers stole money during an FBI sting May 18, 2009 and planted drugs on individuals to gain convictions. Wells indicted on 10 counts, DeBruin on six and Bonham on five.
Prosecutor: First Assistant U.S. Attorney Jane Duke, Eastern District of Arkansas
Judge: U.S. District Judge Bruce Black, of New Mexico
Outcome: Wells convicted of five counts; DeBruin and Bonham acquitted on all counts. Sentencing for Wells, who is being held in the Tulsa Jail, has not been set. DeBruin and Bonham are on administrative leave with pay pending the outcome of an internal affairs investigation.
Second police trial: Aug. 1 to Aug. 24
Defendants: Tulsa police officers Jeff Henderson and Bill Yelton, assigned to the Special Investigations Division
Indictments: Unsealed July 20, 2010. Henderson is charged with 53 counts related to perjury, civil rights violations, drugs, witness tampering and one firearms count. Yelton is charged with eight counts: four related to civil rights violations, two related to witness tampering, one related to suborning perjury and one count of attempted retaliation against a witness, which was added in September 2010.
Prosecutor: First Assistant U.S. Attorney Jane Duke, Eastern District of Arkansas
Judge: U.S. District Judge Bruce Black, of New Mexico
Outcome: Officer Jeff Henderson was found guilty on eight counts; officer Bill Yelton was acquitted. Henderson was found not guilty on 45 other counts. Jurors deliberated for 23 hours over four days. Henderson was found guilty on count 39, which relates to a charge of deprivation of civil rights stemming from the search of Carah Bartel and William Kinnard. His other guilty counts relate to perjury in testimony Henderson gave during a suppression hearing in the federal case of Ronald Crawford. Each perjury count carries not more than five years. Deprivation of civil rights is a misdemeanor that carries a maximum of one year. The judge has discretion to run them consecutively or concurrently.
Officers indicted or named in grand jury probe
Tulsa Police Officer Jeff Henderson
- Hired June 5, 1995. Placed on paid leave in March; suspended without pay July 23.
- Current assignment: Special Investigations Division.
- Indicted July 20 on 58 counts: 22 counts related to perjury, 20 related to civil rights violations, 12 related to drugs, two witness tampering counts, one firearms count and one attempted bribery count. Ordered held without bail July 23.
- Henderson was convicted Aug. 24 on two counts of civil rights violations and six counts of perjury. He was acquitted on 45 counts of perjury, civil rights violations, drug conspiracy and witness tampering. He could be sentenced to one year for each civil rights violations and five years for each perjury count.
Former ATF Agent Brandon McFadden
- Hired by U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives on July 15, 2002.
- Resigned from ATF on Sept. 25, 2009.
- Pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy May 6, 2010 in federal court
- Cooperating with prosecutors and released to home in Lubbock, Texas, pending trial.
Former Tulsa Police Officer Harold R. Wells
- Hired Oct. 1, 1975.
- Retired in May
- Assignment before retiring: Gilcrease Division.
- Indicted July 20, 2010 on 10 counts: three related to civil rights violations, three related to drugs, two related to theft of U.S. funds, one firearms count and one count of using a telephone to commit a felony. Released on bond.
- Convicted June 10, 2011 of five counts: knowingly carrying and possessing a firearm during and in relation to drug trafficking crime, conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substance (methamphetamine), Conspiracy to steal U.S. funds, stealing U.S. funds and use of a telephone to commit a felony.
- Being held in the Tulsa Jail pending sentencing, which has not been set. Faces 15 years in prison.
- On Aug. 22, U.S. District Judge Bruce Black acquitted Wells of a single count of carrying a firearm during a drug-trafficking crime. While Black threw out the gun charge, he rejected a motion by Wells' attorneys to dismiss all the counts against him. Wells remains convicted on four counts.
Tulsa Police Officer Nick DeBruin
- Hired July 6, 1999.
- Assigned to Special Investigations Division, 2002-05, later assigned to patrol.
- Placed on paid leave July 21; suspended without pay July 23.
- Indicted July 20, 2010 on six counts: two counts related to theft of U.S. funds, two related to civil rights violations, one drug count and one firearm count. Released on bond.
- Acquitted of all counts June 10, 2011
- Pay was reinstated on June 13
Tulsa Police Officer Bruce Bonham
- Hired Aug. 13, 1990.
- Placed on paid leave July 21; suspended without pay July 23.
- Indicted July 20, 2010 on five counts: two counts related to theft of U.S. funds, one count related to civil rights violations, one drug count and one firearm count. Released on bond.
- Acquitted of all counts June 10, 2011
- Pay was reinstated on June 13
Tulsa Police Officer Bill Yelton
- Hired April 16, 1985.
- Current assignment: Special Investigations Division.
- Placed on administrative duty June 18 and paid leave July 21; suspended without pay July 23.
- Indicted July 20 on seven counts: four related to civil rights violations, two related to witness tampering and one related to perjury.
- Ordered held without bail July 23.
- Acquitted on all counts Aug. 24. Released from jail the same day. He is suspended with pay pending an Internal Affairs investigation.
Former Tulsa Police Officer John K. Gray
- Hired March 1, 1990.
- Retired in May.
- Assignment before retiring: Mingo Valley Division.
- Pleaded guilty June 14 in federal court to stealing money during an FBI sting.
- Cooperating with prosecutors and released on bond.
Tulsa Police Officer Eric Hill
- Hired July 5, 2005.
- Former assignment: Gilcrease Division.
- Placed on paid leave June 22.
- Court records say he admitted stealing drug money during a bust.
- Arrested July 19 on unrelated complaint of domestic assault and battery.
- Fired Aug. 18, 2010 for admitting that he planted drugs during drug arrests.
- On Sept. 14, 2010, Hill was charged with misdemeanor assault and battery. The case was dismissed Jan. 28, 2011.
Former Tulsa Police Officer Callison Kaiser
- Hired Oct. 8, 2004.
- Resigned August 2008 to work for U.S. Secret Service.
- Resigned from Secret Service in early June.
- Assignment before resigning from TPD: Gilcrease Division.
- Court records say he admitted stealing drug money during a bust.
- Cooperating with federal prosecutors.
Unindicted co-conspirators
Officer Sean Larkin
- Hired: Jan. 6, 1997
- Previous assignment -- UDE
- Transferred to Special Investigations Division -- April 8, 2007
Officer Frank Khalil
- Hired: Jan. 3, 2000
- Previous assignment -- detective
- Transferred to Special Investigations Division -- Aug. 29, 2004
Officer Shawn Hickey
- Hired: March 20, 1989
- Previous assignment -- UDN
- Transferred to Special Investigations Division -- Aug. 26, 2001
First police trial: May 31 to June 10
Defendants: Tulsa police officers Nick DeBruin, Bruce Bonham and retired Cpl. Harold R. Wells. DeBruin and Bonham are assigned to patrol; Wells was also a patrol corporal.
Indictments: Unsealed July 20, 2010, alleging the officers stole money during an FBI sting May 18, 2009 and planted drugs on individuals to gain convictions. Wells indicted on 10 counts, DeBruin on six and Bonham on five.
Prosecutor: First Assistant U.S. Attorney Jane Duke, Eastern District of Arkansas
Judge: U.S. District Judge Bruce Black, of New Mexico
Outcome: Wells convicted of five counts; DeBruin and Bonham acquitted on all counts. Sentencing for Wells, who is being held in the Tulsa Jail, has not been set. DeBruin and Bonham are on administrative leave with pay pending the outcome of an internal affairs investigation.
Second police trial: Aug. 1 to Aug. 24
Defendants: Tulsa police officers Jeff Henderson and Bill Yelton, assigned to the Special Investigations Division
Indictments: Unsealed July 20, 2010. Henderson is charged with 53 counts related to perjury, civil rights violations, drugs, witness tampering and one firearms count. Yelton is charged with eight counts: four related to civil rights violations, two related to witness tampering, one related to suborning perjury and one count of attempted retaliation against a witness, which was added in September 2010.
Prosecutor: First Assistant U.S. Attorney Jane Duke, Eastern District of Arkansas
Judge: U.S. District Judge Bruce Black, of New Mexico
Outcome: Officer Jeff Henderson was found guilty on eight counts; officer Bill Yelton was acquitted. Henderson was found not guilty on 45 other counts. Jurors deliberated for 23 hours over four days. Henderson was found guilty on count 39, which relates to a charge of deprivation of civil rights stemming from the search of Carah Bartel and William Kinnard. His other guilty counts relate to perjury in testimony Henderson gave during a suppression hearing in the federal case of Ronald Crawford. Each perjury count carries not more than five years. Deprivation of civil rights is a misdemeanor that carries a maximum of one year. The judge has discretion to run them consecutively or concurrently.
Officers indicted or named in grand jury probe
Tulsa Police Officer Jeff Henderson
- Hired June 5, 1995. Placed on paid leave in March; suspended without pay July 23.
- Current assignment: Special Investigations Division.
- Indicted July 20 on 58 counts: 22 counts related to perjury, 20 related to civil rights violations, 12 related to drugs, two witness tampering counts, one firearms count and one attempted bribery count. Ordered held without bail July 23.
- Henderson was convicted Aug. 24 on two counts of civil rights violations and six counts of perjury. He was acquitted on 45 counts of perjury, civil rights violations, drug conspiracy and witness tampering. He could be sentenced to one year for each civil rights violations and five years for each perjury count.
Former ATF Agent Brandon McFadden
- Hired by U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives on July 15, 2002.
- Resigned from ATF on Sept. 25, 2009.
- Pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy May 6, 2010 in federal court
- Cooperating with prosecutors and released to home in Lubbock, Texas, pending trial.
Former Tulsa Police Officer Harold R. Wells
- Hired Oct. 1, 1975.
- Retired in May
- Assignment before retiring: Gilcrease Division.
- Indicted July 20, 2010 on 10 counts: three related to civil rights violations, three related to drugs, two related to theft of U.S. funds, one firearms count and one count of using a telephone to commit a felony. Released on bond.
- Convicted June 10, 2011 of five counts: knowingly carrying and possessing a firearm during and in relation to drug trafficking crime, conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substance (methamphetamine), Conspiracy to steal U.S. funds, stealing U.S. funds and use of a telephone to commit a felony.
- Being held in the Tulsa Jail pending sentencing, which has not been set. Faces 15 years in prison.
- On Aug. 22, U.S. District Judge Bruce Black acquitted Wells of a single count of carrying a firearm during a drug-trafficking crime. While Black threw out the gun charge, he rejected a motion by Wells' attorneys to dismiss all the counts against him. Wells remains convicted on four counts.
Tulsa Police Officer Nick DeBruin
- Hired July 6, 1999.
- Assigned to Special Investigations Division, 2002-05, later assigned to patrol.
- Placed on paid leave July 21; suspended without pay July 23.
- Indicted July 20, 2010 on six counts: two counts related to theft of U.S. funds, two related to civil rights violations, one drug count and one firearm count. Released on bond.
- Acquitted of all counts June 10, 2011
- Pay was reinstated on June 13
Tulsa Police Officer Bruce Bonham
- Hired Aug. 13, 1990.
- Placed on paid leave July 21; suspended without pay July 23.
- Indicted July 20, 2010 on five counts: two counts related to theft of U.S. funds, one count related to civil rights violations, one drug count and one firearm count. Released on bond.
- Acquitted of all counts June 10, 2011
- Pay was reinstated on June 13
Tulsa Police Officer Bill Yelton
- Hired April 16, 1985.
- Current assignment: Special Investigations Division.
- Placed on administrative duty June 18 and paid leave July 21; suspended without pay July 23.
- Indicted July 20 on seven counts: four related to civil rights violations, two related to witness tampering and one related to perjury.
- Ordered held without bail July 23.
- Acquitted on all counts Aug. 24. Released from jail the same day. He is suspended with pay pending an Internal Affairs investigation.
Former Tulsa Police Officer John K. Gray
- Hired March 1, 1990.
- Retired in May.
- Assignment before retiring: Mingo Valley Division.
- Pleaded guilty June 14 in federal court to stealing money during an FBI sting.
- Cooperating with prosecutors and released on bond.
Tulsa Police Officer Eric Hill
- Hired July 5, 2005.
- Former assignment: Gilcrease Division.
- Placed on paid leave June 22.
- Court records say he admitted stealing drug money during a bust.
- Arrested July 19 on unrelated complaint of domestic assault and battery.
- Fired Aug. 18, 2010 for admitting that he planted drugs during drug arrests.
- On Sept. 14, 2010, Hill was charged with misdemeanor assault and battery. The case was dismissed Jan. 28, 2011.
Former Tulsa Police Officer Callison Kaiser
- Hired Oct. 8, 2004.
- Resigned August 2008 to work for U.S. Secret Service.
- Resigned from Secret Service in early June.
- Assignment before resigning from TPD: Gilcrease Division.
- Court records say he admitted stealing drug money during a bust.
- Cooperating with federal prosecutors.
Unindicted co-conspirators
Officer Sean Larkin
- Hired: Jan. 6, 1997
- Previous assignment -- UDE
- Transferred to Special Investigations Division -- April 8, 2007
Officer Frank Khalil
- Hired: Jan. 3, 2000
- Previous assignment -- detective
- Transferred to Special Investigations Division -- Aug. 29, 2004
Officer Shawn Hickey
- Hired: March 20, 1989
- Previous assignment -- UDN
- Transferred to Special Investigations Division -- Aug. 26, 2001
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