Pubdate: Sun, 05 Sep 2010
Source: Tulsa World (OK)
Copyright: 2010 World Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.tulsaworld.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/463
Author: Omer Gillham
Note: MAP archives articles exactly as published, except that our editors 
may redact the names and addresses of accused persons who have not been 
convicted of a crime, if those named are not otherwise public figures or 
officials.

DA SAYS ADDITIONAL DRUG CASES UNDER REVIEW

Following the recent indictment of several Tulsa police officers, the
district attorney's office has widened its review of drug cases to
include cases that involve eight officers whose names have surfaced in
a grand jury investigation.

District Attorney Tim Harris' office told the Tulsa World that the
number of cases under review has grown exponentially since the
indictment of five police officers and the naming of two additional
officers cooperating with U.S. Attorney Jane W. Duke of the Eastern
District of Arkansas. An eighth officer has pleaded guilty.

Duke is a special prosecutor overseeing a grand jury investigation of
police corruption in Tulsa.

The names of current or former officers whose cases are under review
are [name1, name2, name3, name4 and name5 redacted] (all indicted), John K. 
Gray (pleaded guilty in the federal
probe), and Eric Hill and 8 Callison Kaiser.

Hill and Kaiser, who are no longer with the Tulsa Police Department,
have admitted stealing drug money during a January 2008 drug raid and
are cooperating with Duke's office, records show.

Assistant District Attorney Doug Drummond said Harris' office is
reviewing felony cases in which a defendant was convicted and which
one or more of the named officers testified at the trial. Harris is
also reviewing any pending cases in which these officers are involved,
he said.

Drummond said Harris' office is also receiving requests for reviews by
defense attorneys and, in some cases, the defendants themselves.

"As part of our review, we hope to begin receiving additional
information from the U.S. Attorney's Office at some point regarding
their investigation. As of yet, that has not happened," Drummond said.

Drummond said Harris' office could not specify how many cases
ultimately might be reviewed.

However, the district attorney previously identified at least 53 cases
involving [name1 redacted] alone. The [name1 redacted] review began in April.

Meanwhile, the number of cases that could be affected in federal court
was not available.

Acting U.S. Attorney Scott Woodward said he could not discuss whether
federal cases involving indicted officers or a former federal agent
would be reviewed.

A Tulsa attorney said he has filed one of the first motions to
overturn a case involving three indicted officers but which appears to
be passed over by Duke's office. Paul DeMuro said the 2007 conviction
of Stephanie Crawford deserves a review or a new trial.

Crawford was freed from federal prison in July after serving 33 months
but she wants her conviction overturned to clear her name, DeMuro said.

"This is a dirty case and the government knows it but what is baffling
to me is why the government is bending over backwards to explain,
justify and to protect the conduct of corrupt police officers," DeMuro
said.

"In this case you have all the elements that are being exposed by the
investigation: improper search warrant, stolen money, and planted
drugs," he said.

While Duke did not choose to take on Crawford's case, she did confirm
that police allegedly had stolen money during the drug bust, according
to a second filing by DeMuro.

On June 22, DeMuro filed a motion in federal court to vacate
Crawford's conviction but Woodward's office opposes the motion, U. S.
District Court records show.

Crawford's case involves three law enforcement officers who have been
convicted or indicted on allegations of drug conspiracy or theft:
[name1 redacted], Gray and Brandon McFadden, a former agent with the U.S.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Gray and McFadden have pleaded guilty in the federal probe. Gray
retired in May from the Tulsa Police Department while McFadden
resigned from the ATF in September 2009.

[name1 redacted] was indicted July 20 on 58 counts of drug conspiracy,
attempted bribery, witness tampering and perjury. Gray and McFadden
are cooperating with Duke's office while they await sentencing,
records show.

While cooperating with special prosecutors, Gray said that Crawford's
arrest report has inaccuracies involving where drugs were found and
how the alleged drug money was handled, court records show.

Henderson's report claims that officers discovered more than 55 grams
of methamphetamine in Crawford's apartment and discovered pills and
methamphetamine on Crawford. Also the report states that $16,000 was
recovered from Crawford's codefendant, Jerry Hill, 27.

Crawford alleges there could have been as much as $50,000 with Jerry
Hill, DeMuro said.

In her first meeting with DeMuro, Crawford said police planted drugs
in her apartment and stole tens of thousands of dollars from Jerry
Hill, DeMuro's motion states.

Gray suggested that [name1 readacted] may have placed $3,000 under the floor
mat of Gray's car after the arrest, U.S. District Court records show.

Court records state that on May 6, 2010, and May 11, 2010, Gray
admitted that one to two days after the search at Crawford's
apartment, he found $3,000 under the floor mat of his car. Gray also
stated that while he was interviewing Crawford at the police station,
[name1 redacted] asked Gray for his car keys, which Gray gave him.

He also noted the police report of the February 22, 2007, search and
arrest contained inaccuracies.

Additionally, DeMuro points out the indictment alleges [name1 redacted]
violated Jerry Hill's civil rights. He remains in federal prison,
records show.

In opposing Crawford's motion for a new trial, Woodward's office said
Crawford pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine with intent
to distribute. A filing by assistant U.S. Attorney Janet Reincke
states that the issues involving McFadden, Gray and [name1 redacted] were not
known at the time of the trial but would not have affected the outcome
because other officers at the drug bust could have testified in her
trial.

DeMuro said: "Stephanie could have taken her chances and tried to
convince a jury that three or four sworn officers were lying and go to
jail for 10 or 20 years if she lost or she could take the deal and be
out in 33 months to be with her young child. She took the deal."

At least 18 people have been freed from state or federal prison or
have had their cases dismissed, a World investigation shows.

Harris has dismissed drug felony cases against eight people and a
judge has ordered one person freed from state prison, records show.

Duke has filed motions in federal court that have freed or dismissed
cases against nine defendants, records show.

Woodward's office has recused itself in most of the matters involving
freed federal prisoners.

Woodward's office did file a motion to free DeMarco Deon Williams who
was serving two life sentences for a drug conviction. Williams was
freed from federal prison April 30 after serving about six years in
prison or jail awaiting his trial date. 
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