A former Tulsa police officer sentenced to serve 42 months in a corruption probe is now at home under house arrest, a U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons spokesman said.
Jeff Henderson, a former Tulsa police officer convicted of civil rights violations and perjury, left prison June 12 without an escort and entered a half-way house program, said Ed Ross, a spokesman for the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
But instead of moving to a half-way house, Henderson was immediately placed in the program's final phase - house arrest - under the bureau's rules, Ross said.
Meanwhile, Brandon McFadden, a former ATF agent who pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy in the corruption case, has been on house arrest since June 29 and was to have been released from house arrest Saturday, Ross said.
McFadden had been imprisoned in Seagoville, a federal prison near Dallas, for more than 15 months when he went into a half-way house program May 21 to serve the rest of his 21-month sentence.
Before going into prison, McFadden had been living with family in Lubbock, Texas, according to court records.
Henderson was imprisoned in Yankton, S.D., at a former college campus previously ranked by Forbes Magazine as one of the "10 cushiest prisons" in America.
Ross said he could not release the details of Henderson or McFadden's release plan or where they entered house arrest.
Under supervision
He said plans usually allow prisoners to return to their homes and to have a job.
"They are under supervision," Ross said. "It's not unusual that an inmate would be subject to ankle bracelet monitoring."
The police trials involved allegations of falsified search warrants, perjury, witness tampering, selling drugs and drug conspiracy by several Tulsa police officers and McFadden.
The federal corruption investigation resulted in charges against six current or former Tulsa police officers and a federal agent, as well as accusations of criminal behavior against five officers who were not charged.
Henderson was convicted on six counts of perjury and two counts of civil rights violations in the Tulsa police corruption case.
Former Officer John K. Gray pleaded guilty in federal court to stealing money during an FBI sting.
Like McFadden, Gray cooperated with prosecutors.
Gray was sentenced to four months in prison and was released in May 2012.
Former Tulsa Police Officer Harold R. Wells was convicted on four counts and sentenced to 10 years in prison. He is serving his time in Minnesota.
At least 48 people have been freed from prison or had their cases modified because of civil rights violations or potential problems with their cases stemming from the police corruption.
At least 17 lawsuits have been filed against the city and individual police officers as a result.
Henderson is projected to be released from all confinement Oct. 25, when he will start a three-year, court-ordered probation, Ross said.
When sentenced on Dec. 6, 2011, to 42 months in prison, Henderson was expected to serve about 20 months because of time served and good behavior.
That estimate would have allowed Henderson to be released this month. However, U.S. District Judge James Payne levied an additional three months against Henderson in a separate case earlier this year, saying he gave false testimony under oath.
Henderson is currently appealing his original conviction and the additional contempt of court ruling, according to court records.
The law enforcement defendants:
Jeff Henderson, hired by the Tulsa Police Department in 1995, was convicted 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. Henderson was sentenced to 42 months in prison, which he served in South Dakota until June. He is still in federal custody but serving his remaining time under house arrest until October. Three months were added to that prison time in early 2013 for contempt of court in a separate case.
Brandon McFadden, hired as an agent for the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in 2002, was sentenced to 21 months in a Texas prison after pleading guilty to drug conspiracy. McFadden cooperated with prosecutors. McFadden was transferred to a halfway house in May and allowed to be put on house arrest at his home in June. McFadden was to be released from his prison sentence on Saturday.
John K. "J.J." Gray, hired by the Tulsa Police Department in 1990, pleaded guilty to stealing money and was sentenced to four months in a Louisiana prison. Gray cooperated with prosecutors and was released in May 2012.
Harold R. Wells, hired as a Tulsa police officer in 1975, was convicted on five counts, but a federal judge later dismissed one count. Wells was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison, which he is serving in Minnesota.
Three police officers - Nick DeBruin, Bruce Bonham and Bill Yelton - were acquitted of civil rights violations in two cases.
Bonham was charged with five counts and DeBruin was charged with six counts related to theft of U.S. funds, civil rights violations, drug possession and possession of firearms. The Tulsa Police Department fired the two for failing to follow policies regarding "conduct unbecoming an officer" and "duty to be truthful and obedient."
Yelton retired about nine months after police announced an internal investigation was underway.
Jarrel Wade 918-581-8367
jarrel.wade@tulsaworld.com
Original Print Headline: Former law officers finishing time
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