Dec. 11-- Four police officers headed for federal prison will be monitored for safety under a prison program for high-profile inmates, an official said.
The convicted officers include three former Tulsa police officers and one former federal agent, who were sentenced to prison Tuesday in U.S. District Court.
U.S. District Judge Bruce Black of New Mexico sentenced the officers to the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
BOP spokesman Edmond Ross said federal prison has numerous law enforcement inmates who must have their safety needs addressed.
"It is not uncommon for law enforcement officers to come into the system but unfortunately, it happens," Ross said. "The Federal Bureau of Prisons has a monitoring program for inmates that might have safety issues or need to be separated from other inmates."
Those sentenced are: Jeff Henderson, 38; John K. "J.J." Gray, 45; Cpl. Harold R. Wells, 60; and former ATF agent Brandon McFadden, 35.
Before being convicted, the officers recorded dozens of drug and criminal arrests, which sent numerous individuals to prison. At least 41 people have been freed from prison or had their cases dismissed or modified due to a police corruption probe, which began more than two years ago.
The officers pleaded guilty or were convicted in two police trials in June and August in federal court. Henderson, who has served 16 months in jail, was fired as a policeman Tuesday.
Gray and Wells retired from the Tulsa Police Department shortly before they were indicted or charged. McFadden resigned from the ATF in 2009.
The police trials involved dozens of allegations of falsified search warrants, perjury, witness tampering, selling drugs and drug conspiracy by Tulsa Police officers and McFadden.
Ross discussed what the officers can expect upon arrival at prison.
"Each inmate coming into the Bureau of Prisons is assessed by a security designation classification process and assigned a security level based on offense level, length of prison time, medical needs, vocational needs and other factors. Every inmate goes through this process. You would not place a convicted police officer in a prison population with people he arrested or with inmates that are obviously aggressive toward officers."
Ross said convicted police officers are typically kept among the general prison population, instead of solitary confinement.
"The best place for any inmate is the open population so they can have full access to prison programs and opportunities," Ross said.
Ross said an inmate can request protective custody if situations arise and are threatening to the inmate.
"These incidences are reviewed and discussed by prison staff and protective custody is possible if warranted," Ross said.
Henderson, who was sentenced to 42 months in prison, has asked to be sent to Yankton, S.D., a former college campus ranked by Forbes Magazine as one of the "10 cushiest prisons" in America.
Black acknowledged Henderson's choice of prison, including it in his sentencing file, federal court records show.
Ross said federal judges frequently recommend prison placement.
"Judges make recommendations often, but there are factors to consider such as prison population and availability of space," Ross said. "We do our best to meet the judge's recommendation. The over-arching plan is that the inmate is placed in a suitable facility based on custody needs."
Gray was sentenced to four months in prison, while McFadden received 21 months. McFadden must report to federal prison by Jan. 18, while Gray must report within the next 90 days. Gray is expected to request to be sent to El Reno federal prison. McFadden has requested Seagoville, a federal facility, 11 miles southeast of Dallas.
Ross said federal inmates typically serve up to 85 percent of their prison time. Inmates can trim 54 days per year from their prison time for good behavior, Ross said.
McFadden and Gray cooperated with special prosecutors and testified in the police trials. The trials were the result of a grand jury investigation involving Tulsa Police Department.
Wells was sentenced to 10 years in prison and did not request a facility at sentencing.
Meanwhile, the fate of two Tulsa police officers acquitted during their police trial could be known soon, a police official said.
Officers Nick DeBruin and Bruce Bonham were acquitted of all charges against them June 10. The officers have been placed on paid leave pending an Internal Affairs investigation of the issues raised in their trial.
"The Bonham and DeBruin investigations are concluding now," said TPD spokesman Jonathan Brooks.
DeBruin and Bonham were the codefendants of Wells.
During the sentencing of Wells, Black said he did not agree with Wells being the only one convicted during his trial.
Speaking to Wells during sentencing Tuesday, Black said the outcome for DeBruin and Bonham (Wells' codefendants) would not have been the same if Black had overseen the trial as a bench case.
The Internal Affairs investigation of a third acquitted officer, Bill Yelton, is in its early stages, Brooks said.
"Officer Yelton's review has recently just began due to delivery time of court records" involving the case," Brooks said.
Yelton was the codefendant of Henderson. Yelton was not part of the Wells, DeBruin and Bonham case.
Omer Gillham 918-581-8301
Copyright 2011 - Tulsa World, Okla.
