Drug Conviction Overturned Due To Tulsa Police Corruption Case

NewsOn6.com

TULSA, OK --  The corruption investigation into the Tulsa Police Department prompted a Tulsa County judge to dismiss another case Tuesday.

Parra Nishimoto, 25, was arrested in December of 2007 after officers served a search warrant and said they found three large bags of methamphetamine on top of the freezer in his apartment.

But in a motion to dismiss the case filed on July 15th, Assistant District Attorney Doug Drummond said the affidavit for the search warrant was Tulsa police officer J.J. Gray.

In June, Drummond said the U.S. Attorney's Office was informed that Gray lied under oath about making an undercover drug buy in Nishimoto's apartment.

Gray now says he bought drugs from Nishimoto but not in the apartment as he testified in order to get the search warrant, Drummond said.

Gray pleaded guilty to theft in a federal sting and is awaiting sentencing in October.

6/16/2010 Related story: Retired Tulsa Police Officer Pleads Guilty To Stealing Money

Nishimoto had pleaded guilty in a plea bargaining agreement and was sentenced to 15 years on the trafficking charge.  But Judge Thomas Gillert dismissed the conviction Tuesday at the prosecutor's request.

Nishimoto is still behind bars.  Immigration and Customs Enforcement has placed a hold on him and he faces a charge in Cleveland County for allegedly having a mobile phone in his cell.

7/21/2010 Related Story: Drug Conviction May Be Overturned Due To Tulsa Police Corruption Case