Another Prisoner Released As Part Of Tulsa Police Corruption Investigation

By Lori Fullbright, The News On 6 

TULSA, OK -- A fourth person has been released from federal prison as part of a corruption investigation into Tulsa's narcotics division. Eleven people in total have either been released from prison or had their cases overturned during the course of this investigation.

A federal agent and a Tulsa police officer have already pled guilty, and more indictments are expected.

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

DeMarco Williams has been a free man for nearly two months and while he's happy to be out, he doesn't have his own place to live, can't get a job, and must start over from scratch. That's because he lost everything while he was behind bars for six years, facing two life sentences.

Williams, 35, is bunking on his cousin's couch while he tries to get back on his feet. The day he was released from prison, he had nothing, no driver's license, no car, no home, not even clothes.

Even though his cocaine conviction was wiped away and he was set free, good luck explaining that during a job interview.

"When you go find a job, they ask about pervious job history," Williams said. "I've been one for six years. You get into it and start talking about police corruption and it's too complicated for them, just move to the next person."

DeMarco was first convicted in 2005 of selling drugs and got two life sentences with no parole. On appeal, that conviction was set aside for lack of a speedy trial. He went on trial again in 2008 and again, got two life terms. He kept telling everyone the police were lying, but no one believed him except his lawyer and eventually, Jane Duke, the special prosecutor from Arkansas assigned to investigate the police corruption.

DeMarco Williams, wrongly convicted: "Even people in prison didn't believe it, come on man, everybody's saying that."

Lori Fullbright, The News On 6: "Like that story is original."

DeMarco Williams, wrongly convicted: "Right, right, right, right."

Despite that, he says he tried to stay strong, hoping the truth would finally come out. He believes the officers who broke the law should go to prison and the sooner, the better. He knows he has a long road ahead of him and eventually believes he'll have to move from his hometown, to truly feel safe and start over.

I just want to do the right thing," he said. "Everything I do, I want it to be the right thing. I don't want to do any more trouble or come in contact with police, period or whatever. I'm just taking it day by day right now."

DeMarco plans to file a lawsuit against Tulsa and its police department. He says they can't give him back the six years he spent in a penitentiary in Texas, but believes they should pay him some restitution for ruining his life.

Eleven people have either been released from prison or had their cases overturned during the course of this investigation that's looking into allegations of stolen drugs and money, falsified search warrants, lying or nonexistent informants and lying on the witness stand

6/10/2010 Related Story: Tulsa Police Corruption Investigation Prompts Lawsuit