Retired Tulsa Police Officer Pleads Guilty To Stealing Money

By Lori Fullbright, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- The Tulsa County District Attorney was in a wait and see mode Wednesday after a retired Tulsa police officer pled guilty in federal court to one count of stealing money.

The plea deal was made with a special prosecutor from Arkansas who has been investigating corruption in the Tulsa Police Department's drug unit.

The Tulsa Police Department put J.J. Gray on administrative leave in April and he retired earlier this month after 20 years on the department with no disciplinary action in his file and several awards, including officer of the year.

Gray pled guilty on Monday. The Tulsa County District Attorney isn't sure what impact this could have on cases they have involving Officer Gray, but tells The News On 6 they are concerned.

News On 6 Crime Reporter Lori Fullbright has done many interviews with Officer Gray over the years. He came on the force in 1990 and worked in patrol, detective division and the narcotics unit.

That is the unit that has primarily come under fire in the past months. A special prosecutor is investigating allegations of officers pressuring witnesses to lie, stealing drug money and planting drugs.

The first officer to plead guilty was Brandon McFadden, a former federal agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives . He pled guilty one count of conspiracy to distribute meth.

5/6/2010 Related Story: Former ATF Agent Admits Guilt In Corruption Charge

He agreed to help federal investigators, even to testify before the grand jury. Retired officer J.J. Gray becomes the second, pleading to one count of stealing money.

Records show it was the product of a sting operation run inside an East Tulsa motel by the FBI where an agent posed as a drug dealer.

Records say Gray and five other Tulsa officers searched the room and found money. They say video cameras recorded Gray putting some money into his pockets.

Prosecutors say the officers took five of the $13,000 and divided it up, until they suspected they were under surveillance, then returned the money and turned it into the police property room.

Gray is free on a $5,000 bond and will be sentenced in October.

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