Imprisoned ex-officer in corruption probe seeking release

TULSA, Okla. (AP) – An imprisoned ex-Tulsa police officer at the center of one of the worst corruption scandals in the history of the department is petitioning a federal judge for his early release.
Former Cpl. Harold Wells was one of four law enforcement officers sent to prison after being indicted by federal prosecutors on charges of fabricating drug buys, coaching informants and stealing drugs and cash.
The 65-year-old Wells was sentenced in 2011 to 10 years in prison.
The Tulsa World reports that Wells claims his assisting prosecutors in a wrongful-conviction case should count toward his early release.
But prosecutors opposed shortening the sentence, saying his testimony didn’t provide the “substantial assistance” in the case to justify a reduced sentence.
Wells is scheduled to be released in 2020.