Grand Jury Alleges Sheriff Abused Civil Asset Forfeiture

The indictment could reignite the often heated debate over efforts at the Legislature to radically change Oklahoma’s forfeiture procedures. 

Grand jurors alleged in the first count the sheriff and captain either conspired to receive a bribe or conspired to commit extortion through threats.

Grand jurors alleged in the second count the sheriff and captain either received a bribe or committed extortion through threats.

Grand jurors alleged in the third count the sheriff and caption committed extortion through threats.

The sheriff’s caption stopped Torell Wallace on Dec. 13, 2014, and found in his car $10,000 in cash wrapped in plastic, dryer sheets and odor killer. The sheriff joined him at the traffic stop.

Both the motorist and the 17-year-old passenger were told they were under arrest for possession of drug proceeds. Both at first said they had an ownership interest in the seized money. They later were released from jail, without a court order, “as a direct result of their willingness to forgo the $10,000,” according to the indictment.

http://www.kjrh.com/news/local-news/pruitt-announces-grand-jury-decision-to-remove-wagoner-county-sheriff