PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 8 (UPI) -- A Philadelphia judge overturned 53 drug convictions connected to a former narcotics officer under federal investigation Friday, court records said.
Common Pleas Supervising Court Judge Sheila Woods-Skipper tossed out the convictions, each of which involved former Philadelphia Police Officer Jeffrey Walker. Walker was arrested in May following an FBI corruption investigation, WCAU-TV, Philadelphia, reported.
FBI agents said Walker, a 22-year police force veteran with the Narcotics Unit since 1999, plotted with a government informant about robbing drug dealers.
One incident involved Walker stopping a suspect's vehicle, appearing to plant drugs in the vehicle and then arresting the suspect. Walker and the informant later stole $15,000 from the suspect's house, federal charges said.
In most of the overturned cases, those convicted have served jail sentences, WCAU-TV reported.
The city is paying massive settlement costs in lawsuits by former suspects, who allege police framed them in court, the Philadelphia inquirer said Friday.
