A federal judge has overturned the convictions of two men involved in a 2010 drug case now linked to indicted Baltimore police Sgt. Wayne Jenkins.Several weeks ago, Jenkins was charged with planting drugs in the case.A dramatic and rare scene played out Monday in the courtroom as the federal judge came off the bench and apologized to the two men. The judge said the system failed because of police corruption.Umar Burley and Brent Matthews pleaded guilty to heroin distribution charges in 2011. The convictions were vacated Monday.Federal prosecutors now say the drugs found in the men's car in April 2010 were planted by Jenkins.Prosecutors said Burley and Matthews are innocent."I may have been released, but nothing has changed. My life will never be the same again," Burley said."We were innocent from day one. I just feel like, at this moment, something has worked out in the justice system," Matthews said.The federal judge who sentenced the two men to federal prison terms apologized to the men Monday and called their convictions the result of raw, crude police corruption.Burley and Matthews were stopped by Jenkins, another officer and Detective Sean Suiter. All were in plain clothes."They came out in, literally, black masks, guns drawn with no identification whatsoever," attorney Steven Silverman said.The men said they feared being robbed. Suiter, they said, played the good cop."Detective Suiter, that day, I think it was more like good cop, bad cop, because he was the one that was actually saying 'Don't worry about him,' telling Jenkins to back off a little bit. He would pull me to the side and say 'It will be OK,'" Burley said.Suiter had been scheduled to testify in the corruption case the day after he was fatally shot in west Baltimore last month.The drug case involves the death of a man who was the driver of another vehicle struck by Burley's car as Burley and Matthews fled police. Burley apologized to that family Monday."This has been a nightmare that doesn't end for me. To be forced to be involved in a death, which will forever haunt me," Burley said.Burley also pleaded guilty to manslaughter in state court. His lawyer is seeking to have that conviction reversed as well.

A federal judge has overturned the convictions of two men involved in a 2010 drug case now linked to indicted Baltimore police Sgt. Wayne Jenkins.

Several weeks ago, Jenkins was charged with planting drugs in the case.

A dramatic and rare scene played out Monday in the courtroom as the federal judge came off the bench and apologized to the two men. The judge said the system failed because of police corruption.

Umar Burley and Brent Matthews pleaded guilty to heroin distribution charges in 2011. The convictions were vacated Monday.



Federal prosecutors now say the drugs found in the men's car in April 2010 were planted by Jenkins.

Prosecutors said Burley and Matthews are innocent.

"I may have been released, but nothing has changed. My life will never be the same again," Burley said.

"We were innocent from day one. I just feel like, at this moment, something has worked out in the justice system," Matthews said.

The federal judge who sentenced the two men to federal prison terms apologized to the men Monday and called their convictions the result of raw, crude police corruption.

Burley and Matthews were stopped by Jenkins, another officer and Detective Sean Suiter. All were in plain clothes.

"They came out in, literally, black masks, guns drawn with no identification whatsoever," attorney Steven Silverman said.

The men said they feared being robbed. Suiter, they said, played the good cop.

"Detective Suiter, that day, I think it was more like good cop, bad cop, because he was the one that was actually saying 'Don't worry about him,' telling Jenkins to back off a little bit. He would pull me to the side and say 'It will be OK,'" Burley said.

Suiter had been scheduled to testify in the corruption case the day after he was fatally shot in west Baltimore last month.

The drug case involves the death of a man who was the driver of another vehicle struck by Burley's car as Burley and Matthews fled police. Burley apologized to that family Monday.

"This has been a nightmare that doesn't end for me. To be forced to be involved in a death, which will forever haunt me," Burley said.

Burley also pleaded guilty to manslaughter in state court. His lawyer is seeking to have that conviction reversed as well.

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"Agnew and Mandel pale in comparison to this case."

Fed Judge saying BPD corruption case bigger than ones vs fmr VP and fmr Governor, also prosecuted in Baltimore federal court — Jayne Miller (@jemillerwbal) December 18, 2017

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Umar Burley says he thought he was being robbed in 2010 when stopped by BPD officers incl Wayne Jenkins & Sean Suiter. Jenkins now charged w/planting drugs in Burley car. pic.twitter.com/bhZLE5nqBl — Jayne Miller (@jemillerwbal) December 18, 2017

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Brent Matthews and Umar Burley leaving fed court after drug convictions vacated. Judge: "system failed because of raw, crude police corruption" Men allegedly had drugs planted by BPD Gun Squad Sgt pic.twitter.com/La6uO9KU0I — Jayne Miller (@jemillerwbal) December 18, 2017

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Atty for two men whose convictions vacated said men believed Sgt Wayne Jenkins and other officers were out to rob them..planted drugs to "justify " their chase which ended in fatal car crash — Jayne Miller (@jemillerwbal) December 18, 2017

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