A former Los Angeles Police Department officer pled guilty to Federal charges including civil rights violations, obstructing justice, perjury, filing a false report and grand theft. The police officer, Nino Durden, admitted to shooting an unarmed gang member, planting a gun on him and then lying in court to convict him, among other things. The charges against Durden are the result of a yearlong scandal at the Rampart police station. Durden is the partner of former officer Rafael Perez, who was caught stealing drugs from a police evidence room and made a deal with prosecutors to implicate other officers in a variety of crimes.

Durden could face up to 35 years in jail. However, an Assistant U.S. Attorney working on the case indicated that it is more likely he will serve four to six years under current Federal sentencing guidelines.

The shooting Durden confessed to started the "Rampart Scandal." That shooting left Javier Francisco Ovando, an unarmed gang member, a paraplegic. After the shooting, Durden and Perez planted a sawed-off rifle next to him and testified against him at trial. Their testimony that Ovando burst into an apartment where they were conducting surveillance resulted in his conviction of assault and a 23 year prison term. In light of information uncovered during this scandal, Ovando was released from prison after serving three years and he received a $15 million settlement from the city.

Over 100 convictions have been overturned in light of the allegations of wrongdoing by the Rampart anti-gang unit.