BALTIMORE (AP) — A federal judge has personally apologized to two men who allegedly had drugs planted on them by a police officer charged with corruption.

The Baltimore Sun reports that U.S. District Court Judge Richard D. Bennett on Monday vacated the convictions of Umar Burley and Brent Matthews. The two spent years in prison based on police work done by a Gun Trace Task Force. Several members of the elite unit have either pleaded guilty to corruption charges or been indicted.

Bennett, who had previously accepted Burley and Matthews' plea deals, stepped down from the bench and shook both men's hands Monday while saying he was apologizing on behalf of the government.

___

Information from: The Baltimore Sun, http://www.baltimoresun.com