Copyright 2023 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. confidential relationship is or should be formed by use of the site. His handlers did well, too. It is ugly. Some people have heard of the witness protection program in movies or TV shows. Typically the police are in plain clothes in an undercover vehicle.. All of this is a disguise so that you cannot know the police are watching. Drug trafficking charges are a felony offense, which can land you in prison for quite some time. All these only go to reinforce stereotypes. But he had his reasons for informing on the drug gang. It is not uncommon in drug cases for prosecutors to use evidence from a controlled buy to support the charges. In the 1960s, a trio of Supreme Court decisions Hoffa v. United States, Lewis v. United States, and Osborn v. United States made clear that police have a relatively free hand to use informants. He will stop at nothing to ensure that your rights remain protected and that you receive a fair day in court. "This is not an appropriate case to comment on, because the procedures that we implemented weren't followed.". A lawyer may be able to communicate with the agent to notify the agent you no longer wish to work as a snitch, or at least get an idea of how many more times the agent expects you to work. Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings are the gold standard in attorney ratings, and have been for more than a century. Because of this, the Government often doesnt give CIs a break in their case or dismiss the case until the CI has testified truthfully at trial. If the CI's reports are consistent with other reports by third parties, it will increase a CI's credibility in court. These ratings indicate attorneys who are widely respected by their peers for their ethical standards and legal expertise in a specific area of practice. However, sometimes, knowing who a confidential informant is in the case can be crucial to the defense team. Notable: This rating indicates that the lawyer has been recognized by a large number of their peers for strong ethical standards. This creates a record that the deal happened and that the informant is telling the truth about the amount of drugs and money involved, particularly if the seller is arrested immediately and in possession of the bills with pre-recorded serial numbers. Until now, ICE has always refused to talk on the record about what happened there and why Lalo was kept on the U.S. government's payroll while he was involved in torture and murder. he really cares and goes beyond 100% to help his clients. Drug Informants: Motives, Methods, and Management Fabricating a confidential informant can lead to dire consequencesfor the objects of police raids if things go awry. Typically, the process requires that the confidential informant be thoroughly searched before going into the controlled buy to ensure they are not already in possession of any drugs. All rights reserved. Confidential Informants, a.k.a. "Police Snitches - Susan Williams Law He was climbing the ranks of the drug cartel and was becoming a trusted ally to Juarez's third in command. An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice. 142 0 obj<>stream It may be challenging for law enforcement to prove that you were the source of the narcotics that led to the individuals death and suspicion alone is not enough to convict a person and send them to jail for many years. Territories Financial Support Center (TFSC), Tribal Financial Management Center (TFMC). Before analyzing the informant's employment cycle, the monograph considers several preliminary matters: additional information about unofficial sources, notes on who confidential informants are and what motivates them, and pitfalls that can create problems for the agency or the investigator who recruits an informant. Similarly, if you borrow a friend or family members car to run errands around town and law enforcement pulls you over, searches the vehicle, and finds illegal drugs hidden inside yet you did not know they were there, it may also be challenging to convict you. Members of Mexico's Federal Agency of Investigations excavate the yard at the House of Death after two bodies were found there. These Guidelines do not apply to the use of Confidential Informants in foreign intelligence or foreign counterintelligence . Mathew did an amazing job in court. If youre worried about how to beat a confidential informant, let the Law Offices of MJ Snyder represent you. 129 0 obj <> endobj I couldn't believe it," says the DEA's Sandalio Gonzalez. It just made me sick. Confidentiality is what makes the informant valuable. You may also have to forfeit any weapons or firearms that you own and you may lose your right to vote in political elections for a period of time. The team at Weinstein Legal will evaluate your case and can best advise you on the strategy we will use in regard to how to beat a drug trafficking charge, therefore preserving your freedoms and constitutional rights. In this hour of need and when this medical pro Mat was such a relief to our family! You will not be able to notice the marks. Supplemental Terms. For a free legal consultation, call 215.515.3360. The content of the responses is entirely from reviewers. Only attorneys practicing at least three years and receiving a sufficient number of reviews from non-affiliated attorneys are eligible to receive a Rating. If you are wondering how to beat a drug charge in the state of Florida and have an upcoming court case for these criminal charges, contact Weinstein Legal today and ask for criminal defense attorney Matt Shafran. Exposing the confidential informants identity would spell the end of the governments ability to use that informant again in the future. Expose any deals they have had with the prosecution to work off their charges in exchange for information, Play up the fact that they are being paid to inform against the defendant, Make them admit to wanting to avoid any negative consequences for themself or loved ones that would have occurred if they failed to cooperate. PDF The Attorney General'S Guidelines Regarding the Use of - Ignet The prosecution is not required to reveal CIs in discovery unless knowing their identity is detrimental to the defendants case. A CI reporting that he heard a suspect may commit "a crime sometime" is far less credible than a detailed account of the future crime's elements, those involved, and descriptions of the locations and vehicles involved. Lorenza Magana, who works with victims of violence in Juarez, sat vigil with relatives of missing family members outside the house the night that Mexican authorities began unearthing the remains. Even if the man was John Gotti in his prime, you do not allow an informant to run the investigation; you do not let the informant commit felonies, to commit murder. The video was shot four years ago at Sherburne County Jail in Elk River, Minn. (See clips from the video on the timeline of Lalo's case). This story was produced for broadcast by Marisa Penaloza. Every day that passes is another day that the prosecutors office is working to secure your guilt. "It was so horrible. Active listening for police - a skill for conflict avoidance. 0000001712 00000 n abstract. In an interview with NPR, Kumar Kibble, a top ICE official and a former director of criminal investigations for the agency, says, "I want to emphasize that our primary obligation is to protect life and limb." Today, Lalo insists he never killed anyone, though court documents show he admitted being present during several murders; he even acknowledged driving two victims to a Juarez house where he knew they'd be killed. It is essential to understand what the charge of drug trafficking means in the state of Florida, as well as the specifics of the legislation. Yes, in some circumstances the police will pay a person to be a CI. You may have signed up to be a CI under duress or felt forced into it after the police threatened to lock you up for the rest of your life or arrest other family members involved with drug activity. Opinion | Want to make a million? Become a DEA informant. Evidence from CIs who have been busted for fraud or other crimes involving lying may be given less weight. there are basically two types of police investigation, reactive and proactive. This rating indicates the attorney is widely respected by their peers for high professional achievement and ethical standards. If you have questions regarding drugs charges, or any other criminal defense matters, please contact Ketcham Law for a consultation by calling us at (205) 296-4233. Distinguished: An excellent rating for a lawyer with some experience. He is already one step ahead of the prosecutor and is well familiar with the techniques they will likely employ in an attempt to convict you. Courtesy Raul Loya My son got a felony for possession of THC oil, I immediately started looking for legal assistance and was blessed to find Mathew Shafran. Law Enforcement may have some input on whether the charges are dropped or lessened, but the prosecutor has the final say. The CI may do controlled buys. This means that the CI will have an agreement with the police. "It hit me like cold water in the face; it just feels terrible. This is the first time that Bencomo has talked publicly. A confidential informants information can possibly be used against you for your arrest and later in your trial if you request a jury trial. Below is the best information and knowledge about how to beat a confidential informant compiled and compiled by the KTHN team, along with other related topics such as: signs of a confidential informant, what are the rules for a confidential informant, how to become a confidential informant, is it illegal to expose a confidential informant, They can: A skilled defense attorney in Pennsylvania will know how to maneuver in the courtroom and lead a witness to provide information that supports the defenses theory of the case. Whether you are a first-time offender or you have received charges in the past relating to drugs or other criminal activity, the team at Weinstein Legal is here to help. In a court case, the prosecution must disclose any evidence and witnesses they have against the defense during a discovery process. Confidential Informants: Engage in violations of Federal and state laws while providing information to the FBI. of this site is subject to additional Law enforcement monitors the controlled buy through audio and/or video surveillance, which is usually recorded. "In my mind, he was given a license to kill.". Both federal and state law enforcement officers use confidential informants. These guys are El Paso's version of the Keystone Kops," Loya says. You may not see or notice the police. If the said information was procured outside of standard procedure (illegal or questionable means), they might use the CI excuse. A person shall not knowingly: 1. How Do You Beat a Drug Trafficking Charge in Florida? Criminal defense attorneys have a host of tools to do this. and Raul Loya. And he didn't need the money he was already making plenty in Juarez's drug trade. There are two opportunities to find out the identity of a confidential informant: before and during trial. On April 8, 2020, the Minnesota Supreme Court issued a new ruling on the use of confidential informants. For example, there is a difference between the criminal offense of drug possession and drug traffickingbut what is the difference and how do you know which is applicable in your specific case? Keep in mind that courts often determine whether to accept a confidential informant's evidence as credible based on the totality of the circumstances in that case -- which may include other factors not listed here. Saying they have a CI may be a cover for ill-gotten evidence and information. Make the CI contradict themself on the stand, If they have a history as a CI, call into question their history as a CI that has informed on lots of different cases for the prosecution. The Use of 'Confidential Informants' Can Lead to Unnecessary and Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Working As A Confidential Informant Criminal or confidential informants assist law enforcement in setting up and busting others accused of violating the law somehow.