DEA to review its policies on handling informants after case falls apart

[flashl]

Big drug case derailed by rogue snitch

CLEVELAND — Wes Ballard is trying to put his life back together after serving 10 months in jail because of lies told by an informant who was handled by a federal agent now facing multiple investigations himself.

Ballard and 25 other people were arrested in a sting meant to clean up the drug trade in Mansfield, about halfway between Cleveland and Columbus. Many of those arrested were convicted.

Now, though, prosecutors are asking a federal judge to dismiss charges including conspiracy and cocaine trafficking against most of the defendants, even some who pleaded guilty.

...

After spending nearly a year in jail awaiting trial, Ballard was acquitted last year by a jury skeptical of Bray's testimony. For one thing, Bray's description of Ballard's height was off by 8 inches.

Others didn't fare as well: Geneva France was convicted of being a drug courier and spent 16 months in prison before her case was dismissed last May. By the time the 25-year-old was freed, her 3-year-old daughter no longer recognized her, she'd been evicted from her home and all her belongings had been thrown out.

The botched cases highlight the risks of working with informants, said Lewis Katz, a law professor at Cleveland's Case Western Reserve University. He compared them to unreliable jail snitches who hope to win shorter sentences.

Houston Chronicle

Tulia, Texas, Liberty 7, redux

[formerfed]

1. Tip of the iceberg

Cant believe I have only been on here one day and crossing paths with so many of these topics.

Folks, you just do not know how bad the handling and use of informants is. The informants run the show, not the agents.