Updated 1:34 p.m.
State Attorney Willie Meggs has told the Tallahassee Democrat that his decision to no longer prosecute cases involving the federal Drug Enforcement Administration is, "probably more symbolic than it is substantive, but I am very serious about it."He went on to say, “I’m just not going to play that little game with those folks. I don’t need them and if these agencies want to work with them and do their cases with them, that’s fine.”
first update
Willie Meggs, state attorney for the 2nd Judicial Circuit, has written a letter to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement saying he will no longer prosecute federal Drug Enforcement Administration cases in state court.
Meggs, in the letter dated Wednesday to FDLE Commissioner Gerald Bailey, said, "Due to recent events, please be advised the State Attorney's Office for the Second Judicial Circuit will no longer prosecute cases in State Court when agents from the DEA are involved. Should your agency join a task force or use federal DEA agents during your investigation you should first contact the U.S. Attorney to make certain that the U.S. Attorney will take your case."
"In the event your agency has any investigations that are in a pending status you should contact me immediately. I assure you that it is my intention to make every effort to effectively prosecute all of your arrests and pending cases.
"This letter is intended to guide your agency on future investigations. Should you have any questions about this new policy, please do not hesitate to call me directly."
Hoffman, a 23-year-old confidential informant for the Tallahassee Police Department, was killed in early May after drug sting gone awry. Three DEA officers were involved in the sting, but they were not allowed to testify before a Leon County grand jury looking into the Hoffman murder and law enforcement's handling of the sting.
In a scathing presentment issued last week, the grand jurors recommended that TPD not work with the DEA until the agents are allowed to testify.
Andrea Green, 25, of Perry, has pleaded not guilty in connection with the May murder of a Tallahassee police informant, Rachel Hoffman.
Not from the Tallahassee Democrat:
Congratulations to Willie Megs for telling the Federal Government where to stick it however symbolic his actions may be. Now might I suggest charging the Tallahassee Police Dept. with being accessories to the fact in negligent homicide?Add to Technorati Favorites
WOW, this is amazing ! Thanks for the update. I think this is an awesome development and a lot of people are probably sh--tting their pants right about now.
ReplyDeleteYou would think they should be
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