Confidential Informants – Gerald R Stahl is West Michigan’s Criminal Defense Lawyer
What is a Confidential Informant?
The police often enlist the help of confidential informants or CI’s to supply information and assist them in arresting drug dealers. It is the primary goal of the prosecutor to get drugs off the street, and as a consequence, they utilize information and covert operations of these confidential informants to achieve this goal. Often times the confidential informant is a street person or indicted drug dealer who has agreed to cooperate with the state.
Drug delivery and manufacturing is a serious felony and usually will carry very stiff sentences including jail or prison. It is because of the potential harsh sentences that defendants with pending cases will agree to become confidential informants and help the police bust other drug dealers.
In a perfect world the prosecutor would like to see the confidential informant bust someone who is higher up the ladder than the informant himself. In other words, the government wants to get the big fish, not the street user. In order for the government to utilize the work and information of a confidential informant, the informant must be determined to be reliable. A reliable informant is one that has a track record of good quality information or activities that have led to drug seizures or arrests in the past.
If a confidential informant is successful in helping the government arrest and convict other drug dealers, they will most likely receive a lesser charge or lesser sentence on their original criminal case. Furthermore, the Judge will be notified of their cooperation and look favorably on them at sentencing.
Although becoming a confidential informant may sound like an easy way out for a defendant with pending drug charges, it can be a very risky and dangerous situation. A confidential informant is expected to get results not just give information. May times they are required to introduce undercover officers to the drug dealer or perform hand to hand buys under police surveillance. The informants may also work with wire transmitters or marked money, and, as one can imagine, drug dealers are usually carrying guns or other weapons.
Before the defendant becomes a confidential informant they should be fully advised of the risks and expectations involved. They should also work through their own attorney in deciding whether to undertake this option.
If you have a case involving Confidential Informants – “Better Call Stahl”
Gerald R Stahl has attacked the credibility of numerous confidential informants in criminal cases throughout Western Michigan. These criminal cases range from homicide to drug informants. Gerald R Stahl is conveniently located in Grand Rapids on East Beltline near Knapp’s Corner and the 63rd District Court.
Click Here to See a Profile of Grand Rapids Criminal Attorney Gerald R Stahl