State of Florida vs. James Green

Jurisdiction

Circuit Court for Miami-Dade, Florida

Charge

Armed Trafficking in Crack Cocaine; Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon; Possession of Crack Cocaine; Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute.

Disposition

Armed Trafficking in Crack Cocaine; Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon; Possession of Crack Cocaine; Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute.

Prosecution's theory of case

The police received an anonymous e-mail to the gang Unit of the Miami-Dade Police Department. Surveillance was setup on a specific corner inside the city of Miami, Florida. The defendant's family members resided in the same area. The defendant allegedly was involved in a hand-to-hand transaction involving crack cocaine. The gang unit officers said that they observed the defendant throw a tennis ball full of crack cocaine out of the defendant's car window. Seized from the defendant's car was over 100 grams of crack cocaine, a semi-automatic hand gun, and a large sum of cash money.

Details of Investigation

Conducted background investigations and interviewed client regarding current case and prior criminal history; investigated and determined all players in drug trade in the specific area that was under investigation; learned the location of unindicted witnesses named in the warrant application; determined that primary co-defendant had a warrant and was major drug dealer. Interviewed police officers involved in case, located contracted tow truck driver for police department. Which led to information revealing actions taken by officers in charge of investigation; identified witnesses to unsuccessful police surveillance of defendants car prior to execution of the arrest team; information from investigation used by defense counsel in successful cross-examination of officer in charge, resulting in suppression of all evidence. Entire defense case rose or fell on admissibility of evidence seized during search, and the credibility of the officer's testimony.