State of North Carolina v. Maurice Hurley

Jurisdiction

Johnston County, North Carolina

Charge

Trafficking cocaine; maintaining house for drug trafficking; possession of cocaine; possession of cocaine with intent to distribute.

Disposition

Motion to Suppress Granted - Case Dismissed

Prosecution's theory of case

Government informants /snitches told police that the client was dealer of crack and powder cocaine kept at his home; search warrant executed at 6:00 a.m. revealed over 3,000 grams of cocaine, cooking pots, scales, 150 crack pipes and other drug paraphernalia; entire defense rose or fell on admissibility of evidence seized during search.

Details of Investigation

Conduct background investigations and interview client regarding current case and prior criminal history; investigated and determined all players in drug trade in Smithfield, North Carolina and surrounding areas; learned identity of confidential informants unnamed in the warrant application; determined that primary informant was major drug dealer being protected by North Carolina Inter-Agency Drug Task Force; interviewed police chief in neighboring jurisdiction which led to information revealing actions taken by agent in charge in protecting primary informant; identified witnesses to unsuccessful police surveillance of defendants home prior to execution of search warrant; information from investigation used by defense counsel in successful cross-examination of agent in charge, resulting in suppression of all evidence.