United States v. Barbra Walden

Jurisdiction

U.S. District Court Southern District of Florida

Charge

Conspiracy to distribute cocaine; Obstruction Of Justice; Forfeiture; Money- Laundering; aiding and abiding

Disposition

JURY TRIAL- Case dismissed NO COOPERATION!!

Prosecution's theory of case

The client Ms. Walden was charged in a multi-defendant crack cocaine conspiracy. The indictment was based on several months of investigation done by the DEA, ATF, and local law enforcement. The indictment charged the client with conspiring to distribute more than 5 kilograms of cocaine. The criminal complaint alleged that the client traveled with the lead defendant to retrieve multiple kilograms of cocaine and that she paid for his wireless service which was used to facilitate drug transactions. The complaint also alleged that at one point the client detected law enforcement surveillance and as a result did not retrieve the cocaine that they planned to purchase.

Details of Investigation

Conducted background investigations and interviewed client regarding current case and prior criminal history; investigated and determined who was attempted to locate and interviewed all involved government informants. Interviewed indicted co-conspirators/government witnesses in Federal Custody. Learned identity of confidential informants unnamed in the warrant application; determined that primary informant was major drug dealer, user, and trafficker who were a target of the same Federal Narcotics Investigation. Located background information on confidential informant that was given as a benefit for becoming a government informant. Reviewed over 11,000 title 3 wiretap tapes and compact disc. Also reviewed several video surveillance tapes and compact disc; located witnesses housed in the Bureau of Prisons who were informants; reviewed BOP housing records. Located travel and bankruptcy records, loan payment information. Obtained statements, and prepared affidavits for witnesses; located and reviewed records, and discovery from entire period of alleged conspiracy, and to crime charged.