East Texas authorities say informant fooled them

KTBS
Dec. 06, 2006

All charges are being dismissed in a high-profile drug roundup in East Texas after it turned out the key informant in the case made up a bunch of information, authorities said Monday.

Harrison County District Attorney Joe Black has dropped charges against 33 people arrested this past October in Operation Trick or Treat.

"Information came forward to our office that the informant utilized in this undercover operation had possibly misled and lied to officers during the investigation," Black said. "Secondly, my office nor any local law enforcement agencies want to participate in the prosecution of any individual based upon evidence which may have been illegally or fraudulently obtained."

About 20 percent of the cases were compromised, Black said, but a shadow was cast over the entire operation.

Authorities believe the informant they used to buy drugs had fabricated much of the evidence. Black did not disclose specifics of informant's actions that led him to throw out the case.

The man's name has not been released. A warrant has been issued for his arrest, charging him with making a false report to a peace officer.

Black said the county and city narcotics agents involved in the case did not know they were being used.