What to do if your being charged for a drug or controlled substance crime because of a confidential informant

January 15, 2025
Subzero Criminal Defense

Whether you call them confidential informants like the government, or snitches, like what most people in the public do, the government frequently uses these people in drug prosecution. The Center for Wrongful Conviction said it well, “The history of the snitch is long and inglorious, dating to the common law.” Our legal system would be better without them. But the government continues to use them.

If a confidential informant is involved in your case, three of the most important things you should do are: (1) find out if there are recordings; (2) figure out if the confidential informant has a history of lying; and (3) hire an attorney with skills in defending drugs crimes.

1. The importance of recordings or lack thereof with informants

There is a massive difference between cases where the informant purchases a drug from you and it’s recorded and cases where it is not. If it’s recorded, absent evidence of fabrication, there is not much to fight. A recording is hard evidence against you. But if there is not recordings, and there isn’t other evidence,  it becomes the informant’s word against your word. And depending on your history and the informant’s history, the case can shift back on the prosecutor massively.

2. Figure out if the confidential informant has a history of lying

A confidential informant will be touted by the government as being reliable. But if the informant is a known liar, this needs to be used against him or her. This can extend beyond verbally lying, and can include cheating on taxes, committing insurance fraud, or otherwise lying through the written word rather than with his or her mouth. If the informant in your case doesn’t have dirt, it will be difficult to challenge the State’s case. But if your informant does, this can shift things in your case.

3. Hire an attorney skilled in defending drug crimes

Drug crimes can differ greatly from other types of crimes. And you want an attorney who has the knowledge and experience to be able to tackle the issues at bay. The frequency with which informants or snitches are used in drug cases changes the contours of the case. I’ve worked many drug crime cases, and have successfully exposed the lies of informants, even finding out that the government’s star witness lied in open court at his own sentencing hearing. Having an experienced attorney can mean all the difference in the world.

Conclusion

If your charged with a drug or controlled substance crime, you want a skilled criminal defense attorney who is knowledgeable and will advocate on your behalf. Peter Lindstrom, Esq. was trained at the nation’s best seminar on defending drug crimes. He has strategies and knowledge about litigating drug crimes issues that other lawyers do not have. Contact Subzero Criminal Defense for a free consultation. 651-248-5142