Have you ever wondered where the state gets evidence in a criminal case? Officers use a variety of techniques and tools to try to build a case against a suspect. In addition to surveillance and warrants, agents often rely on informants, undercover agents and interrogations to gain more information in government drug trafficking and money laundering investigations.

Evidence in the case of a criminal whistleblower

Agents and police often turn to informants, that is, sources who know something about a suspected criminal. drug trade, illegal arms trade or money laundering operation - to build your business. An informant can be a close associate or a person involved in the crime. In fact, an informant who has already been arrested may choose to provide agents with information about other people in exchange for a better outcome in their case. An informant may simply be trying to make money by providing agents with information about drug trafficking or money laundering. The motivation of informants can be different. For cases that potentially involve international legal issues, such as those requiring an international arrest warrant list, the reliability of the evidence is particularly important.

Why does it matter?

The existence of a whistleblower can create legal complications for a subsequent government investigation. For example, an officer may know that an informant is known to lie, but may conceal that fact when applying to court for a search warrant based on the informant's information. This is a violation of your rights.

Evidence in the criminal case of undercover agents

Sometimes investigators use undercover agents to infiltrate a criminal conspiracy in order to obtain information needed to bring charges of drug trafficking or money laundering. Undercover agents are law enforcement officers who assume false identities in order to establish a relationship with a suspect or suspects involved in their criminal case. These officers may record their conversations with the suspect for later use in court.

However, when undercover agents encourage you to commit an illegal act as part of a "reverse operation," legal restrictions apply. For example, if you were not predisposed to commit the crime that the undercover agent induced you to commit, we could raise the defense of entrapment. Or perhaps the officer wanted to build a more serious case and therefore encouraged you to use an amount or type of drug to which you had no inclination.

Evidence in a criminal case

After arresting a suspect or the suspect's co-conspirator, agents often interview that person to obtain more information. Their goal is to obtain a confession from the accused or create a new informant.

When agents or officers interview a client after an arrest, we carefully review the procedures officers used prior to the interview to ensure that their rights are not being violated. Because our attorneys speak German, we can review the interview in person to make sure you understand your rights and have voluntarily waived them before you participate in the interview.
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