By Paul Waldmiller
Did you know that Florida prosecutor, Harold F. Pryor stated that he will seek to vacate as many as 2,600 convictions of people who bought crack cocaine manufactured by the Broward County Sheriff’s Office for sting operations between 1988 and 1990?
Some are asking why the Broward County Sheriff’s Office made crack cocaine in the first place? In an interview and according to Ed Hoeg, a defense lawyer, “They were arresting people not for selling, but for purchasing.” Hoeg stated further that, “They [the Sheriff] had detention deputies posing as dealers…they would sell it, and these poor people who were addicts were buying it. And were selling it within 1,000 feet of schools, so the penalties would be greater.”
Apparently, over 30-years-ago, the Florida Supreme Court ruled that people could not be charged with a crime in cases where the sheriff’s office manufactured crack cocaine and undercover deputies sold it to buyers who were arrested.
Mr. Pryor in his own interview told a reporter that his office was revieing old arrest records, and that prosecutors realized that many of those arrested may still have criminal charges or convictions on their records because of the sheriff’s office making and selling their own crack cocaine.
Prosecutor, Harold F. Pryor said he has notified Broward County Sheriff, Gregory Tony that he would be requesting judges to vacate the convictions.