Rats 'R' U.S.

From We the Sheeple

Help Wanted: Super-informants.

Attention law enforcement professionals and others! Are you frustrated by the slow lane to riches? Why not become a superinformant? - the fastest growing segment of the Department of Justice. No experience or education is desired. Dubious background expected. Criminal record encouraged. Racist tendencies okay. Choose from drugs, pornography, prostitution, etc.- or let us decide, and we'll pay you to be trained. Salaries in the millions, and always tax free.

Collect up to 25% of the drugs and cash seized! Perks include permission to commit perjury and lifetime "get out of jail free" cards for you and your family.

Don't wait. Act now! Just send your rap sheet or resume to your local federal prosecutor's office or call 976-RENO, and we'll drop any criminal charges against you just for calling. (Drug charges not included.)

Sound too good to be true? Ask Andrew Chambers, whose stats include over 150 drug case at bats, 300 arrests and earnings of $1 to 4million-depending on who you talk to:

This Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) decision is really the story of one of the DEA's most notorious and highly paid informants, received as much as $4 million for his services despite a criminal record, frequent perjury, and specific targeting of African American communities."

In a recent case, Judge Kessler concluded that Chambers has "made a career out of serving as a government informant" and has earned "substantially more than the vast majority of other, more traditional, federal employees. Judge Kessler cited a "media article uncovered by Plaintiff which outlines in dismaying detail the alleged misconduct.. Chambers has allegedly been involved in more than 150 federal drug cases in thirteen years, resulting in more than 300 arrests. . . .He sometimes works on a percentage basis, collecting up to 25% of the value of the drugs and cash seized from sting operations in which he is involved. . . . Furthermore, there is evidence that Chambers does not pay taxes on his 'earnings', and that the DEA has not taken steps to ensure that he does." That evidence was the fact that Chambers was never prosecuted for tax fraud "despite not filing returns for six years."

After a request for information by a defendant on monies paid to Chambers and Chambers' criminal record Kevin Janet, the Acting Chief of the Litigation Unit of the Freedom of Information Section at the DEA, conducted an investigation and received 33 pages of materials. Nevertheless, Janet - obviously a dedicated team player - concluded that Chambers' criminal records were exempt from disclosure because such disclosure "would constitute an unwarranted invasion of Chambers' personal privacy, given the humiliation, stigmatization, and embarrassment that could result from such disclosure."

He concluded Chambers' payment records were also exempt from disclosure under the same provisions because they "would reveal the purpose, duration, and scope of Chambers' participation in criminal investigations. Such disclosure would bring with it an invasion of personal privacy because of the stigmatization attached to being a government informant." (We The Sheeple has learned Chambers' country club membership might also be in jeopardy.)

Judge Kessler bravely shut down the DEA here pointing out that:
"By choosing to 'work' as a regular government informant, and by testifying about his activities and 'earnings' in open court, Chambers had given up his personal privacy interests to this information. . . . Furthermore, given the compelling evidence Plaintiff has uncovered, suggesting massive government misconduct, the public interest in disclosure of this information far outweighs any privacy interest Chambers may have."
Judge Kessler directed the DEA to disclose both Chambers' criminal record and the dates and amounts he was paid.

We assume that Chambers will now be dropped as a reliable informant; however, this decision may well give many defendants - who have already been convicted on the basis of Chambers' testimony - a chance to reopen their cases. While this might be considered some kind of good news, we can't help wonder how many other dirtbags are similarly well paid-and well protected-to remain in bed with federal law enforcement.

©2000 by We the Sheeple and FedCrimLaw.com.