Florida Prosecutor Seeks to Vacate Thousands of Convictions Related to Sheriff’s Office Sting Operations
BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. – Florida State Attorney Harold F. Pryor has announced plans to vacate as many as 2,600 convictions related to crack cocaine bought during sting operations by the Broward County Sheriff’s Office between 1988 and 1990. The Florida Supreme Court had ruled in 1993 that individuals could not be charged in cases where the sheriff’s office manufactured the crack cocaine and then sold it to buyers who were subsequently arrested.
Prosecutors reviewing old records discovered that many individuals still had criminal charges or convictions on their records due to these sting operations. The crack cocaine epidemic of the 1980s and early 1990s led to harsh police practices and heavy criminal penalties, with some individuals convicted of felonies for purchasing drugs within proximity of schools.
Defense lawyer Ed Hoeg highlighted how the sheriff’s office had deputies posing as drug dealers selling crack to individuals, who were then arrested for purchasing it within close proximity to schools. The state Supreme Court outlawed this practice after an appeal by a public defender representing one of the individuals.
The sheriff’s office had justified making crack cocaine for sting operations by claiming they did not have enough seized drugs for testing. The state Supreme Court deemed this conduct as violating Florida’s due process clause.
State Attorney Pryor has notified Broward County Sheriff Gregory Tony about the plans to vacate convictions and stated that the review process will take time. Defendants may also have the option to seal or expunge their records. Pryor’s office will be contacting those who may be affected by this decision.
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