Story Archive

Potential for Abuse

A judge in Oklahoma said he is “shocked” at the tactics used by a drug enforcement task force. Caddo County District Attorney Jason Hicks gave a contract to a private company, Desert Snow, to train the D.A.’s task force. The deal: Desert Snow would be paid out of any money seized from suspected drug couriers. During training, they would get 25 percent off the top, and participating law enforcement agencies would split the rest. For the rest of the year, Desert Snow would get 10 percent off the top, even if their “trainers” weren’t present. In the first several months of operations, more than $1 million was seized from drivers, often on shaky evidence. But once Special Judge David A. Stephens was informed of the deal, Hicks immediately dropped all charges filed in the operation, and even returned some of the seized money — although some of the money is “missing.” When Judge Stephens learned that at least one of the traffic stops was done by Desert Snow’s owner, Joe David, who is not a law enforcement officer, Stephens told him if he did it again, “I hope to see you soon, wearing orange” — the color of inmate clothing in the county jail. (RC/Oklahoma City Oklahoman) ...Your honor, it’s not too late to see that — he could do it standing right next to the D.A. in a matching suit.