United States v. McDowell, No. 10-2543 (7th Cir. 2012)
Annotate this CaseMcDowell, a confidential informant, continued to sell cocaine, unbeknownst to his handler” In an independent investigation, the DEA developed a cooperating source: “Jose,” a member of a Mexican cartel who supplied cocaine to dealers, including McDowell. Federal agents arranged stings using Jose. McDowell was arrested during a staged sale. He announced that he was an Chicago police informant. Because it was after hours, agents asked him whether he would waive prompt presentment before a magistrate judge (FED. R. CRIM. P. 5(a)). McDowell signed a waiver and spent the night in jail. The next morning he signed a Miranda waiver and confessed involvement in cocaine trafficking. He was convicted of conspiracy and attempted possession of cocaine with intent to distribute and appealed denial of a motion to suppress his confession under 18 U.S.C. 3501(c) and the McNabb-Mallory rule because of delay in presentment. He argued that the court should have ordered the government to produce Jose and that he was entitled to a jury instruction regarding the requirement of evidence corroborating his confession. The Seventh Circuit affirmed. McDowell knowingly waived his right to prompt presentment; the district court was within its discretion maintaining the confidentiality of the cooperating source and denying the requested instruction.
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