GARY A. FARRELL
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Trial Experience

The New York Supreme Court is where criminal cases are tried. Gary A. Farrell recently won an acquittal by a jury verdict of not guilty in the Supreme Court of Kings County for a client facing serious drug charges.

The People of the State of New York
v.
Edwin Santiago

Kings County Indictment #7397/99
Judge Michael Gary

Gary A. Farrell for the defendant.

On September 28, 1999, Edwin Santiago, along with other defendants, was indicted on criminal charges of participating in an organized illegal drug selling operation. He was accused of selling heroin on a school playground. The grand jury indicted Edwin Santiago on the following charges and counts:

1. Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in or near school ground.
2. Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the third degree.
3. Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the fifth degree.
4. Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the third degree (2 counts).
5. Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the seventh degree (2 counts).

The above indictment is based on evidence gathered from an undercover police operation. An undercover detective approached a man who was going into the school grounds with a friend and asked him if he knew who was selling dope. The undercover detective went with the man and his friend and purchased heroin from another man in the park using marked money.

Edwin Santiago was arrested inside the park with over $500 in his possession. The police claim to have found glassines of heroin on the ground near him.

Edwin Santiago maintained that he was innocent and that he was simply in the area talking to his friend. Edwin Santiago stated that he was not part of any drug ring and did not participate in the use or selling of drugs.

After a thorough examination of the case, Mr. Farrell found inconsistencies in the various police reports and improper use of the marked money. After a careful presentation before the jury and a detailed cross-examination of the police witnesses, it became clear the police framed Mr. Santiago.

Accordingly, the jury found Mr. Santiago not guilty and he is now at liberty.