Feb 22, 2011
A guy calling himself Jeff Turner called one of my clients from this number. Client wisely called me. I called Mr. Turner. He told me my client had been ordering prescription drugs over the internet without a proper prescription after a face to face visit with a physician. He said there was a warrant for client's arrest. I asked him what branch of federal law enforcement was he with. He said the DEA. I asked what law client had violated. He said "CPL 9." I thought the guy sounded a bit strange for a federal agent, but they come in all types. He then told me about a "Gateway Program" which involved him "talking with my D.A. and getting the charges dismissed with payment of a fine." I asked if there was a U.S. Attorney involved. He said he could not divulge that information. I asked where the warrant originated, he said in Delaware. In thinking back about the conversation, he screwed up several times: 1) a "D.A." is a State District Attorney, not a federal lawyer. Sometimes federal agents will work with local, State prosecutors, but if there is a federal warrant out there, most likely there is a federal prosecutor involved too. 2) He also is fully at liberty to tell me who is the Assistant U.S. Attorney overseeing the case (if it was real), so saying he was not allowed to tell me who the attorney was sent another strong signal. 3) The federal government does not prosecute people, ask a Court for an arrest warrant, and then agree to dismiss the case for the person's acceptance into a "Gateway Program," and still demand a fine.
I got off the phone telling "Agent Jeff Turner" my client would be calling him back on a three way with me on the phone as well. He said several times it was"urgent" that my client call him right away. I must say the guy was good. He had me going for a bit. I have been dealing with federal agents for nearly 25 years of criminal defense practice, and I did not catch it right away. I sat there after I hung up, thinking how strange he had sounded and that things were not adding up. I started looking for this "CPL 9" law he had quoted. That is show I found this site. Then it all fell into place that he was a scammer. Crazy what they'll think up.