Today, the United States Attorney’s Office asked United States District Judge John Adams to dismiss criminal charges against 15 individuals from the Mansfield area who had previously plead guilty to or been convicted of drug trafficking offenses.

This request was made after considering the full implications of the misconduct of Jerrell Bray, a government informant involved in the investigation. Bray previously plead guilty to civil rights violations and perjury relating to: (1) Joe H. Ward, III and Johnie R. Parker; (2) Dwayne Nabors; (3) Jason Westerfield; (4) Roosevelt Williams; and, (5) Geneva France.

Based upon knowledge of Bray’s misconduct, the government carefully and exhaustively reviewed all the evidence in the Mansfield investigation as it pertains to each of the defendants. Although under the law, all of these individuals may not have been entitled to withdraw their pleas, the United States Attorney’s Office decided to dismiss all charges and seek the release of these defendants.

It should be noted that many of these defendants made voluntary statements to law enforcement admitting their roles in the distribution of crack cocaine in the greater Mansfield area. Despite these admissions, based on fundamental fairness, Bray’s illegal conduct leaves the government with no alternative other than to conclude that these matters must be dismissed.

“Since the government would not have proceeded in the first instance had it known about Mr. Bray’s deception, it is a matter of fundamental fairness that this action be taken now,” U.S. Attorney White stated. Mr. White further stated, “That the United States Attorney’s Office will continue to evaluate the processes and procedures followed in this case and await the conclusion of the independent investigation being conducted by the Department of Justice.”