Among the DEA’s many faults is the extensive use of questionable or downright dishonest informants. (See my report on Bad Girl Michele Leonhart and the use of informant Andrew Chambers, who regularly lied on the witness stand.)
Here’s the latest.
The DEA first recruited [Essam] Magid as an informant in 1999 after an arrest on drug conspiracy charges. It has since paid him more than $77,000 and worked to get his drug charges dismissed, according to testimony.
The problem is that the FBI also used Magid, but dismissed him in 2002 for “revealing his undercover status and identifying two agents” (possibly endangering their lives).
That didn’t bother the DEA, so they continued to use Magid as an informant and, in testimony last week, his handler admitted that Magid may have intimidated a witness in a drug conspiracy case.
Magid seems perfect for the DEA. Maybe they can make him an agent next.
