cannabisnews.com: D.C. Police Expert Admits Perjury





D.C. Police Expert Admits Perjury
Posted by FoM on February 11, 2000 at 08:11:33 PT
By Bill Miller, Washington Post Staff Writer
Source: Washington Post 
For years, he was a commanding figure when he appeared in the courtroom, testifying with flair as the D.C. police department's leading narcotics expert. But yesterday, Johnny St. Valentine Brown Jr. was quiet and understated as he appeared before a judge and pleaded guilty to charges that he had lied for years about his credentials.
Brown, 57, admitted he did not have a pharmacology degree or a license to practice pharmacy, despite what he had told juries in federal and local courts on numerous occasions. He offered no explanation for his actions during his appearance yesterday in U.S. District Court. Under federal sentencing guidelines, he could face up to 27 months in prison as a result of his guilty plea to eight charges of perjury. U.S. District Judge Henry H. Kennedy Jr. set his sentencing for May 19.Brown's 29-year police career ended in disgrace last summer when a lawyer handling a civil case delved into his background and discovered Brown had no pharmacology degree from Howard University, even though he testified that he did. The FBI and D.C. police then began reviewing old cases in a criminal investigation of his conduct.Friends and former colleagues said they are mystified by Brown's falsehoods. He had extensive street experience as a D.C. police detective, they said, and could have relied upon that knowledge to qualify as an expert in most proceedings. So compelling was Brown on the witness stand that he was called upon to conduct training sessions for prosecutors and police. By his own count, he testified in thousands of cases over the past 20 years about the practices of drug dealers and the workings of drugs. He appeared as an expert witness not only in the District but also in cities across the country and worked as a specialist in the National Office of Drug Control Policy and for a congressional committee.Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Jeffress worked out a plea agreement with Brown in which he admitted to lying about his qualifications at eight proceedings dating to 1995. All eight cases ended with the conviction of defendants on drug-related charges. The allegations against Brown led defense lawyers to challenge many cases in which his testimony tied the government's case together. So far, one judge has ordered a new trial because of Brown's actions and another has upheld the conviction. Defense lawyer Billy L. Ponds said Brown's testimony could have made the difference in cases in which defendants were charged with drug distribution offenses. That could lead to longer prison terms for those convicted of such serious charges."He was trying to enhance his testimony," said Ponds, whose client Gregory Williams was convicted of a federal charge of possession with intent to distribute heroin. Brown's testimony in that case--in which he said he was a "board-certified pharmacist"--was the basis for one of the eight perjury charges filed against him. U.S. District Judge Thomas F. Hogan denied Williams's request for a new trial, saying the other evidence against him was sufficient to warrant his conviction. But Ponds said he plans to pursue the issue with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.Brown and his attorney, Bertrand Thomas, declined to comment after the plea. By Bill MillerWashington Post Staff WriterFriday, February 11, 2000; Page B03 © Copyright 2000 The Washington Post CompanyRelated Articles:Cash in Sheriff's Safe Develops a Bad Smellhttp://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread4644.shtmlCouncil Untroubled By Sheriff's Actionshttp://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread4567.shtmlMaryland Sheriff's Office Hid Seized Cash http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread4450.shtml 
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Comment #3 posted by andre on August 02, 2000 at 19:35:43 PT:
post article.johny st.valentine brown jr.
the police with false degree. how do a person address this. will all the cases that he appeared as a witnes, be retrial. I need some direction, a member of my family was on trial they had a hung jury,(mistrial) without this johny st.valentine. They had a retrial this guy was added as a expert witness   the second trial. They found the family member guitly, now I feel it wasn't a fair trial. What step should my family take to get a fair trial. Also why is the government not addressing the public of what action will be taken for all the people that did not recieve a fair trial, due to a person that just was lying for many year to get a conviction. How long will it take to review all the cases.Could someone give direction on my issue. thank for listening, we need help.
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Comment #2 posted by andre on August 02, 2000 at 19:30:58 PT:
post article.johny st.valentine brown jr.
the police with false degree. how do a person address this. will all the cases that he appeared as a witnes, be retrial. I need some direction, a member of my family was on trial they had a hung jury,(mistrial) without this johny st.valentine. They had a retrial this guy was added as a expert witness   the second trial. They found the family member guitly, now I feel it wasn't a fair trial. What step should my family take to get a fair trial. Also why is the government not addressing the public of what action will be taken for all the people that did not recieve a fair trial, due to a person that just was lying for many year to get a conviction. How long will it take to review all the cases.Could someone give direction on my issue. thank for listening, we need help.
[ Post Comment ]

Comment #1 posted by kaptinemo on February 11, 2000 at 09:28:45 PT
And the FBI will investigate, huh?
The same FBI that had so many botched drug forensic test results that hundreds of cases are in question? The same FBI that conspired to withhold information in the Waco Tragedy, and Reno had to send the US Marshalls to pick up the hidden evidence from them? The same FBI that botched the Travelgate investigation? The same FBI that botched the investigation of John Huang and his connections to Chinese Intelligence (which lead straight to the White House; children, can you say 'treason'?), allowing him to destroy crucial,damning files? Need I go on?The FBI will investigate? They are great in ruining the lives of people like you and me (I have first-hand experience at just how ruthless they can be) but when it comes to riding herd on their own? Suuuuure, they'll investigate. Suuuure they will. When they get their thumbs out of their bums, they will.
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