Legal Question in Criminal Law in Texas
I purchased some pills online twice. A package addressed to me was intercepted and the guy was arrested. The DEA came by my apartment and I played dumb at first but eventually broke down and confessed. They told me I was not under arrest and proceeded to answer some of their questions. They also told me my cooperation could only help me. I did not physically have any pills so I was not in possession. I know it was stupid but I was scared. My question is, what happens now? Should I be expecting to get arrested? When? Can I be granted immunity for helping their case against the guy?
1 Answer from Attorneys
If the police or DEA or whomever contact you again, lawyer up. They cannot protect you if this matter snowballs and the prosecutors decide to pursue a case against everyone which could include you. They absolutely do not have the authority to make a deal with you without the agreement of the prosecutor.
What happens now is that they pursue the case against the guy they arrested and investigate how big the issue is. If he is the top dog, then they probably will not go any further. If he is an interim guy, then they will be looking higher on the chain, and it is possible (not probable) that you could get swept up into the mess.
Should you expect to be arrested? Maybe not but you should absolutely NOT do that kind of thing again and like I said before, if they come a knocking you need to get a lawyer. (A lawyer can get a deal for you with the prosecutor where you are protected. The cops do not want to have to go through the hoops and will do their best to dissuade you from lawyering up - even to the point of threatening you. But the bottom line is that their authority is controlled by the prosecutor. When they bring the other guy's case to the prosecutor, they have to give the background, and the prosecutor makes the decision - sometimes listening to the suggestion of the cops but not always - on who gets charged and with what.)
Immunity for cooperation? That is what you would need a lawyer for. It is not exactly immunity but similar but requires the prosecutors' cooperation and agreement.
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