New York judge dismisses 133 felonies

A judge brought down 133 felonies on Thursday based on the testimony of a former New York City police detective.

Former NYPD detective Joseph Franco has been accused of providing false statements on multiple occasions between 2011 and 2018. fired by the police department in 2020.

On Thursday, Bronx Supreme Court Justice David Lewis dismissed 133 felony convictions between 2011 and 2015, where Franco’s testimony was key, the Bronx County District Attorney’s Office said, according to NBC.

That brings the total number of Franco-related cases dismissed in the Bronx to 257, District Attorney Darcel Clark said.

There are another 250 cases under review, meaning 500 cases just in the Bronx could be dropped because of Franco, Clark said, according to New York Post Office.

Mine, the tangled web we wove when we first practiced to cheat: Bronx DA dropped 133 cases involving accused NYPD detective Joseph Francohttps://t.co/Zoxi7xs7mF

– Lorie Meacham (@LorieMeacham) January 22, 2022

There are also cases in Brooklyn and Manhattan is being considered.

Clark said not every instance Franco worked on was dismissed.

“We don’t want to fire or leave all the cases in which he was involved; We investigated the person based on his testimony and oath,” Clark said in a statement, according to NBC.

“His damaged credibility shows the lack of due process in prosecuting these defendants, and we cannot stand behind these allegations,” he continued.

In 2019, Franco was charged with lying in testimony and in legal documents, in which he said he witnessed drug dealings that security camera footage showed did not. happen.

Franco has pleaded not guilty, the Post reported. He has a hearing on the allegations scheduled for Monday.

Franco’s attorney, Howard Tanner, has said his client should afford presumption of innocence, based on The New York Times.

“Therefore, I will ask the public to withhold the verdict until all the facts are heard,” Tanner said.

In one 2017 case, Franco said he saw a man selling drugs inside the lobby of a building. Security cameras not only showed no business, but also showed that Franco never entered the building.

In another case, Franco testified that he saw a woman selling drugs in the lobby of a building. Security footage shows that Franco never entered the building and was unable to see any trading activity from the position he watched her.

“Criminal sentencings are largely based on the work of corrupt or active former NYPD officers who engaged in misconduct while on duty,” said Elizabeth Felber, Director of the Wrongful Sentening Unit. . at The Legal Aid Society, the Post reported.