Allen gets life without parole for showing an informant where someone lived
At age 19, Allen was arrested with two co-conspirators following a controlled drug buy that took place in a truck. According to Allen, he and one of the co-conspirators, his brother-in-law, discussed selling crack cocaine.
Allen and his brother-in-law drove to a buyer’s house along with a third co-conspirator. The buyer was actually a confidential informant who had notified the police of an impending deal.
According to Allen, after he met the buyer at the door and explained he had to deal directly with his brother-in-law. The buyer entered the truck while Allen sat in the car. Upon the buyer’s signal at the conclusion of the deal, police entered the truck and found the crack cocaine, two firearms, and cash. According to Allen, when police subsequently searched his house, they did not find any physical evidence.
Although Allen maintains that he had no involvement in the deal itself, the court found that his actions constituted conspiracy and possession. Allen complains that his court-appointed lawyer did not provide adequate legal representation. Moreover, he says his lawyer was also defending the confidential informant’s brother—the man whose possibility of receiving early release from prison motivated the informant to cooperate with police, and who therefore directly benefitted from Allen’s conviction.
Allen was convicted of possession of crack cocaine with intent to distribute, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute crack cocaine, and possession of a firearm during a felony drug offense. Shocked upon hearing the verdict, he said, “I simply did not know that I could be convicted of showing someone where someone lives at because I knew they were going to sell them something illegal.”
Read full story at ACLU Special Report. A Living Death: Life Without Parole for Nonviolent Offenses.