Posts Tagged ‘Rachel’

The Tragic Case of Rachel Hoffman

Thursday, April 29th, 2010


After being caught twice with a “baggie” of marijuana, 23-year old Rachel Hoffman was reportedly told by police in Tallahassee, Florida that she would go to prison for four years unless she became an undercover informant. Parents say police used their daughter as bait to catch drug dealers. The young woman, a recent graduate of Florida State University, was murdered during a botched sting operation two months ago. Her case will be profiled Friday on 20/20. “The idea of waging a war on drugs is to protect people and here it seems like we’re putting people in harm’s way,” said Lance Block, a lawyer hired by Rachel’s parents. The Florida Attorney General’s office says it is reviewing the procedures and protocol of the Tallahassee police. Rachel’s case also has raised new questions about state and federal laws related to marijuana possession. “I’m calling her a criminal,” Tallahassee police chief Dennis Jones told 20/20, who maintains that both drug dealers and drug users are considered criminals to his department. Related Grand Jury to Investigate Death of Informant Cops Pressed to Explain Dead Informant Pot Potency Has Doubled Since 1983 Under Florida law, possession of more than 20 grams of marijuana is a felony. Rachel was also found in possession of two ecstasy pills, a felony under Florida law no matter the quantity because it “has a high potential for abuse and has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.” The Tallahassee police chief says