Press Releases
Nov 09, 2009 - ENTRAPMENT DEFENSE DOES NOT FLY FOR GOSHEN DRUG DEALER
*** MEDIA ADVISORY ***
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ENTRAPMENT DEFENSE DOES NOT FLY
FOR GOSHEN DRUG DEALER
MEDIA CONTACT: Curtis T. Hill, Jr., 296-1888
An Elkhart Superior Court 3 jury took less than fifteen (15) minutes on Tuesday, November 3, 2009, to return a verdict of guilty convicting Rafael Dejesus, 45, Goshen, of three (3) Counts of Dealing in Cocaine, all Class A Felonies. The convictions resulted after the jury heard evidence from an investigation into Dejesus by members of the Elkhart County Interdiction and Covert Enforcement Unit (I.C.E.). The investigation by the ICE Unit resulted in three (3) separate purchases of cocaine from Dejesus and the execution of a search warrant into Dejesus’ cocaine supplier, Ricardo Ortiz, at 930 W. Indiana Avenue, Elkhart. Ortiz was convicted in Elkhart Circuit Court of Dealing in Cocaine, a Class A Felony, and Possession of Marijuana, a Class D Felony, on August 4, 2009.
During trial, Dejesus, through his attorney, argued that although Dejesus did in fact deliver cocaine, he only did so because he was entrapped by officers of the ICE Unit. After hearing evidence concerning Dejesus’ prior history with drugs, how he sold drugs to officers on three (3) separate occasions, and about his promises to deal more drugs to the ICE Unit in the future, the jury quickly discounted his proffered defense.
As a result of his conviction, Judge Biddlecome revoked Dejesus’ bond and scheduled a sentencing hearing for December 3, 2009, at 8:30 a.m. in the Elkhart Superior Court 3. Dejesus faces up to 50 years in prison on each count.
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