Date: 11-03-2016

Case Style:

Case Number: 1:16-cr-00215-SS

Judge: Sam Sparks

Court: United States District Court for the Western District of Texas (Bexar County)

Plaintiff's Attorney: Dan Guess and Matt Harding

Defendant's Attorney: Bristol Myers

Description: San Antonio, TX - Jury Convicts Former Temple Police Officer of Revealing an Ongoing Investigation

A jury in Austin convicted 24–year-old former Temple police officer Erick French of lying the federal authorities about divulging the existence of an ongoing investigation.

Jurors convicted the Copperas Cove, TX, resident of one count of making a false statement to federal investigators. Jurors found that, on March 21, 2016, French provided false information to FBI agents in an attempt to hide the fact that he had previously sent a text message alerting an individual to an ongoing investigation being conducted by the Temple Police Department’s Special Investigations Unit. The jury acquitted French of a second false statement charge alleging that he provided false information about the matter when questioned by the FBI on March 16, 2016.

French faces up to five years in federal prison and a maximum $250,000 fine.

This conviction resulted from an investigation conducted by the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Temple Police Department.

18 U.S.C. § 1001 - Statements or entries generally

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, whoever, in any matter within the jurisdiction of the executive, legislative, or judicial branch of the Government of the United States, knowingly and willfully—
(1) falsifies, conceals, or covers up by any trick, scheme, or device a material fact;
(2) makes any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation; or
(3) makes or uses any false writing or document knowing the same to contain any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or entry;
shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 5 years or, if the offense involves international or domestic terrorism (as defined in section 2331), imprisoned not more than 8 years, or both. If the matter relates to an offense under chapter 109A, 109B, 110, or 117, or section 1591, then the term of imprisonment imposed under this section shall be not more than 8 years.
(b) Subsection (a) does not apply to a party to a judicial proceeding, or that party’s counsel, for statements, representations, writings or documents submitted by such party or counsel to a judge or magistrate in that proceeding.
(c) With respect to any matter within the jurisdiction of the legislative branch, subsection (a) shall apply only to—
(1) administrative matters, including a claim for payment, a matter related to the procurement of property or services, personnel or employment practices, or support services, or a document required by law, rule, or regulation to be submitted to the Congress or any office or officer within the legislative branch; or
(2) any investigation or review, conducted pursuant to the authority of any committee, subcommittee, commission or office of the Congress, consistent with applicable rules of the House or Senate.

Outcome: Guilty

Plaintiff's Experts:

Defendant's Experts:

Comments: Editor's Note: This man was convicted for doing the same thing as Martha Stewart.