Pubdate: Sun, 06 Dec 1998
Source: Times Union (Albany, NY)
Contact:  http://www.timesunion.com/
Copyright: 1998 Capital Newspapers Division of The Hearst Corporation
Author: Edward Fitzpatrick, Staff Writer

INSIDE INFORMATION WAS GRIST FOR WARRANTS

Albany-- Court Records Detail Key Role Informants Played Prior To Drug Search

If it weren't for confidential informants, police wouldn't have been able
to obtain search warrants that led to the conviction of Felicia Tarver.

Tarver, 44, formerly of First Street in Albany, is serving 11 to 22 years
in state prison, convicted on two felony counts of drug possession.
Assistant District Attorney Brian P. Farley said police found cocaine and
marijuana stashed beneath atrapdoor in the floor of Tarver's closet.

Though a pair of confidential informants used in the investigation never
testified at trial, there's little doubt they helped bring about Tarver's
arrest.

Court records show that on June 11, 1997, two FBI agents met with an
informant to set up a controlled purchase of crack cocaine from Tarver.
First, the agents searched the informant and the informant's vehicle,
making sure there were no drugs. The agents then gave the informant $300
and placed arecording device in the vehicle. They watched closely as the
informant drove to and entered Tarver's house.

Nine minutes later, according to case documents, the informant came out. In
aparking lot at the Corporate Woods complex, the informant turned over a
block of crack, told agents who else was in the house and how Tarver got
the crack from a back room.

On June 17, 1997, the same informant set up another drug buy with Tarver.
This time, Tarver delivered a $300 bag of crack to the informant's house.

On June 25, 1997, another informant arranged to buy $100 worth of crack
from Tarver. The informant was dropped off behind McGeary's Pub in Albany
and kept under surveillance on the way to Tarver's house. The informant
later turned over a bag of crack and told police that Tarver kept drugs in
her nightstand, in a bureau next to her bed and in a small gray-and-white
plastic purse attached to her key chain.

Based on the information, a judge issued asearch warrant. Inside Tarver's
house, police found 40 grams of cocaine and 156 grams of marijuana,
according to court records. Tarver was convicted on Feb. 4. 
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Checked-by: Richard Lake