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Sample Report — Real Case, Redacted

What a Case Decoder Actually Looks Like

This is a real report from a real trafficking case. Names, case numbers, and dates have been changed. The findings are real. The questions are real. The attorney had found none of it.

CASE DECODER REPORT

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Prepared for: Marcus T.

Charge(s): Trafficking in Amphetamine (25g+)

Jurisdiction: Brevard County, FL

Case Stage: Pre-Trial

Methodology

Every question in this report traces to a specific documented winning method from elite criminal defense attorneys:

  • CI reliability questions → Jeffrey Lichtman's 7-pillar informant destruction protocol — the same methodology Lichtman used to win 3 mistrials for John Gotti Jr. and lead El Chapo's defense.
  • Forensic and evidence questions → Barry Scheck's chain of custody methodology — co-founder of the Innocence Project, lead DNA counsel in OJ Simpson, responsible for 375+ wrongful conviction exonerations.
  • Constitutional and suppression issues → Alan Dershowitz's appellate preservation framework — youngest full professor at Harvard Law, reversed the Claus von Bulow conviction.
  • Weight and substance analysis → Ron Chapman II's drug forensic protocols — former federal prosecutor turned defense specialist.

Each question traces to a specific documented winning method. This is not a general checklist.

Section 1: Your Charges — In Plain English

Trafficking in Amphetamine (25g+) — F.S. § 893.135(1)(f)1

The State alleges that Marcus T. knowingly possessed 25 grams or more of amphetamine. Under Florida law, trafficking is determined solely by weight — not by whether you were actually “trafficking.” Possessing over the threshold weight IS trafficking, regardless of intent.

What the prosecution must prove:

  1. Knowing possession or constructive possession of the substance
  2. The substance is amphetamine (as defined by Florida statute)
  3. The weight meets or exceeds 25 grams

Mandatory minimum: 3 years Florida State Prison + $50,000 fine (25g–199g)

Maximum: 30 years + $500,000 fine

FATAL VARIANCE IDENTIFIED

The charging document alleges amphetamine. The FDLE lab confirmed MDMA/MDA — not amphetamine. These are different substances under different statutory provisions. This is a potentially fatal variance between the charge and the evidence.

Section 2: Where Your Case Should Be Right Now

MilestoneTypical TimingYour Status
ArraignmentWithin 30 daysDone
Discovery production30-60 daysPartial — gaps exist
Depositions60-120 daysNot scheduled
Motion to suppressPre-trialNo motions filed
Pre-trial conference90-180 daysPending
Trial setting175-day speedyApproaching

Assessment: BEHIND SCHEDULE

At this stage, the attorney should have completed discovery review, identified the substance variance, flagged the weight discrepancy, and filed or discussed motions. None of these steps appear to have occurred.

Section 3: Attorney Accountability Checklist

Explained charges and penalties
Reviewed discovery with client
Identified substance mismatch (amphetamine vs. MDMA/MDA)
Flagged 73% weight discrepancy
Discussed fingerprint results (21 prints, 0 match)
Discussed CI phone number dual attribution
Filed or discussed motions to suppress
Filed or discussed motion to dismiss (fatal variance)
Communicated at least every 2 weeks
Discussed plea vs. trial strategy

3 / 10

Significant gaps in attorney engagement on case-specific issues. The substance variance, weight discrepancy, and fingerprint results should have been raised within 30 days of discovery review.

This is what case-specific research looks like.

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Section 4: 15 Questions to Ask Your Attorney

Showing 5 of 15 questions from this report. Each is built from actual case findings.

Q1 — WEIGHT DISCREPANCY

“The police inventory shows 93.9g seized at the scene. The FDLE lab shows 25.59g tested. That's 68.3 grams — 73% of the evidence — unaccounted for. Where is the missing weight?”

Why this matters: Weight determines the trafficking tier and mandatory minimum. A 73% discrepancy suggests evidence handling problems.

SOURCE: Barry Scheck's chain of custody protocol — used in OJ Simpson and 375+ Innocence Project exonerations.

Q2 — FATAL SUBSTANCE VARIANCE

“The charging document says ‘amphetamine.’ The FDLE lab confirmed MDMA and MDA — not amphetamine. Has a motion to dismiss based on fatal variance been filed? If not, why not?”

Why this matters: If the charge doesn't match the lab evidence, the State may be forced to amend — potentially changing penalties entirely.

SOURCE: Ron Chapman II's substance identification protocol for federal drug cases.

Q3 — FINGERPRINTS

“21 latent fingerprints collected. Not a single one matches the defendant. Whose prints are they? Has a motion to compel full comparison results been filed?”

Why this matters: In a constructive possession case, the State must prove knowing possession. Zero fingerprint match is powerful reasonable doubt.

SOURCE: Barry Scheck's forensic evidence methodology.

Q4 — CI PHONE DUAL ATTRIBUTION

“The same phone number is attributed to both the confidential informant and the defendant in the same detective's report. Has a Franks v. Delaware motion been considered?”

Why this matters: Factual inconsistencies in a sworn affidavit can be grounds to challenge the entire search warrant.

SOURCE: Jeffrey Lichtman's 7-pillar CI destruction playbook — Gotti Jr., El Chapo.

Q5 — IDENTITY MISMATCH

“The SUSPECT identification photo shows an individual with a full head of hair. The defendant is bald. Has this discrepancy been documented?”

Why this matters: A physical description mismatch raises fundamental identity questions about the investigation's target.

+ 10 more questions covering money discrepancies, report timeline impossibilities, CI reliability history, chain of custody gaps, constructive possession standards, and motion deadlines.

Section 5: Red Flags

Attorney Inaction on Foundational Issues

Substance variance, weight discrepancy, and fingerprint results are foundational issues that should have been raised immediately.

Fatal Substance Variance Unaddressed

Being charged with the wrong substance is one of the most powerful defense tools. No motion to dismiss has been filed.

73% Weight Discrepancy Ignored

Nearly three-quarters of the alleged evidence weight is unaccounted for between seizure and lab testing.

Identity Contradiction in Case File

SUSPECT photo shows hair — defendant is bald. Fundamental investigation target identification issue.

Impossible Report Dates

A report dated before the events it describes. Either administrative error or something worse.

Section 6: Motions That May Apply

MotionWhat It DoesDeadline?
Dismiss — Fatal VarianceCharge (amphetamine) doesn't match evidence (MDMA/MDA)Before plea/trial
Suppress — Franks v. DelawareChallenge warrant based on CI phone inconsistencyPre-trial
Compel DiscoveryForce production of fingerprint analysis, weight docs, CI historyFile ASAP
Daubert ChallengeChallenge field test reliability and lab methodologyPre-trial
Suppress — Weight73% discrepancy makes weight evidence unreliablePre-trial

Every question above came from one case. Imagine what we'll find in yours.

15 questions. 5 red flags. 5 potential motions. Starting at $97.

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Names, case numbers, and dates have been changed. Findings and discrepancy magnitudes are real. ImNotAnAttorney provides legal information and research — not legal advice.