James Elliot: Waynesburg Bureau Of Investigation

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Overall, I believe James Elliott appears to be a valuable source of high potential. His insider knowledge regarding the Demon’s Gang, who is responsible for drug trafficking, extortion, human trafficking, kidnapping, and murder, will assist the Waynesburg Bureau of Investigation (WBI) with launching a successful investigation into said activity. Elliot’s direct access to the gang’s hierarchy, through means of selling stolen property, offers the opportunity for Elliot to expose gang members’ illegal conduct to the WBI. With that said, it is also relevant that Elliot is being charged with theft by the Washington County Pennsylvania State Police (PSP), as this can be leveraged in favor of his cooperation with WBI. He is in a prime position to …show more content…

In my opinion, it would be easy to leverage his fear of prosecution to ensure his cooperation. In contrast, due to his lack of violence, Elliot could develop cold feet due to the inherently violent nature of the Demon’s Gang. Elliot possesses the potential to serve as an effective confidential source, but risks and potential legal issues surround cultivating and maintaining this relationship. First, it must be considered that Elliot poses the risk of providing false information to WBI. Confidential sources do this for a number of reasons, to include derailing the investigation, fear of retaliation, a desire for compensation, and animosity towards the subject of the investigation. Often times, a handler will provide compensation to a source for providing the desired information. This compensation can be financial in nature or it can be in the hope of a reduced sentence from cooperating with law enforcement. It is not uncommon for a source to provide information they know the handler wants to hear, even if they know it to be …show more content…

By doing so, in some cases, this could destroy the integrity and credibility of all evidence established through the source’s cooperation with law enforcement. To mitigate this potential legal issue, it is imperative to carefully document all interactions with Elliot, as well as provide great detail regarding the contents of said interactions. Ensuring that he fully understands the conditions of his agreement to become a source, via a signed document, can assist in mitigating the possibility of a coercion defense being used against the prosecution in a potential trial. Additionally, the issue of anonymity can also come into play, as the source might develop fear of retaliation from members of the Demon’s Gang. Sealed arrest warrants can assist in concealing Elliot’s identity, but it can be difficult to convince a jury of Elliot’s findings without presenting him to the courtroom. Adding to this issue, witness protection could be necessary, depending on the risk posed by the Demon’s Gang and their

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