For 19 years, DEA agent Lee Lucas helped send dozens of criminals to prison. Then in 2005, one of Lucas's informants in Mansfield, OHIO arranged undercover cocaine deals to wrongly convince law enforcement that his enemies were drug dealers. Prosecutors say suspects were wrongfully charged and even sent to prison for crimes they didn't commit. The informant, Jerell Bray, is serving a 15-year sentence for those lies.
Agent Lucas is the one accused now - he's headed for trial charged with helping frame 17 of those suspects. Former federal prosecutor and Dean of Cleveland State University's Law School Geoffrey Mearns says the Lucas case could have long term impact.
Geoffrey Mearns: I think it will increase the skepticism that some future jurors may have about the credibility of informants that are used by law enforcement and it may make some jurors even skeptical of the agents who work with them.
Lucas's attorneys say the agent - now on leave from the DEA - is not guilty. If convicted though, Lucas could face up to five years in prison. The trial is expected to continue for the rest of the month.