Jamie Franks Denies Representing Drug Dealers, Then Claims He Can’t “Recall” It
Why Jamie Franks does not want you to know about his representation of Chanise Westbrooks and Terry Smith
THE FACTS
The Westbrooks Case:
Phil Bryant’s TV ad states that Jamie Franks defends drug dealers. The documentation shown in the ad is a Criminal Docket for Case# 4:05-cr-00095-WAP-EMB-22 in the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Mississippi (Greenville Division), Case title: USA v. Christian et al, Date Filed: 07/28/2005, Date Terminated: 04/09/2007, Defendant’s name is Chanise Westbrooks. The Criminal Docket shows that the defendant is “represented by” James Rogers Franks, Jr. (Jamie Franks) of the Wheeler & Franks law firm. The defendant “pleaded guilty” to the following charge:
Title & Section: 21 U.S.C. 843 (b)
Nature of Offense: Using a Communications Facility, a Telephone, to Facilitate a Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess With Intent to Distribute Cocaine Base, Cocaine and Marijuana.
By “pleading guilty” and admitting to this offense, the defendant was sentenced to 32 months in Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Satellite Camp for Females in Marianna, Florida on 05/14/07; 1 year supervised release; and a $100 fine. The following link shows information about the incarceration of the defendant:
http://www.bop.gov/iloc2/InmateFinderServlet?Transaction=NameSearch&needingMoreList=false&LastName=Westbrooks&Middle=&FirstName=Chanise&Race=U&Sex=U&Age=&x=343&y=290
THE DENIAL
In an article in the Columbus Commercial Dispatch newspaper on Saturday, October 27, Jamie Franks denies representing drug dealers:
Bryant, the incumbent candidate, alleged Franks represented a crack dealer and is not tough on crime. “It’s an outright lie,” Franks said.
http://www.cdispatch.com/articles/2007/10/27/local_news/local01.txt
FRANKS SAYS HE CAN’T “RECALL” REPRESENTING DRUG DEALERS
But when faced with the documentation of court records showing Franks has in fact defended drug dealers who pled guilty, including documents of another case Franks was involved in, Franks claimed he could not “recall”. It is important to note that both of these cases (the Westbrooks case and the Smith case) included Franks filing motions in court THIS YEAR, while he was running for Lt. Governor. Franks filed his last motion on the Westbrooks case on July 26, 2007 and he filed his last motion on the Smith case on May 25, 2007. But now, Franks says he can’t “recall.” Franks responded to an interview that aired on WAPT this morning (October 29) by saying:
“As far as knowing about this case (Smith case), I don’t recall. Now the other one (Westbrooks case) I do recall because I saw it on the commercial and I remembered exactly what the facts were. But, I just don’t recall that one (Smith case).” WAPT-TV interview
THE TRUTH
The Smith case:
Jamie Franks has represented drug dealers who pled guilty-and not just on one occasion. In addition to the Westbrooks case cited above, another federal case regarding drug dealing, in Criminal Docket for Case# 2:06-cr-00138-MPM-EMB-1, in the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Mississippi (Delta Division), Case title: USA v. Smith, Date Filed: 09/29/2006, Date Terminated: 08/15/2007, Defendant’s name is Terry Smith. The Criminal Docket shows that the defendant is “represented by” James Rogers Franks, Jr. (Jamie Franks) of the Wheeler & Franks law firm. The defendant was indicted for “knowingly and intentionally distributed approximately 5.6 grams of a mixture and substance containing cocaine base, crack cocaine, a Schedule II controlled substance”. The defendant “pleaded guilty” to the following charge:
Title & Section: 21 U.S.C. section 841 (a)(1),(b)(1)(c)
Nature of Offense: Distribution of Cocaine Base
By “pleading guilty” and admitting to this offense, the defendant was given 3 years probation (special conditions of supervision included 6 months of home detention) and a $100 fine
Phil Bryant Campaign Release
10/30/7
Magnolia Tribune
