Opinion ID: 461235
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The DEA Files on the Informants

Text: 43 Along with their request for access to the confidential informants, the defendants also requested to inspect certain files maintained by the DEA on its confidential informants. We agree with the government's contention that defendants were attempting to use the subpoena duces tecum as a discovery device, which it is not. Bowman Dairy Co. v. United States, 341 U.S. 214, 220, 71 S.Ct. 675, 95 L.Ed. 879 (1951); Fed.R.Crim.P. 17(c). Under the plain language of Rule 16(a) the defendants were not entitled to: 44 [T]he discovery or inspection of reports, memoranda, or other internal government documents made by the attorney for the government or other government agents in connection with the investigation or prosecution of the case, or of statements made by government witnesses or prospective government witnesses except as provided in 18 U.S.C. Sec. 3500. 45 Fed.R.Crim.P. 16(a)(2). Although the relevancy, much less the probativeness of the DEA files on the informants was at best attenuated, the court agreed to an in camera inspection of these files. 15 Nothing helpful to the defendants turned up.