New York City prosecutors have dismissed about 550 convictions in cases investigated by Officer Joseph Franco, most involving low-level drug offenses. Franco was charged with perjury and misconduct after investigators in the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office found video they said showed several drug buys that Franco claimed he testified didn’t happen, or he wasn’t in a position to make. see if they are. Now, a judge has dismissed the charges against Franco after finding that prosecutors failed to turn over evidence to the defense as required on at least three occasions. The evidence includes surveillance camera footage, cell phones of people he arrested, and tapes of conversations with a prosecution witness. The charges were dismissed with prejudice, meaning Franco cannot be charged with the same crimes again.
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