Commonwealth of PA v. T.J.

Philadelphia police began investigating T.J. after receiving information that he was involved in drug sales. Police utilized a confidential informant to purchase marijuana from him on three separate dates. On each occasion, police followed him back to his house. Based on the sales to the C.I. and his ties to the address, police executed a search warrant at the house after they see him enter with a black case. T.J. is arrested inside, and police recover marijuana from the house and his car. They also recovered a firearm from the basement of the house, as well as proof that T.J. was living there. At trial, the defense conceded the charges relating to delivery of a small amount of marijuana, but raised numerous issues with the police investigation and argued that the Commonwealth failed to establish beyond a reasonable doubt that he had possessed the gun. Had T.J. been convicted of the gun offense, he would have faced a mandatory 5-10 year jail sentence due to the drug offenses. T.J. was found not guilty of the gun possession charges in Philadelphia and released from custody immediately after the trial.