The Tragic Case of Rachel Hoffman

After being caught twice with a "baggie" of marijuana, 23-year old Rachel Hoffman was reportedly told by police in Tallahassee, Florida that she would go to prison for four years unless she became an undercover informant.
Parents say police used their daughter as bait to catch drug dealers.

The young woman, a recent graduate of Florida State University, was murdered during a botched sting operation two months ago.

Her case will be profiled Friday on 20/20.

"The idea of waging a war on drugs is to protect people and here it seems like we're putting people in harm's way," said Lance Block, a lawyer hired by Rachel's parents.

The Florida Attorney General's office says it is reviewing the procedures and protocol of the Tallahassee police.

Rachel's case also has raised new questions about state and federal laws related to marijuana possession.

"I'm calling her a criminal," Tallahassee police chief Dennis Jones told 20/20, who maintains that both drug dealers and drug users are considered criminals to his department.
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Under Florida law, possession of more than 20 grams of marijuana is a felony.

Rachel was also found in possession of two ecstasy pills, a felony under Florida law no matter the quantity because it "has a high potential for abuse and has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States."

The Tallahassee police chief says Rachel was suspected of selling drugs and she was rightly treated as a criminal.

"That's my job as a police chief to find these criminals in our community and take them off the street, to make the proper arrests," Jones told 20/20.

Rachel's case also is raising questions about how police recruit and use informants in undercover operations.

"There need to be some safeguards here," said Block, the Hoffman family lawyer.

The young woman received no training before being sent to an undercover meeting to buy a large amount of drugs and a handgun from two suspects.

Police says Rachel was killed by the very handgun she was supposed to buy.

"I don't think she understood the risk or danger that she was in," said Block.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• cops
• florida
• drug
• war
• illegal
• marijuana
• pot
• rachel
• hoffman

[wovokanarchy]

THis is only a story because a rich white Jew individual is the victim. This shit happens to Latinos, Blacks, and American Indians on a daily basis.

[phylsweets]

Weed has been proven safer than alcohol and tobacco,and in some ways even coffee! This is just disgusting the way the police manipulated her

[Brendon8910]

Pothead? It always seems like the pretty innocent girls are the stoners turn off

[DarthVader28]

@SilenceisLaw208 It has everything to do with prohibition and her blood in on your hands as well just for supporting this retard law. You fucking piece of shit.

[SilenceisLaw208]

This has nothing to do with the laws regarding Marijuana. It has everything to do with the fact she was a snitch. She didn't get killed cause she got caught with weed. She was killed for turning states evidence. If you can't do the time, don't do the crime.

[guitarplayer4real]

@robertshawn77 Wow, I was mad huh! I rarely rant that bad:-) Apologies to all for that language, jeez!

I have 2 close family members who are married into good black families (Both older men)... Down to earth, ex military American types who I have full respect for, so I have no tolerance for that kind of talk. Plus I served myself, we all got along fine when thrown in together which is exactly what this America needs!

Thanks for being above it:-)

[robertshawn77]

@guitarplayer4real Amen to that bro!! Some ppl are just small minded.

[robertshawn77]

why do ppl always have to bring up the race issue...get past that you tards! Can't you see the real issues here??

[Galsforsale]

This pisses me the fuck off

[jijed2]

if it was a black girl nobody would give a fuck.

now its a rich jew girl all of a sudden the media cares fuck jew media

[nuclearthreat545]

Wowwww

[TheDennisegg]

the last 3 presidents have admitted to using marijuana so this could have as easily been anyone of them as young people, but they all are hypocritical political whores. ONE MORE REASON THIS COUNTRY NEEDS RON PAUL !