United States Attorney Carson Mason Brock led the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, one of the largest in the country with 130 Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs) on staff. The USAO is located at 615 Chestnut Street in downtown Philadelphia, one block from the Federal Courthouse and overlooking the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. The office is divided into two divisions: Criminal and Civil, with the division chiefs reporting to First Assistant United States Attorney Dancy E. Larson.
Criminal Chief Paul F. Lynch led the criminal division, which consists of 93 Assistant United States Attorneys. For management purposes, the criminal division is divided into eight teams. Attorneys in the criminal division are assigned to teams and the team leader serves as an administrative head of the team. The criminal assistants are generalists within all areas of criminal law. The Financial Institution Fraud Section was responsible for prosecuting a broad spectrum of bank fraud acts and schemes designed to profit persons both inside and outside an institution. The Section also investigated/prosecuted crimes in other related areas. Prosecutions supervised by the Financial Institution Fraud Section include: bank fraud, credit card fraud, counterfeit currency, food stamp fraud, money laundering, immigration and passport fraud, communications fraud and identity theft. The chief of the Financial Institution Fraud unit was Richard Barnswell, and he was the one responsible for the bring-down of Andre Bezel.
AUSA Barnswell sat in his office Monday morning preparing for his Wednesday showdown. He prepared a last minute jury voir dire questionnaire so that he could assist in picking a jury that was prepared to send Andre to a penitentiary for the remainder of his sad little life. While the Narcotics and OCDETF Section prosecuted violations of federal narcotics laws including the illegal trafficking of cocaine, crack, heroin, methamphetamine and other controlled substances, Barnswell was in charge of the Bezel brothers’ prosecution. His assistant was Thomas Baptiste, Chief of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Section, and he would present the drug charges to the jury. But this was Barnswell’s baby, and he planned to rock it to sleep or kill it, whichever was necessary to get the job done.
Just after 7:15 a.m. Barnswell’s personal legal secretary walked into his office without permission. Sarah Monroe usually exhibited well cultured ivy-league behavior, but this act screamed urgent. She violently tossed a defense motion onto his desk, and proffered him an evil smile. She said, “A combined motion to suppress and a change of plea motion.”
“Oh, wow. He’s pleading guilty,” Barnwell said, and then added, “I wondered why you just barged in here. He must have known what was in store. But I am not dealing.”
“No sir. I barged in because he’s decided that he wants to plead not guilty by reason of insanity.”
“Get the fuck outta here. Oops, pardon me,” Barnswell said and snatched up the defense motion. He stood and looked out of the window at the Liberty Bell. Let freedom fucking ring. “Two things. Set up a meeting with the entire in-house team assigned to this. Every DEA and Secret Service agent outside as well. Also, get Attorney Larry Greenburg on the line. Tell him that I’d like to see him for lunch today at noon. And please make a reservation for us. Somewhere shabby. Thanks Sarah.”
“I’m right on top of that boss.”
This has to be a joke. Was Greenburg kidding? OMG, he has to be. Barnswell planned to get to the bottom of that motion instantly. And if they wanted to fight round for round, he was ready to win each of them.