Sudikoff

AMENDED ORDER GRANTING MOTION FOR DISCOVERY

In many criminal trials, the government relies on the testimony of people who were involved with the defendant in the commission of the crime charged. Such “accomplice witnesses” are often the best, if not the only, source of information about the alleged crime. To ensure that accomplice witnesses testify truthfully and completely, the government often reaches agreements with such witnesses that offer leniency or immunity in exchange for truthful testimony.

In this matter, the Court is called on to determine the boundaries of the government’s discovery obligations relating to the agreements between the government and accomplice witnesses. The defendants have moved the Court to compel disclosure of documents and information relating to the period between an accomplice witness’s initial contact with the government regarding possible cooperation and the point at which the witness and the government reached an agreement concerning the accomplice witness’s testimony.

I. Background

In a multi-count indictment the government charged defendants Jeffery Sudikoff and Michael Cheramy -with various securities and related violations. One of…