Louise Orebo and Tom Gore, Jr. v. United States

Appellants stand convicted of selling and concealing narcotics in violation of 21 U.S.C.A. § 174 . The Government’s principal witness Louis Peterson, was a paid informer, who had been previously convicted of narcotics violations.

The said informer testified directly to several meetings with appellants, during two of which the alleged violations of federal law took place. The informer’s testimony was in most part corroborated by regular federal agents who “supervised” his dealings with appellants. The details of the actual delivery of the drug took place during a very limited time in which the informer was alone with one or both of appellants.

One such transaction occurred in the hall in front of Peterson’s apartment during which time the door was ajar and a Treasury Agent, one Aubrey Roumo, was seated inside. The second took place just outside the building in which Peterson’s apartment was situated and at the foot of the stairway. Here also Agent Roumo was stationed in the room. Immediately' before each transaction, Peterson was thoroughly searched by a Government agent to make sure that no narcotics or money, other than that involved in the very transaction about to be…