Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Reeves is an Unethical Prosecutor
Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Reeves is now added to the Prosecutorial Misconduct Wall of Shame. Reeves argued to the jury material facts knowing it was false, or had reason to believe they might have been. Because of his misconduct, a man was wrongfully convicted. And fortunately The Ninth Circuit of Appeals reversed that conviction. While in the record, Reeves is only identified as the “prosecution’ he is no longer protected. The Recorder has now identified this “unethical prosecutor”.
And as he should be, because when “people make unethical decisions, those people will be identified and sanctioned.”
From the Crime and Federalism blog:
Adam Reeves is the latest edition to the Prosecutorial Misconduct Wall of Shame:
The record demonstrates that the prosecution [Adam Reeves] argued to the jury material facts that the prosecution knew were false, or at the very least had strong reason to doubt. Deliberate false statements by those privileged to represent the United States harm the trial process and the integrity of our prosecutorial system. We do not lightly tolerate a prosecutor asserting as a fact to the jury something known to be untrue or, at the very least, that the prosecution had very strong reason to doubt… There is no reason to tolerate such misconduct here.
The ABA Journal has this report. Unfortunately, even though the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a criminal conviction based on prosecutorial misconduct, AUSA Reeves was never identified by name in the opinion. Instead, he was referred to as “the prosecution.”
The Not So PRO-secution
Adam Reeves may have once been described as a highly skilled and respectable attorney for the United States, however in recent years his reputation and description has deteriorated. This downfall stemmed from his role as the Prosecutor in the Gregory Reyes (Brocade Communication) stock backdating trial. In 2007, Reyes was found guilty on numerous charges related to securities fraud and went on appeal in 2009. It was on Appeal, when Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Reeves argued to the jury material facts that he knew was false, or had strong reason to doubt.
This type of behavior is called Prosecutorial Misconduct, and is not take lightly (especially considering he represents our Government/Legal system).
Adam Reeves: Lies
In order for the prosecution to win its case, they had to show that Greg Reyes had criminal intent when failing to disclose the backdated stock options in their annual reports to the SEC. Reyes’ argument was that he relied on his Finance Department to handle the options and the accounting part of it.
In his closing arguments, Adam Reeves told the jury that The Finance Department was unaware of such backdating going on and that he (Adam Reeves) could call upon all the members of the Finance department and that They would testify to not knowing.
THIS WAS A LIE. And Adam Reeves knew it. Members of the Finance Department had reported to the FBI that they were aware of it, and Adam Reeves knew of that disclosure. It was because of such misconduct which led the Judge to overturn Reyes’ conviction and led him to a new trial. While Reyes’ convictions being overturned is a miracle, it is very disappointing to see a Prosecutor use such illegal and dehumanizing tactics in a court of law. These prosecutors are chosen by highly respected judges, and are chosen to represent our Justice System. If we cannot trust our system, who are we to trust?
Adam Reeves: Another Chance?
Greg Reyes returned to court on February 22,2010 and to his (and everyone else’s) dismay so did Adam Reeves. It is mind boggling that not only does Greg Reyes have to return to court, as if he hasn’t been through enough, he must face Adam Reeves, the unethical Prosecutor. I am a strong believer in second chances, but Adam Reeves is an undeserving Prosecutor who lost his morals and ethics in his desire to “bring Greg down”.
Isn’t it ironic that a man, Adam Reeves, is accusing another, Greg Reyes, of being dishonest and deceitful, when he was just that.
Adam Reeves is added to the “Prosecutorial Misconduct Wall of Shame”? So is that all he gets for knowingly lying to the jury? Basicallly a slap on the wrist.
I have a question, where was Adam Reeves’ boss? I mean the fact that he lied to the jury and prosecuted this case with two seperate theories in two different courtrooms should have sent alarm bells off that there was something going on here.
Adam Reeves should be on a “Wall of Shame”… What he did was incredibly shameful.
How could you knowingly argue untrue facts about someone knowing this will ruin his life? Unethical.
True Andrew, where was his boss? There has to be someone he answers to? What was he thinking?
Ya, have you seen the list for Top 10 Worst Prosecutors of 2009? Adam Reeves is at the top of the list.
Adam and his attorney buddies are up to it again. It appears that the jury will not hear that in Silicon Valley alone there were hundreds of companies where the did not understand certain regulations either. Now why is this a big deal? Because it is exculpatory information that undermines the government’s case.
See here – http://bit.ly/9i1Y2C