The “Get Out of Jail Free” Card: How to Frame an Innocent Person (and How We Catch Them)

By: John Guidry

Our entire justice system depends on folks telling the truth. But for professional liars, the truth is just a bargaining chip. Our system breeds these high-level liars. They are called Confidential Informants (CIs).

The Birth of a Snitch: The moment of conception looks like this: Someone gets arrested on a serious drug charge facing 25 years. Then, a ray of hope: “If you set some people up, we’ll drop your prison time.” It comes down to a simple choice: Spend your life in prison OR send someone else to prison forever. Who do you think they are going to choose?

Did a “friend” set you up to save their own skin?

Entrapment is a defense. Call John today at (407) 423-1117.

The Grift: The “Public Stash” Trick

Unfortunately, it is pretty easy for a CI to frame an innocent citizen. The Setup:

1. The Bait: The CI calls “the stooge” to meet at a public place (like a hardware store) for something innocent or minor.
2. The Plant: The CI goes to the location hours early and stashes drugs in a shed or bathroom. (Police search the CI before the deal, but they rarely check the location hours in advance).
3. The “Deal”: The CI meets the stooge, grabs the stashed drugs, and returns to the police claiming, “He sold it to me.”

The Result: One Get Out of Jail Free card for the CI; one trafficking charge for you.

The Case: Turner v. State (The Missing Fingerprints)

To see this grift in real life, let’s look at Turner v. State, 279 So. 3d 340 (Fla. 5th DCA 2019).

• The Scene: Turner was told to meet a CI at a Lowe’s Home Improvement shed.
• The Video: The CI wore a hidden camera, but conveniently, it did not record Turner handing any drugs to him.
• The Defense: Turner claimed the CI pulled the drugs from a shelf in the shed (the “Plant” theory).

The Trial Error: The defense attorney tried to argue that if Turner had actually touched the baggie, his fingerprints would be on it. Since the State presented no fingerprints, there was Reasonable Doubt.

• The Objection: The prosecutor objected, and the Judge agreed, prohibiting the defense from making that argument.

The Ruling: The Appeals Court overturned the conviction.

• The Law: A defense attorney is absolutely entitled to argue that the lack of evidence (fingerprints) constitutes reasonable doubt. By blocking this argument, the Judge denied Turner a fair trial.

John’s 2026 Update: Touch DNA & Digital Alibis

Note: In 2019, we argued about fingerprints. In 2026, the science is microscopic.

1. Touch DNA is the New Fingerprint Fingerprints can be wiped off. Touch DNA (skin cells) cannot.

• The Strategy: If a CI claims you handed them a baggie, we demand DNA testing on the knot of the bag.
• The Argument: If your DNA is missing, but the CI’s DNA is all over it, it supports the theory that the CI brought the drugs with them. Under Turner, we hammer this “Lack of Evidence” to the jury.

2. Geofencing the “Plant” How do we prove the CI stashed the drugs beforehand?

• The Tech: We subpoena the Google/Apple Location History of the CI’s phone.
• The Smoking Gun: If the data shows the CI visited that Lowe’s shed at 8:00 AM (to plant the drugs) and then returned at 2:00 PM (for the “deal”), the setup is exposed.

3. The Zach Wester Legacy (Body Cam Audits) The article mentioned former deputy Zach Wester, who was caught planting drugs on 120 innocent people.

• 2026 Defense: Because of cases like his, we now use AI Software to analyze police body cam footage frame-by-frame. We look for “sleight of hand” movements where officers or CIs manipulate evidence before the “find.” If the camera “malfunctions” at the critical moment, we use that as evidence of bad faith.

Don’t Let a Liar Send You to Prison

If you were set up by a snitch, you are the victim of a desperate person trying to save themselves. We know how to expose their lies.

Call me at (407) 423-1117. Let’s find the missing evidence.

About John Guidry II

John Guidry II is a seasoned criminal defense attorney and founder of the Law Firm of John P. Guidry II, P.A., located in downtown Orlando next to the Orange County Courthouse, where he has practiced for over 30 years. With more than three decades of experience defending clients throughout Central Florida since 1993, Guidry has successfully defended thousands of cases in Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Brevard, Lake, and Volusia counties. He has built a reputation for his strategic approach to criminal defense, focusing on pretrial motions and case dismissals rather than jury trials.

Guidry earned both his Juris Doctorate and Master of Business Administration from St. Louis University in 1993. He is a member of the Florida Bar and the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. His practice encompasses the full spectrum of Florida state criminal charges, with a particular emphasis on achieving favorable outcomes through thorough pretrial preparation and motion practice.

Beyond the courtroom, Guidry is a prolific legal educator who has authored over 400 articles on criminal defense topics. He shares his legal expertise through his popular YouTube channel, Instagram, and TikTok accounts, where he has built a substantial following of people eager to learn about the law. His educational content breaks down complex legal concepts into accessible information for the general public.

When not practicing law, Guidry enjoys tennis and pickleball, and loves to travel. Drawing from his background as a former recording studio owner and music video producer in the Orlando area, he brings a creative perspective to his legal practice and continues to apply his passion for video production to his educational content.