Niagara Reporter
Lamar Burks on Prison Call
Attorneys for Lamar Burks, a Houston entrepreneur wrongfully incarcerated for more than two decades, are intensifying their calls for justice following the emergence of new, compelling evidence that raises serious concerns about misconduct by former DEA Agent Chad Scott and a joint DEA-Houston Police Department (HPD) task force. Civil rights organizations, former federal prosecutors, and prominent figures, including the Houston Chapter of the NAACP, are now urging a federal investigation, alleging systemic abuse of power that led to Burks’ conviction.
Background: The Case of Lamar Burks
In 1997, Lamar Burks was accused of murdering Earl Perry during an alleged illegal dice game in Houston’s Fifth Ward. The charges were initially dismissed in 1998 due to insufficient credible evidence, with the key witness recanting their testimony. However, in 2000, the case was unexpectedly resurrected under the supervision of then-DEA Agent Chad Scott, who leveraged what is now seen as a coerced and unreliable testimony from a DEA informant, Randy Wayne Lewis. Burks was subsequently convicted, despite the lack of solid evidence, and sentenced to life in prison.
Central to the recent developments in Burks’ case are grave accusations that Scott, in conjunction with HPD Sergeant Pedro Lopez Jr., engaged in witness tampering and obstruction of justice. According to new evidence, Scott and Lopez allegedly orchestrated the murder of a key eyewitness, Jimmy Lee Smith, and attempted the murder of another witness, Taylor Johnson, to suppress their testimony, which would have supported Burks’ defense. These actions, if proven, would constitute flagrant violations of federal witness tampering laws under 18 U.S.C. § 1512, which criminalizes the killing or attempted killing of witnesses to obstruct justice.
Chad Scott, currently serving a 13-year federal prison sentence for unrelated charges of perjury, obstruction of justice, and falsifying government records, has been implicated in Burks’ wrongful conviction by newly uncovered evidence. However, despite the serious nature of these allegations, the Harris County District Attorney’s Office has remained silent, raising concerns about local authorities’ willingness to address potential misconduct by law enforcement officials.
The Houston Chapter of the NAACP has issued a formal demand for Burks’ exoneration, with Bishop James Dixon, the vice president of the chapter, stating, “The mounting evidence points to a gross miscarriage of justice. Chad Scott and his team engaged in criminal conduct, including murder and coercion, to fabricate a case against Lamar Burks. We cannot stand by while an innocent man remains behind bars.”
Civil rights advocates argue that Burks’ case is emblematic of deeper systemic flaws within the criminal justice system, particularly involving abuses of power by law enforcement. An NAACP spokesperson emphasized, “This is about more than Lamar Burks. This is about holding those in positions of authority accountable for violating the public trust. We are calling on U.S. Attorney Alamdar Hamdani to take immediate steps to investigate and rectify this injustice.”
Leading the legal charge for Burks is former U.S. Attorney Peter Strasser, who has joined forces with a coalition of former government officials and civil rights lawyers to bring national attention to the case. The team has launched an awareness campaign, including a true-crime podcast that exposes the criminal behavior of Chad Scott and the DEA-HPD task force. Their efforts have brought the Burks case into the spotlight, amplifying demands for federal oversight.
Burks’ legal team has filed a formal request for the U.S. Attorney’s Office to subpoena Chad Scott and compel him to testify before a federal grand jury. The legal team argues that Scott’s testimony is crucial to uncovering the full extent of the misconduct and obtaining Burks’ exoneration. In addition to the testimony, new affidavits and evidence have been submitted that further implicate Scott and his associates in the manipulation of evidence and witnesses.
The pressure on federal authorities to intervene in Lamar Burks’ case has reached a tipping point. Advocates are calling for an independent investigation by the Department of Justice into the conduct of Chad Scott, the DEA task force, and the HPD officers involved. If proven, the actions of these law enforcement officials not only violated Burks’ constitutional rights but also undermine the integrity of the criminal justice system as a whole.
The involvement of civil rights organizations and former federal prosecutors has intensified the public demand for accountability. With growing national attention on the case and the systemic issues it highlights, supporters of Burks hope that federal authorities will be compelled to act swiftly. The case is not only about securing Lamar Burks’ freedom but also about confronting corruption within the criminal justice system that has allowed such abuses to occur.
The renewed calls for justice in the Lamar Burks case serve as a powerful reminder of the profound impact of misconduct within law enforcement. The newly uncovered evidence, combined with mounting public pressure and civil rights advocacy, has brought the case to the forefront of national attention. As the legal team continues its fight for Burks’ exoneration, the demand for federal intervention is clear. Justice for Lamar Burks could set a critical precedent in holding law enforcement accountable for abuses of power and protecting the rights of those wrongfully convicted.
