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David Curry Update

By VVAW

In the spring, 1984, issue of THE VETERAN, there appeared the story of the government's persecution and prosecution of three Alabama veterans' counselors—Tom Ashby, Don Reed and David Curry. All three had been convicted of charges relating to the distribution of small amounts of cocaine.

The charges had been brought as a result of the activities of an undercover agent in the Birmingham Vet Center. Evidence against the three was minimal, and all indications were that this was a frameup intended to smear the Vet Center program while at the same time railroad some of the more active counselors.

At the time of the last article, David Curry was living in Chicago and planning to appeal his case to the Supreme Court after having been rejected by the U.S. District Court. Since then, he did make his appeal to the Supreme Court. In an unusual move, the lower court ordered him imprisoned to wait for the results of the appeal; normally, the appellant is allowed freedom until the case if finally resolved.

Curry is currently serving his five-year term at the federal prison in Elgin Florida—right outside Elgin Air Force Base. He had three possibilities of getting out of jail early. Hope number one has failed. That was a proceeding involving an appeal to the original judge to reduce the sentence after hearing character witnesses and reviewing his record.

Possibility number two involves a parole hearing in late September, and possibly number three is that the appeal to the Supreme Court will result in a reversal of the conviction. The David Curry Defense Committee is still in need of funds to help make the appeal to the Supreme Court. Donations may be sent to the Committee, c/o VVAW's National Office, P.O. Box 25592, Chicago, IL 60625.

There was a similar case in the news recently. A fellow named DeLorean. He got set up by the government too. He was arrested and put on trial. Only that's where the similarity ends.

The Curry case involved only a tiny amount of drugs. DeLorean? 60 pounds. Curry was found guilty. DeLorean? Innocent because of the methods used to entrap him.

Yes, DeLorean bathed in glamour. His trial brought constant features in the media. His pretty model wife was the center of attention. The jet set was on trial, and the jet sets won. Not so for a veteran's counselor. Same entrapment—different result. Curry faces the possibility of five years unless the parole board comes through or the Reagan Supreme Court reverses the trial result. Justice in America triumphs again—for the rich.