People v. Gallina

OPINION OF THE COURT

Chief Judge Wachtler.

This appeal presents the issue of the degree to which the mandates of Criminal Procedure Law article 700 must be followed in the conduct of a wiretap investigation and the consequences that follow if the required standards are not met. We find, as did the Appellate Division, that the degree of compliance in this case was inadequate and that suppression was the proper remedy. Accordingly, we affirm.

In connection with an investigation into sales of heroin at a meat market where defendant worked, the People obtained authorizations for nine wiretaps; Our…