Alameda County prosecutors are examining about 200 cases tied to Detective Phong Tran due to serious credibility issues. Evidence indicates Tran may have coerced a witness to testify against Steven Buggs, leading to Buggs' wrongful conviction for murder. In light of these problems, some convictions are being re-evaluated, resulting in lenient plea deals and potential case dismissals. Recently, a California court ruled that another case involving Marcel Prince warranted a review for a potential new trial, following similar concerns regarding suppressed evidence.
The Alameda County District Attorney's Office conceded that parts of what jurors used to find Steven Buggs guilty of murder appeared to be plagued by evidentiary problems, amid allegations that Tran may have coerced a teenager into pointing the finger at Buggs during an unrecorded interview.
The allegations against Detective Phong Tran, including paying off and coercing witnesses, have led to a review of numerous cases he worked on, impacting around 200 cases.
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