Convicted Ypsilanti drug dealer seeks new trial or lighter sentence

A federal judge in Detroit heard testimony Friday in a case brought by a convicted Ypsilanti drug dealer who claims he was harmed by a prosecutor's misconduct.

Joseph "Chippy" Stines is in federal prison until 2027 for a drug conspiracy based in Ypsilanti. He's hoping for a new trial or at least a lighter sentence.

Stines says a witness in his 1999 case was told by the prosecutor to embellish his testimony. That federal prosecutor was Richard Convertino, who now is in private law practice and denies the allegation.

Convertino left government service amid much controversy. He was charged, but acquitted, of concealing evidence from the defense in a 2003 terrorism trial.

U.S. District Judge Paul Borman is presiding over the Stines case.

Tags: drug conspiracy