Dugan Arnett

The police took them in. Carly was charged with a minor offense, being present where heroin is kept. But Stephen faced much more serious charges. Police accused him of heading up a sprawling heroin trafficking ring. But to Carly, it all seemed like too much of a coincidence. Her fiancé, busted by the cop she was having a secret affair with. Carly doesn't know it yet, but this moment, this bust...

The police took them in. Carly was charged with a minor offense, being present where heroin is kept. But Stephen faced much more serious charges. Police accused him of heading up a sprawling heroin trafficking ring. But to Carly, it all seemed like too much of a coincidence. Her fiancé, busted by the cop she was having a secret affair with. Carly doesn't know it yet, but this moment, this bust...

It's the start of a realization that she's now part of the undercover world of confidential informants. And when she does finally figure that out, it'll have major consequences for herself, the New Bedford Police Department, and criminal justice. But first, she'll need answers. I've been looking for answers, too, throughout this investigation, and it hasn't been easy.

It's the start of a realization that she's now part of the undercover world of confidential informants. And when she does finally figure that out, it'll have major consequences for herself, the New Bedford Police Department, and criminal justice. But first, she'll need answers. I've been looking for answers, too, throughout this investigation, and it hasn't been easy.

Our attempts to shine a light on misconduct within the informant system have been stymied by a cloak of secrecy, and accountability remains elusive, at least so far. I've been trying to track down New Bedford Police Chief Paul Oliveira, the former narcotics cop who misused informants and now runs a department rife with misconduct.

Our attempts to shine a light on misconduct within the informant system have been stymied by a cloak of secrecy, and accountability remains elusive, at least so far. I've been trying to track down New Bedford Police Chief Paul Oliveira, the former narcotics cop who misused informants and now runs a department rife with misconduct.

And my spotlight colleague, Andrew Ryan, has been doing his own digging. And there's a lot to share about what he's discovered and what's gone missing. Once she figures out the full picture, Carly Medeiros is going to search for her own accountability.

And my spotlight colleague, Andrew Ryan, has been doing his own digging. And there's a lot to share about what he's discovered and what's gone missing. Once she figures out the full picture, Carly Medeiros is going to search for her own accountability.

And another informant, who I wasn't sure even existed, tells me everything.

And another informant, who I wasn't sure even existed, tells me everything.

I'm Dugan Arnett, and this is Spotlight, Snitch City. Episode 5, All This for Nothing.

I'm Dugan Arnett, and this is Spotlight, Snitch City. Episode 5, All This for Nothing.

This has been a story full of flawed characters with complicated motivations. It's pretty much impossible to draw a simple line between the good guys and the bad ones. Either way, it's taken a lot of courage for everyone who's spoken to us to come forward. People who want to see reform, who want a light shown on this darkest corner of the criminal justice system.

This has been a story full of flawed characters with complicated motivations. It's pretty much impossible to draw a simple line between the good guys and the bad ones. Either way, it's taken a lot of courage for everyone who's spoken to us to come forward. People who want to see reform, who want a light shown on this darkest corner of the criminal justice system.

Police sources who violated the so-called blue wall of silence. Like Mark Raposo and Bobby Richard. And others I haven't even told you about. And maybe the most courageous of all are the people who've worked as police informants themselves. People like Carly, who knew that talking to me would mean they'd be shunned, or worse, for breaking street code.

Police sources who violated the so-called blue wall of silence. Like Mark Raposo and Bobby Richard. And others I haven't even told you about. And maybe the most courageous of all are the people who've worked as police informants themselves. People like Carly, who knew that talking to me would mean they'd be shunned, or worse, for breaking street code.

And others in law enforcement who don't want informants revealing the ugly truth. But I found yet another former informant who's seen it all because a long time ago, his handler was New Bedford Police Chief Paul Oliveira.

And others in law enforcement who don't want informants revealing the ugly truth. But I found yet another former informant who's seen it all because a long time ago, his handler was New Bedford Police Chief Paul Oliveira.

I heard whispers about this man for months. I'm going to call him Russ, but that's not his real name. And in fact, he says talking to me is so dangerous that we're using someone else to read his exact words.

I heard whispers about this man for months. I'm going to call him Russ, but that's not his real name. And in fact, he says talking to me is so dangerous that we're using someone else to read his exact words.