In Letter, Philly DA Asks Facebook Creator Remove Deadly Threats - New York News | NYC Breaking News

Some Posts Removed After Philly DA Sends Letter To Facebook

The Philadelphia District Attorney's Office says it has just learned that some of the posts on a convicted felon's Facebook page were removed after Seth Williams sent a letter to Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg.

According to Williams, the letter sent Monday is the latest of several requests by the district attorney to Facebook asking that the posts be removed.

The posts were published on Freddie Henriquez's page and labeled a witness as a "rat" and a "snitch," according to the DA. The requests from Williams stem from a February 2012 case, where investigators say a young woman was arrested as part of an alleged conspiracy to straw purchase firearms.

The DA says the woman admitted to police her involvement and agreed to testify against the alleged drug dealers involved. According to Williams' office, Henriquez recently posted $25,000 in order to secure his release from jail.

"By ignoring our pleas and continuing to allow these images on your website, you are contributing to the culture of intimidation and fear that exists in this city, where witness intimidation permeates our neighborhoods and courtrooms," Williams wrote in the letter.

"I renew our demand that you remove this document from your web page."

Williams claims that despite numerous requests, Facebook has refused to remove the posts. Williams says as recently as January 15, his office received a response from the company's Law Enforcement Response Team that stated the posts were not in violation of Facebook policies.

"Our office requested a verbal explanation over the phone and was refused. It is hard to fathom this answer given that the images clearly do violate two of the items in your Statement of Rights and Responsibilities," the district attorney wrote.

Williams says the intimidation and threat to the witness's life continues because the posts are still allowed to be published.

The district attorney's office released the letter and discussed the case during a Monday afternoon press conference.