The subpoena issued to Miami Dolphins center Mike Pouncey on Sunday could suggest the prosecution's case for murder against Aaron Hernandez is weak. Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman Maurkice Pouncey likely also has a subpoena waiting for him in New England.
Massachusetts State Police served Mike Pouncey with a grand jury subpoena on Sunday while the Dolphins player was still inside Gillette Stadium. The subpoena was in connection to Aaron Hernandez, Mike's friend and former teammate at Florida, Sports Illustrated reports.
"The source indicated that police are focusing in on Hernandez's potential involvement in interstate gun trafficking, which is being investigated by several agencies in multiple states - at least Massachusetts, New York and Florida," Sports Illustrated wrote on Sunday.
"The extent of Pouncey's potential involvement is undetermined, but police are focusing on multiple transactions that involve him and Hernandez."
In what appears to be the first subpoena issued in regard to weapons trafficking allegations, the investigation appears to be shifting to whether Hernandez was part of a gun-running ring.
"The increased scrutiny on Hernandez's gun activity could be an indication that the gun charges have taken an increased importance," Sports Illustrated wrote. "Shortly after the first murder investigation began, the source said, signs that Hernandez was involved with a large-scale, multi-state gun running operation began to emerge."
Hernandez was indicted in September on first-degree murder and five gun-related charges in the shooting death of Odin Lloyd. Hernandez is also being investigated in an unsolved 2012 double homicide in Boston.
News of authorities focusing on interstate gun trafficking could just be part of the multi-facet investigation of Hernandez, but it could also indicate the prosecution doesn't have a strong enough case to convict the ex-NFL star of first-degree murder.
The Commonwealth's case, in what's known to the public, is largely circumstantial. Most of the evidence comes from video surveillance, but none of the footage actually shows Hernandez killing Lloyd.
The murder weapon, believed to be a .45 caliber pistol, still has not been found.
While a defendant can be convicted on circumstantial evidence alone, the prosecution could fear they don't have enough evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Hernandez murdered Lloyd.
All of the prosecution's evidence against Hernandez hasn't been made public. Law enforcement must investigate all possible crimes. Still, tying Hernandez to interstate gun-running charges could be part of proving Hernandez's motive to kill Lloyd, or it could be a separate, stronger case to make sure the 23-year-old doesn't walk free.
Maurkice Pouncey, the twin brother of Mike and also a friend and former college teammate of Hernandez, could also be served with a subpoena; he's doubtful to travel with Pittsburgh on Sunday to New England as he continues to recover from his knee injury.
A Steelers spokesman declined to comment, according to Sports Illustrated.
Neither Pouncey brother has been charged for any crime related to Hernandez.
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