Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-2_05-cr-00590/USCOURTS-azd-2_05-cr-00590-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Miqueas Correa-Lopez
Defendant
United States of America
Plaintiff

Document Text:

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

United States of America,

Plaintiff, 

vs.

Miqueas Correa-Lopez, 

Defendant. 

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

CR05-00590-PHX-MHM

ORDER

Currently before the Court is Defendant's Motion to dismiss under 18 U.S.C. § 3282.

(Dkt.#21). After reviewing the papers and hearing oral argument on January 18, 2006, the

Court issues the following order. 

I. Background

On June 22, 2005, Defendant Miqueas Correa-Lopez was indicted for conspiracy 

to possess with the intent to distribute marijuana. (Dkt. #1). He was arrested on September

26, 2005. (Dkt. #6). The indictment alleges in pertinent part:

[b]etween on or about November, 1997, and continuing through on

or about June 30, 2000, the exact dates are unknown, in the District

of Arizona and elsewhere, defendant, MIQUEAS CORREA-LOPEZ,

did knowingly and intentionally combine, conspire, confederate and

agree together with other persons, known and unknown to the Grand

Jury, to possess with the intent to distribute 1000 kilograms or more

of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of

marijuana...

Case 2:05-cr-00590-MHM Document 42 Filed 02/07/06 Page 1 of 4
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 2 -

On September 30, 2005, the government filed its notice of arrest of Defendant. The

government alleges that the charges against Defendant arise out of his relationship as a

marijuana supplier to the criminal organization, the "Champagne Crew" or the "Crew." 

Additionally, the Government alleges that the Defendant was present at the scene of a triple

murder on June 30, 2000, during one of the alleged transactions between "Crew" members

and Defendant and other co-conspirators, including his brother, Isac Correa-Lopez who was

murdered. After the killings, Defendant allegedly fled to Mexico. Defendant was arraigned

on September 28, 2005, and filed the present Motion to dismiss on November 21, 2005. 

II. Analysis

In his moving papers and at the hearing on January 18, 2006, Defendant argued to the

Court that there is nothing before it that would suggest Defendant was in any way connected

or involved in criminal activity continuing into the limitations period specified in the

indictment, specifically, activity spanning to and through June 22, 2005. While, Defendant

conceded that an overt act is not required to assert a valid claim of conspiracy pursuant to 21

U.S.C. § 846, he argues that the five year statute of limitations set forth in 18 U.S.C. § 3282

still bars the government's claim because of the lack of any evidence suggesting Defendant's

involvement in the activities that occurred subsequent to June 22, 2000. Most significantly,

the triple homicide that occurred on June 30, 2000. 

Defendant is correct in that 18 U.S.C. § 3282 bars non-capital offenses that occur

more than five years prior to the charged conduct. Specifically,18 U.S.C. § 3282 provides

in pertinent part: 

Except as otherwise expressly provided by law, no person shall be prosecuted,

tried, or punished for any offense, not capital, unless the indictment is found

or the information is instituted within five years next after such offense shall

have been committed. 

However, Defendant's argument is not correct regarding the lack of existence of

evidence suggesting Defendant's criminal involvement in events occurring subsequent to

June 22, 2000. As explained by the government in its response to Defendant's motion there

Case 2:05-cr-00590-MHM Document 42 Filed 02/07/06 Page 2 of 4
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

1

In Mr. Stone's testimony he identified government's trial exhibit 212 as that of the

Defendant, and government's exhibit 90 as Isac Correa-Lopez, the deceased brother of the

Defendant.

- 3 -

is substantial evidence suggesting Defendant's involvement in the conspiracy both prior to

and subsequent to the June 22, 2000 cut-off date. For instance, testimony in the related trial

before this Court, CR 01-486, from the other players in the conspiracy identifies Defendant

as a source of the supply of marijuana. For instance, Kevin Stone, a member of the "Crew"

testified that he transacted specifically with the Defendant for marijuana supply. (CR01-486,

Dkt.#681, September 10, 2004 Transcript, pp. 51-53, ll. 21-8).1

 In fact, Mr. Stone testified

that he had transacted several times with Defendant as well as his brother, Isac Correa-Lopez,

whom he also referred to as "Nick." (Id. at pp.53-54, ll. 18-16). 

More importantly, there is evidence demonstrating that the Defendant was involved

in the events on June 30, 2000, a time within the limitations period. For example, the

government has cited testimony from the Defendant's nephew, Cesar Lopez, that on the day

of the triple homicide, he had been given a ride by Defendant to the scene of the crime after

the Defendant phoned him. (CR01-486,Dkt.#605, May 27, 2004 Transcript, pp. 39-40, ll.

20-4). Before arriving at the scene the Defendant followed another vehicle from the

apartment complex and took down its license plate. (Id. at p. 40, ll.10-15). After returning

to the scene, Cesar Lopez went to the apartment and found the bodies of Defendant's brother

and two others. The Defendant then fled to Mexico although he came back to Phoenix on

several occasions subsequent to June 30, 2000. (Id. at pp. 43-45, ll.10-4). Lastly, Cesar

Lopez testified that he had heard the Defendant and his deceased brother discussing a deal

involving 300 pounds of marijuana six to eight months prior to the June 30, 2000 events,

which contributed to his suspicion that the Defendant was involved in drug trafficking. (Id.

pp. 37-38, ll. 20-5; pp. 60 ll. 4-12). 

The testimony from Mr. Stone and Cesar Lopez establishes that there is evidence

suggesting the Defendant was involved in drug trafficking activities with the "Crew" as well

Case 2:05-cr-00590-MHM Document 42 Filed 02/07/06 Page 3 of 4
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 4 -

as was involved in the events of June 30, 2000. Moreover, at Defendant's request, the Court

has reviewed a portion of the grand jury transcript addressing the indictment that was handed

down on June 22, 2005. The testimony from the transcript is consistent with the evidence

discussed above. Therefore, dismissal based upon 18 U.S.C. § 3282 is not warranted. 

Defendant at oral argument also suggested that while there may be evidence of the

Defendant's involvement in the conspiracy prior to June 30, 2000, he affirmatively pulled out

of the conspiracy before the June 30, 2000 events. However, as discussed above there is, at

the very least, a factual issue surrounding this issue that must be addressed during the course

of the trial, not upon pretrial motion. See United States v. Butler, 41 F.3d 1435, 1446 (11th

Cir. 1995) (noting that a conspirator accomplishes withdrawal from a conspiracy by "taking

steps inconsistent with the conspiracy and communicating those acts in a manner reasonably

calculated to reach the co-conspirator."); see also United States. v. Johnson, 956 F.2d 894,

906 (9th Cir. 1992), modified on other grounds, 969 F.2d 849 (9th Cir. 1992). 

Accordingly,

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED denying Defendant's Motion to dismiss under 18

U.S.C. § 3282. (Dkt. #21). 

DATED this 6th day of February, 2006.

Case 2:05-cr-00590-MHM Document 42 Filed 02/07/06 Page 4 of 4