FIL ED U.S. COURT OF APPEAL S EL EVENTHCI RCUI T NOVEMB ER 23, 2011 J OHN L EY CL ERK [DO NOT PUBLISH] IN THE UN ITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE ELE VENTH CIRCUIT

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ No. 1 0- 11 71 5 Non -Arg um en t Ca le nd ar

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ D.C. Dock etNo. 1 :0 9- cr-2 00 14 -AJ- 1 UNITED STAT ES OF AMERIC A, Pl ai nt iff - App el le e, ve rs us W ELBY R. PENA, Defen da nt- App el la nt .

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ App eal fro m

th e Uni te d S ta te s Di st ric t Co urt forth e So ut he rnDis tri ctof F lo rid a

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ (No ve m be r 23 , 20 11 ) Befo re EDMONDSON, MARTIN an d ANDERSON, Ci rcu itJu dg es . PER CURI AM: W el by R. Penaap pe al s h is co nv ic ti on s fo r m ak in g afal se st at em en t i n t he ap pl ic at io n a ndus e o f a p as sp ort, 1 8 U.S.C. § 15 42 , m ak in g afal se st at em en t an d rep res en ta ti on of aso ci al sec ur it y nu m be r, 18 U.S.C. § 1 00 1( a)(2 ) an d 4 2 U.S.C. §40 8( a)(7 )(B) , andag gr av at edid en ti fy th eft , 18 U.S.C. § 1 02 8A( a)(1 ). Kno win g th athe was i ne li gi bl e fo r a Un it edSta te s p as sp ort, Pe naap pl ie d fo r a p as sp ort us in g t he da te of b irt h a ndpa ren ta l i nf orm at io n o f an ot he r pe rs on na m edW el by Pen a (“ W .P.”) an d the so ci al sec ur it y nu m be r of a m in orfem al e. No re ve rs ib le erro r ha s b eensh own ; we af firm . Pen a rai se s fi ve is su es on ap pe al . Firs t, h e ch al le ng es th e su ffi ci en cy of t he in di ctm en t’s ag gr av at edid en ti ty the ft c ou nt . He con te nd s tha t the in di ctm en t d id 1 no t al le ge pro pe rly the “ m ean s o f id en ti fic at io n” ele m en t b ecau se a da te of b irt h al on e is in su ffi ci en t t o i de nt ify a sp eci fic pe rs on forpurp os es of s ect io n 1 02 8A. Whe th er an in di ctm en t s uf fic ie nt ly alle ge s an off

en se is a qu es ti on of l aw th atwe rev ie w de n ov o. Un it edSta te s v . Jo rd an , 58 2 F .3d12 39 , 12 45 (11 thCir . 20 09 ). “ A cri m in al co nv ic ti on wil l n otbe up he ldif t he in di ctm en t upo n wh ic h i t is ba se d d oe s n otsetforth th e es se nt ia l el em en ts of t he off en se .” Uni te d S ta te s v . Gay le , 96 7 F .2d48 3, 4 85 (11 th Cir . 19 92 ) (en ba nc ). The ag gr av at edid en ti ty statut e requi res anen ha nc edsen te nc e o f two y ears if ape rs on “ du rin g a ndinrel at io n t o a ny felo ny vio la ti on enum erat edin subs ect io n (c ) [wh ic h i nc lu de s v io la ti on of 1 8 U.S.C. § 15 42 ], kn owi ng ly The in di ctm en t ch arg edPen a wit h “ kn owi ng ly pos se ss [in g] an d u s[ in g], 1 witho utlawf

ul au th or it y , a m ean s o f id en ti fic at io n o f an othe r pe rs on , th atis , th e da te of b irt h o f ‘W .P.,’ invi ol at io n o f [1 8 U.S.C. § 10 28 A(a)(1 )].” 2tra ns fers , po ss es se s, o r us es , witho utlawf ul au th or it y , a m ean s o f id en ti fic at io n o f an ot he r pe rs on. . . .” 18 U.S.C. § 1 02 8A( a)(1 ), (c)( 7) . “ Mea ns of i de nt ifi cat io n” is de fin edas “ an y

na m e o r nu m

be r th atm ay

be us ed , alo ne or i n c on

jun ct io n wi th an y ot he r in fo rm at io n, t o i de nt ify a sp eci fic in di vi du al , in cl ud in g a ny . . . nam e, so ci al sec ur it y

nu m be r, da te of b irt h, [o r] offi ci al Sta te or g ov ern m en t i ss ue d dr iv er’s l ic en se or i de nt ifi cat io n n um be r . . . .” 18 U.S.C. § 10 28 (d )(7 )(A) (em ph as is ad de d) . Pen a’s in di ctm en t s uf

fic ie nt ly alle ge d the “ m ean s o f id en ti fic at io n” ele m en t of ag gr av at edid en ti ty the ft b y sp eci fy in g W.P.’ s d at e o f bi rth . Pen a u se d W.P.’ s fu ll da te of b irt h t og ethe r wit h acert ifi edco py of W. P.’s bi rth cert ifi cat e an d t he na m es of W.P.’ s p aren ts , Bil fred o P en a an d An to ni a Leez. Be cau se th e d at e o f bi rth tak eninco nju nc ti on with t hi s o th er i nf orm at io n was su ffi ci en t t o i de nt ify a sp eci fic pe rs on , itqu al ifi edas a“ m ean s o f id en ti fic at io n” forpu rp os es of s ect io n 10 28 A. Pen a al so arg ue s tha t the di st ric t co urt’s jury in st ru ct io n c on st ru ct iv el y am en de d t he in di ctm en t’s ag gr av at edid en ti ty the ft c ou nt , invi ol at io n o f th e Fi fth Am en dm en t. Becaus e Pen a fai le d t o ra is e th is arg um en t i n t he di st ric t co urt, we

2 Inhi s re pl y

bri ef, Pen a arg ue s fo r th e fi rs t t im e th atth e p ro se cu to r’s cl os in g 2 arg um en ts als o i m

pr op erl y ex pa nd edth e in di ctm en t. Bec au se Pen a fai le d t o ra is e th is is su e in hi s i ni ti al bri ef, h e h as ab an do ne d i t. See Uni te d S ta te s v . Mag lu ta , 3rev ie w on ly for p la in erro r, “ in qu iri ng whet he r anerro r oc curred , whethe r th e err or

was pl ai n a ndwhet he r th e err or‘ affe ct edsubs tant ia l ri gh ts .’ ” See Uni te d S ta te s v . Den ni s, 2 37 F.3d12 95 , 12 99 (11 th Cir . 20 01 ).

“ A con st ru ct iv e ‘am en dm en t o ccu rs when th e es se nt ia l el em en ts of t he of fen se co nt ai ne d i n t he in di ctm en t ar e al te redto bro ad enth e p os si bl e b as es for co nv ic ti on be y on d wh atis co nt ai ne d i n t he in di ctm en t.’” Uni te d S ta te s v . Cas tro , 89 F.3d14 43 , 14 52 -5 3 (1 1t h C ir. 1 99 6) . “ Inde te rm in in g wh ethe r anin di ctm en t was co ns tru ct iv el y

am en de d, we m

us t as se ss . . . th e co urt’s [jury ] in st ru ct io ns ‘ in co nt ex t’ to see whet he r th e in di ctm en t was ex pa nd edeit he r li te ral ly or in effe ct .” Id . at 1 45 3. Pen a arg ue s tha t, b y

us in g t he ph ras e “ th e m ean s o f id en ti fic at io n a t i ss ue ” in it s jury in st ru ct io ns , th e d is tri ctco urt co ns tru ct iv el y am en de d h is in di ctm en t t o in cl ud e b ot h W.P.’ s d at e o f bi rth , as s pe ci fie d i n t he in di ctm en t, an d W.P.’ s b irt h cert ifi cat e, whi chwas d is cu ss edat l en gt h dur in g t ria l b utno t ch arg edinth e in di ctm en t. Whenrev ie wedinco nt ex t, h owe ve r, th e d is tri ctco urt u se d thi s p hr as e in set ti ng ou t the ge ne ric ele m en ts of t he off en se . The co urt the n d efi ne d c orrect ly th e te rm “ m ean s o f id en ti fic at io n” to in cl ud e “ an y na m e, So ci al Secu rit y

nu m be r, da te of b irt h, o r of

fic ia l s ta te or g ov ern m en t i ss ue d driv er’s l ic en se or 41 8 F .3d11 66 , 11 85 -8 6 (1 1t h C ir. 2 00 5) . 4id en ti fic at io n n um be r.” Bas edon th is reco rd , we can no t co nc lu de th atth e co urt co m m it te d p la in erro r. Nex t, Pe naarg ue s tha t the go ve rn m en t fa il edto est ab li sh th athe kn ew th at th e d at e o f bi rth he us edonhi s p as sp ort ap pl ic at io n a ctua ll y be lo ng edto a real pe rs on . W e rev ie w th e su ffi ci en cy of e vi de nc e d e n ov o, v ie win g t he ev id en ce “ in th e li gh t m os t fa vo rab le to th e g ov ern m en t, wi thall in fere nc es an d c red ib il it y ch oi ces dra wn i n t he go ve rn m en t’s fa vo r.” Uni te d S ta te s v . Garci a-Be rco vi ch , 58 2 F .3d12 34 , 12 37 (11 th Cir . 20 09 ), cert . den ie d b y 13 0 S .Ct. 1 56 2 (2 01 0) . W e wil l af firm a co nv ic ti on if “ an y

rat io na l trie r of

factco ul d h av e fo un d t he ess en ti al el em en ts of t he cri m e b ey on d areas on ab le do ub t.” Id . To s us ta in a co nv ic ti on un de r se ct io n 1 02 8A( a)(1 ), th e g ov ern m en t m us t de m on st rat e th atth e d efen da ntkn ew th atth e m ean s o f id en ti fic at io n u se d be lo ng edto a real pe rs on . Uni te d S ta te s v . Gom ez-C as tro , 60 5 F .3d12 45 , 12 48 (1 1t h C ir. 2 01 0) (ci ti ng Flo res -Fi gu ero a v . Uni te d S ta te s, 1 29 S.Ct . 18 86 , 18 94 (2 00 9) ). “ Bo th th e ci rcu m st an ces inwhi chanoff en de r ob ta in eda vi ct im ’s id en ti ty andth e o ffen de r’s late r m is us e o f th atid en ti ty can s he d l ig hton th e of fen de r’s kn owl ed ge ab ou t tha t i de nt it y .” Id . Drawi ng all reas on ab le in fere nc es infav orof t he go ve rn m en t, a ra ti on al tri er o f fac t co ul d h av e fo un d b ey on d areas on ab le do ub t tha t Pe nakn ew th atW .P. 5was a real pe rs on when he us edW .P.’s dat e o f bi rth an d b irt h c ert ifi cat e to ap pl y

fo r a p as sp ort. See id . Alth ou gh Pen a rec ei ve d W.P.’ s b irt h c ert ifi cat e in erro r fro m th e ci ty clerk ’s off

ic e, we canin fer tha t h e kne w th e ci ty clerk ’s off ic e 3 m ai nt ai ne d a ndpro vi de d b irt h c ert ifi cat es of r eal pe op le . See Go m ez-C as tro , 60 5 F.3 d a t 1 24 9 (s ta ti ng th at“ kn owl ed ge canbe in ferr edreas on ab ly bas edon or di na ry hu m anexpe rie nc e fo r whi chno sp eci al pro of is requi red ; a trie r of

fact can rel y onco m m on sen se ”). Bec au se Pen a h adap pl ie d fo r an d b eende ni eda pa ss po rt i n t he pa st , we canals o i nf er tha t h e kne w th atth e fed eral go ve rn m en t wou ldatt em

ptto ve rif y th e au th en ti ci ty of hi s i de nt ifi cat io n. Se e id . at 1 24 9- 50 ; Uni te d S ta te s v . Hol m es , 59 5 F .3d12 55 , 12 58 (11 th Cir . 20 10 ), cert . den ie d b y 13 1 S .Ct. 1 54 6 (2 01 1) (co nc lu di ng th at , eve n t ho ug h t he de fen da ntlac ke d

“ de ta il edkn owl ed ge ” o f th e g ov ern m en t’s v eri fic at io n p ro ces se s, a re as on ab le jury cou ldha ve fou ndth atsh e kne w th atsh e was us in g areal pe rs on ’s id en ti ty whe n s he subjec te d i t re pe at ed ly to g ov ern m en t s cru ti ny). Pen a al so co nt en ds th atPo st al Ins pe ct orJu anVarg as ’s tes ti m on y

Afte r hi s arres t, Pe nato ldoff ic ers th atwhen he reque st edhi s o wn b irt h 3 cert ifi cat e fro m

th e ci ty clerk ’s off

ic e, th e cl erkm is take nl y

sen t h im th e wro ng bi rth cert ifi cat e. He adm it te d t ha t, b ecau se he was u nabl e to ob ta ina pa ss po rt i n hi s o wn n am e an d n eed edto m ak e anem erg en cy in te rn at io na l trip , he u se d thi s ot he r bi rth cert ifi cat e to ap pl y fora pa ss po rt.

6co ns ti tu te d i na dm is si bl e h ears ay an d v io la te d t he Co nf

ro nt at io n C laus e. Becaus e 4 Pen a rai se s thi s ar gu m en t fo r th e fi rs t t im e o n app eal , we rev ie w on ly for p la in erro r. See Den ni s, 2 37 F.3dat 1 29 9. We will no t re ve rs e unl es s a p la in erro r was pr ejud ic ia l, m ean in g t ha t i t “ affe ct edth e o ut co m e o f th e d is tri ctco urt pr oc eed in gs .” See Un it edSta te s v . Arbo la ez, 4 50 F.3d12 83 , 12 91 (11 th Cir . 20 06 ). Eve n i f we as su m e --wi th ou t d eci di ng -- th atth e d is tri ctco urt p la in ly erred in adm it ti ng Varg as ’s tes ti m on y , Pen a fai le d t o d em on st rat e th atth e al le ge d e rro r was pre jud ic ia l. Giv enth e o th er ad m is si bl e ev id en ce o f Pen a’s gu il t -- in cl ud in g hi s o wn s ta te m en t t o p ol ic e th athe kn owi ng ly use d W.P.’ s b irt h c ert ifi cat e in hi s pa ss po rt app li cat io n -- no reas on ab le pro babi li ty exi st s tha t, b utforth is all eg ed erro r, th e o ut co m e o f th e p ro ceed in gs wou ldha ve be endi ffer en t. See id . Pen a al so arg ue s tha t the di st ric t co urt v io la te d h is Fif th Am en dm en t due As p artof h is de fen se , Pen a as se rte d tha t, as so on as h e rea li zedth athe ha d 4 us edth e wro ng bi rth cert ifi cat e in hi s p as sp ort ap pl ic at io n, h e se nta le tt er t o t he Nati on al Pas sp ort Ag en cy can cel in g h is ap pl ic at io n. In supp ort o f th atde fen se , he pr oduc eda co py of h is all eg edlet te r an d acert ifi edm ai l re cei pt , dat ed31 Octo be r 20 08 . In re bu tt al , th e g ov ern m en t ca ll edVarg as , who tes ti fie d t ha t the cert ifi ed m ai l re cei pt ’s barco de in di cat edth atth e rec ei ptwas i ss ue d o n o r aft er 6 Apri l 20 09 an d, thu s, d idno t ex is t wh enPen a cl ai m edto ha ve rece iv edit . Pen a’s ob jecti on s t o Var ga s’s t es ti m on y st em fro m th e fac t tha t, as pa rt o f hi s in ve st ig at io n i n t hi s ca se , Varg as lea rn edho w to readan d i nt erp retth e b ar co de in fo rm at io n fr om

an ot he r pe rs on . 7pr oc es s ri gh ts when itde ni edhi s m ot io n fo r a n ew tr ia l, af te r refu si ng to all ow h im to cal l a wi tn es s atth e ev id en ti ary he ari ng . W e rev ie w a di st ric t co urt’s ru li ng on a m ot io n fo r a n ew tr ia l fo r ab us e o f di sc ret io n. Un it edSta te s v . Jerni ga n, 3 41 F.3 d 1 27 3, 1 28 7 (1 1t h C ir. 2 00 3) . To warra nta ne w tri al ba se d o n n ewly di sc ov eredev id en ce a d efen da ntm us t s ho w th es e th in gs : (1 ) th e ev id en ce was di sc ov eredaft er tria l, (2 ) [h is ] fai lu re . . . to di sc ov er the ev id en ce was no t due to a la ckof due di li ge nc e, (3 ) th e ev id en ce i s n otm erel y

cu m ul at iv e o r im

pe ach in g, (4 ) th e ev id en ce i s m at eri al to is su es be fo re the co urt, an d (5 ) th e ev id en ce i s s uc h t ha t a ne w tri al wou ldpro babl y pro du ce a d iff

eren t re su lt . Id . Pen a fi le d am ot io n fo r a n ew tr ia l b as edon ne wly di sc ov eredev id en ce an d subm it te d a ffi da vi ts fro m th ree p os ta l em

pl oyees wh o m ad e st at em en ts ab ou t the au th en ti ci ty of Pen a’s cert ifi edm ai l re cei pt . The d is tri ctco urt h el d a n e vi de nt ia ry he ari ng du rin g wh ic h ago ve rn m en t wi tn es s v eri fie d t ha t Pe na ’s cert ifi edm ai l rece ip t was is su edon or a fte r 6 Ap ril 20 09 . Pen a th enst at edth athe want edto pr es en t a r eb ut ta l wi tn es s wh os e n am e h e d idno t kno w andwho was n otpre se ntat th e h eari ng . The d is tri ctco urt co nc lu de d -- an d P en a’s la wy er co nc ed ed-- th atth e ev id en ce Pe narel ie d o n i n h is m ot io n fo r ne w tri al was n otne wly di sc ov ered . The co urt al so de te rm in edth atth e ev id en ce Pe naso ug htto pre se ntco ul d h av e b een di sc ov eredbe fo re tria l wi th du e d il ig en ce an d t ha t a d iff eren t tria l was un li ke ly to 8pr oduc e a n ew res ul t. Bec au se Pen a’s pr op os edwitne ss ’s tes ti m on y wou ldno t ch an ge th e co urt’s u lt im at e co nc lu si on , th e co urt re fu se d t o a ll ow Pe nato de la y fu rth er the pro ceed in gs by call in g a no th er wi tn es s. Onth is reco rd , we see no ab us e o f di sc ret io n. Se e id . AFFIR MED.

9