FILED U.S. COURT OF AP P E A LS E LE V EN T HC IRC U IT JULY 26, 2007 THOMAS K. KAH

N CLERK [ DO NO T P UB L I S H] I N THE UN I TE D STATE S C OU RT OF APPE ALS F O R T H E E L E V E N T H C IR C U IT

________________________ N o. 07- 10414 N on -A rgum entC al endar

________________________ D . C . D ocketN o. 06 -000 04 -C R -C D L -4 U N I T E D S T A T E S O F A M E R I C A , P la in tif f - A p p e lle e , v ersu s M A R K B R A M L E T T , D e f e n d a n t- A p p e lla n t.

________________________ A pp ea l fr om the U ni t ed S t at es D i stri ctC ou rt f o rth e M id d le D is tr ic t o f G e o r g ia

_________________________ ( Ju l y 26, 2007) B efo re A N D E R S O N , B A R K E T T an d H U L L , C i rcu i tJu d g es. P E R C U R I A M: M a r k B r a m le tt ap p e a ls h is c o n v ic tio n f o rp o s s e s s io n w ith in te n t to d is tr ib u te2

50 gr a m s orm or e of

m e tha m phe t a m i ne , i n vi ol a t i on of 21 U . S . C . § 841( a ) ( 1) a nd ( b ) ( 1 ) ( A ) ( v iii) . O n ap p e a l, B r a m le tt c h a lle n g e s th e d is tr ic t c o u r t’s d e n ia l o f h is mo t i o n t o s u p p r e s s e v i d e n c e . A f t e rr e v i e w , w e a f

f i r m. I . B AC KG RO UN D A co n fi d en t i al i n fo rm an t(“ C I”) ap p ro ach ed m em b ers o f th e n arco t i cs t ask f o r c e o f th e C o lu m b u s , G e o r g ia p o lic e d e p a r tm e n t. T h e C I in d ic a te d th a t h e c o u ld bu y m etham ph et am i ne fr om B ra m l ettata r es i dence at29 08 L ee S tre et . T as k force agent s c on fi rm ed thatB ra m l ettre si ded atthe 29 08 L ee S tre etaddres s. A gent s then a r r a n g e d f

o rth e C I to m a k e a “c o n tr o lle d b u y ” f r o m B r a m le tt a t 2 9 0 8 L e e S tr e e t. T he C I w as se ar ched, prov i ded w i th m on ey for the pu rc hase and o ut fi tt ed w i th an e l e c tr oni c m oni t or i ng de vi c e . A ge nt s f ol l ow e d the C I t o B r a m l e tt ’ s r e s i de nc e a nd obs e r ve d hi m e nt e rthe r e s i de nc e , w he r e the C I pur c ha s e d tw o ounc e s of m e th a m p h e ta m in e f

r o m B r a m le tt. U s in g th e e le c tr o n ic m o n ito r y d e v ic e , a g e n ts w e r e a bl e t o c ont e m por a ne ous l y l i s t e n t o a nd r e c or d the c ontr ol l e d buy f r om B r a m l e tti n hi s r e s i de nc e . S hor t l y the r e a f t e r , the C I r e tur ne d t o the a ge nt s w i th the tw o o u n c e s o f

m e th a m p h e ta m in e p u r c h a s e d f r o m B r a m le tt. W hi l e the c ontr ol l e d buy w a s be i ng a r r a nge d, A ge ntJ on M e m m o pr e pa r e d a r e que s tf ora s e a r c h w a r r a ntof

the 2908 L e e S tr e e tr e s i de nc e a nd a s uppor t i ng a f f i d a v i t . Th e s u p p o r t i n g a f f i d a v i ts t a t e d , a mo n g o th e rth i n g s , th a tA g e n tM e mmo3

ha d r e c e i ve d i nf

or m a t i on f

r om a r e l i a bl e C I tha ta qua nt i ty of m e tha m phe t a m i ne w a s l o c a t e d a t2 9 0 8 Le e Str e e ti n th e p o s s e s s i o n o f M a r k Br a ml e tta n d th a tth e CI h a d o b s e r v e d B r a m le tt in p o s s e s s io n o f m e th a m p h e ta m in e w ith in th e la s t 7 2 h o u r s . T h e a f f id a v it a v e rr e d th a t th e C I h a d “p r o v e n r e liab le in th e p a s t in th a t th e ir i nf or m a t i on ha [ d] l e d t o the s e i z ur e of a qua nt i ty of

i l l e ga l drugs a nd the pe ndi ng a r r e s tof a tl e a s tone drug a bus e r . ” T he a f f i da vi tde s c r i be d the c ontr ol l e d buy a nd s ta te d th a t a g e n ts h a d o b s e r v e d th e C I e n te ra n d e x it th e r e s id e n c e a n d r e tu r n w ith the m e tha m phe t a m i ne a nd tha tthe c ontr ol l e d buy ha d be e n m oni t or e d a nd r e c or de d by a ge nt s . T he a f f i da vi ta l s o s t a t e d tha tB r a m l e ttw a s a “ know n drug o f f e n d e r ” w h o h a d b e e n a r r e s te d f o rd ru g o f

f e n s e s in th e p a s t. W hi l e the c ontr ol l e d buy w a s be i ng e xe c ut e d, A ge ntM e m m o m e tw i th a G e or gi a s upe r i orc our tj udge w i th the pr e pa r e d a nt i c i pa t or y w a r r a ntr e que s t . A ge nt M e m m o a nd the s t a t e j udge m a i nt a i ne d t e l e phone c ont a c tw i th the i nve s t i ga t i ng agent s a tthe sc ene duri ng the cont rol l ed bu y. O nce a gent s a tthe sc ene c on fi rm ed th a t th e c o n tr o lle d b u y h a d b e e n c o m p le te d , A g e n t M e m m o s ig n e d th e a f f id a v it a n d th e s ta te ju d g e e x e c u te d th e s e a r c h w a r r a n t. D ur i ng the s e a r c h of

the 2908 L e e S tr e e tr e s i de nc e , a ge nt s f ound ove r200 gram s of m etham ph et am i ne and o ther drug p ar aphernal i a. B ra m l ettw as arre st ed a n d c h a r g e d b y a f

e d e r a l g r a n d ju r y w ith o n e c o u n t o f p o s s e s s io n w ith in te n t toB ra mlett’ s mo tio n tosu

pp re ss alsoargue d th at A g e nt M e mmo ’sa ff ida vit faile d to 1 provide suff

icient facts to support the issuanceof a “no knock” w arrant and that the sc ope of the search wa rra nt was over

broad be causeit permitted law enf orcement to search motor vehicles a nd pers on s f ound on thepre mis e s. 4 d is tr ib u te m e th a m p h e ta m in e . P r i ort o tr i a l , B r a m l e ttf i l e d a m ot i on t o s uppr e s s the e vi de nc e f ound dur i ng the s e a r c h of

hi s hom e . B r a m l e tta r gue d, i nt e ra l i a , tha tthe e vi de nc e s houl d be supp re ss ed because A gentM em m o’ s a ff i davi tsupp ort i ng the re qu es tfor ase ar ch w a r r a nt : ( 1) “ f

a i l [ e d] t o a de qua t e l y i nf or m the i s s ui ng J udge of the r e l i a bi l i ty of

the C I , ” a nd ( 2) “ f

a i l [ e d] t o r e ve a l s uf

f i c i e ntf a c t s t o c ons t i tut e pr oba bl e c a us e f orthe is s u a n c e o f

th e s e a r c h w a r r a n t.” B r a m le tt’s m o tio n to d is m is s d id n o t s p e c if ic a lly 1 a r g u e th a t A g e n t M e m m o ’s a f f id a v it c o n ta in e d f

a ls e s ta te m e n ts , a lth o u g h B r a m le tt n o w m a k e s th is th e f

o c u s o f h is ap p e a l. T h e d is tr ic t c o u r t h e ld a n e v id e n tia r y h e a r in g o n B r a m le tt’s m o tio n to supp re ss . T he go vernm entca l l ed A gentM em m o t o t es t i fy t o the procedures use d to c o n d u c t th e c o n tr o lle d b u y a n d to o b ta in th e s e a r c h w a r r a n t. O n c r os s - e xa m i na t i on, de f e ns e c ouns e l que s t i one d A ge ntM e m m o a boutthe m ean i n g o f h i s av erm en t s i n th e affi d av i tth atth e C I h ad p ro v en rel i ab l e i n th e p ast a nd tha tthe C I ’ s i nf

or m a t i on ha d l e d t o the s e i z ur e of drugs a nd a tl e a s tone pe ndi ng a r r e s t . A ge ntM e m m o e xpl a i ne d tha the ha d be e n r e f e r r i ng both t o the cont rol l ed bu y a t29 08 L ee S tre etand t o an earl i ercont rol l ed bu y the C I per form edPhenixCity , Alabama is on the Alabama -Ge org ia border and is approx imately two miles 2 awa y from Columbus, Georg ia. 5 f o rth e P h e n ix C ity , A la b a m a n a r c o tic s ta s k f o r c e . A c c or di ng t o A ge ntM e m m o, P he ni x C i ty pol i c e a r r e s t e d the C I f or p o s s e s s i o n o f

me th a mp h e t a mi n e . I n h o p e s o f o b t a i n i n g a r e d u c e d s e n t e n c e , th e CI agre ed t o coo pera t e a nd succ es sf ul l y per form ed a c on trol l ed bu y w i th an u nn am ed in d iv id u a l. T h e C I to ld P h e n ix C ity p o lic e th a t h e c o u ld a ls o b u y d ru g s f r o m B r a m le tt in C ol um bus , G e or gi a . T he P he ni x C i ty pol i c e s poke w i th S e r ge a ntP r i c e of the 2 C ol um bus pol i c e a nd r e f e r r e d hi m t o the C I . A ttha tt i m e , the drug s e l l e ri n the P heni x C i ty c on trol l ed bu y had no tye tbeen arr es t ed, bu thi s or herarre stw as im m in e n t. A partfr om cr oss- exam i ni ng A gentM em m o, B ra m l ettpres ent ed no evi dence atthe heari ng . A tthe concl usi on of the heari ng , the di stri ctcourtdeni ed B ra m lett ’s m o ti o n to su p p re ss . T h e d istrict co u rt fo u n d th at A g en t M em m o ’s a f f i da vi tw a s s uf

f i c i e ntt o e s t a bl i s h pr oba bl e c a us e a nd tha tthe gove r nm e ntha d put u p su ffi ci en tev i d en ce o f th e C I’ s rel i ab i l i ty. F ol l ow i ng a tri al , the j ury f ou nd B ra m l ettgu i l ty. T he di stri ctcourt s e n te n c e d B r a m le tt to 1 2 1 m o n th s ’ im p r is o n m e n t. B r a m le tt f ile d th is ap p e a l. I I . DI S CUS S I ONThe g overnment argues that B ramlett raises this particular a rgument for the f

irst time on 3 appeal and that thus we must review only for plain error . We need not address this issue beca use, under

either a de novo or a

plain error standard, we c onclude that the district c ourt prop e rly denie d B ra

mlett’ s mo tio n tosu

pp re ss. 6 O n ap p eal , B ram l ettarg u es th atA g en tM em m o ’ s affi d av i tco n t ai n ed fal se in f o r m a tio n a b o u t th e r e liab ility o f th e C I a n d th a t, o n c e th is in f o r m a tio n is o m i tt ed , th e affi d av i ti s i n su ffi ci en tt o est ab l i sh p ro b ab l e cau se. S p eci fi cal l y, B ra m lettar g u es th at A g en t M em m o ’s statem en t i n h is af fid av itth at th e C I’s i nf or m a t i on ha d “ l e d t o the s e i z ur e of a qua nt i ty of

i l l e ga l drugs a nd the pe ndi ng arre stof atl ea ston e drug abu se r” re fe rr ed t o o nl y the j ust -c om pl et ed control l ed buy f r om B r a m l e tta t2908 L e e S tr e e t . B r a m l e ttc om pl a i ns tha t , c ontr a r y t o A ge nt M e mmo ’ s a v e r me n t , A g e n tM e mmo ’ s h e a r i n g t e s t i mo n y e s t a b l i s h e d th a tth e CI ha d notbe e n pr ove n r e l i a bl e i n a ny othe ri nde pe nde nti nve s t i ga t i on.

“ If a def endantdem on stra t es by a pre po nd er ance of the evi dence thatan affi d av i tu sed t o p ro cu re a search w arran tco n t ai n s i n t en t i o n al l y o r reck l essl y fal se s ta te m e n ts a n d th a t, th e f a ls e s ta te m e n ts a s id e , th e a f f id a v it is in s u f

f ic ie n t to e s t a bl i s h pr oba bl e c a us e , the di s tr i c tc our tm us tvoi d the s e a r c h w a r r a nta nd e xc l ude the f

rui t s of the s e a r c h. ” U ni t e d S t a t e s v. A nde r t on, 136 F . 3d 747, 749 (1 1 th C ir. 1 9 9 8 ). H er e, B ra m lettfa il ed to sh o w eith erth at A g en t M em m o ’s 3 a v e r m e n ts w e r e f

a ls e o rth a t, w ith o u t th o s e a v e r m e n ts , A g e n t M e m m o ’s a f f id a v it fa i l ed t o est abl i sh prob abl e c ause .7

A t th e e v id e n tia r y h e a r in g , A g e n t M e m m o te s tif ie d th a t w h e n h e s ta te d in the a f f i da vi ttha tthe C I ’ s i nf

or m a t i on ha d l e d t o the s e i z ur e of i l l e ga l drugs a nd a pe ndi ng a r r e s t , he w a s r e f e r r i ng both t o the c ontr ol l e d buy a t2908 L e e S tr e e ta nd a l s o t o the pr e vi ous c ontr ol l e d buy c onduc t e d i n P he ni x C i ty . F ur the r m or e , A ge nt M em m o exp l ai ned t hatatthe t i m e he prepar ed hi s a ff i davi t , the P heni x C i ty pol i ce had n otye tarre st ed the subj ec tof the P heni x C i ty c on trol l ed bu y, bu tan arre stw as i m m i n en t . B ram l ettp resen t ed n o ev i d en ce t o co n trad i ctth i s t est i m o n y. T h u s, B r a m le tt f

a ile d to m e e t h is b u r d e n to s h o w th a t A g e n t M e m m o ’s a f f id a v it c o n ta in e d in te n tio n a lly o rr e c k le s s ly f a ls e s ta te m e n ts . F u rth erm o re, w i th o u tth e st at em en t s i n th e affi d av i treg ard i n g th e C I’ s p ast r e l i a bi l i ty , the r e w a s a m oni t or e d c ontr ol l e d buy a nd “ s uf f i c i e nti nde pe nde nt c or r obor a t i on of

[ the ] i nf or m a nt ’ s i nf

or m a t i on, ” a nd, thus , no ne e d t o pr ove the C I ’ s r e l i a bi l i ty . U ni t e d S t a t e s v. M a r t i n, 297 F . 3d 1308, 1314 ( 11th C i r . 2002) ( quot a t i on m a r ks om i tt e d) . I n f a c t , the i nve s t i ga t i ng a ge nt s or c he s tr a t e d the c o n tr o lle d b u y , o b s e r v e d th e C I e n te ra n d e x it B r a m le tt’s r e s id e n c e a n d r e tu r n w ith m e th a m p h e ta m in e , a n d m o n ito r e d a n d r e c o r d e d th e tr a n s a c tio n a s it o c c u r r e d . A g e n ts a ls o in d e p e n d e n tly v e r if ie d th a t th e r e s id e n c e b e lo n g e d to B r a m le tt. A ll thi s i nform at i on w as conv ey ed t o the i ss ui ng st at e j ud ge. S ee C hapm an v. S t at e, 3 5 4 S .E .2 d 1 4 9 , 1 5 1 ( G a . 1 9 8 7 ) . T h u s , th e a f f id a v it a n d th e a g e n t’s te s tim o n y toBramlett sug g ests that once theinformant had c ompleted the controlled buy at 4 Bramlett’s re sidence , therewas no evidencethat Bramlett’s re sidencecontained a ny more methamphetamine. B ramlett points to Agent Memmo’s testimony acknow ledg ing that, at the time, ag ents did not know whether Bramlett had sold the CIhis entire supply of methamphetamine. H owever, law enforc ement nee d not prove to a c ertainty that contra

band or evidenc e will be found at the location to be sea rche d; only

a “f air proba bility” is required. United States v. Br

undidge , 170 F.3d 1350, 1352 ( 11th Cir. 1999); see also United States v. Mag lut a , 4 4 F .3 d 1 53 0, 15 35 (1 1th Cir . 1 99 5) . G iven th at B ra mlett h a d ju st s old

theCI methamphetamine f

rom his residenc e, there wa s a fair probability that Bramlett had more methamphetamine at his residence . 8 the st at e j ud ge abou tthe com pl et i on of the cont rol l ed bu y a t29 08 L ee S tre et es t abl i shed “ a c on nect i on betw ee n the defendantand t he re si dence t o b e s ea rc hed a nd a l i nk be tw e e n the r e s i de nc e a nd [ the ] c r i m i na l a c t i vi ty . ” S e e M a r t i n, 297 F . 3d a t1314. 4 F orthe s e r e a s ons , the di s tr i c tc our tdi d note r ri n de ny i ng B r a m l e tt ’ s m ot i on to s u p p r e s s th e e v id e n c e f o u n d in th e s e a r c h o f

h is r e s id e n c e . AF F I RME D.