# U ni te d S ta te s Co ur t of A pp ea ls

For the Eig hth Circu it

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No. 1 3- 20 43

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Uni te d S ta te s o f Am eri ca

ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll l Pla in ti

ff - App el le e

v.

Po rfi rio Orte ga

ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll l Defe nd

an t - Ap pe ll an t

__ __ __ __ __ __

App eal fro m

Uni te d S ta te s Di st ric t Co ur t

fo r th e Eas te rn Dis tri ct of M is so ur i - St . Lou is

__ __ __ __ __ __

Su bm it te d: Jan ua ry

16 , 20 14

Fil ed : M ay

9, 2 01 4

__ __ __ __ __ __

Befo re LOKEN, MURPHY, and COLLOTON, Cir cu it Ju dg es

.

__ __ __ __ __ __

MURP HY, Circ ui t J ud ge

.

Po rfi rio Orte ga was co nv ic te d by a jury of co ns pi rin g to po ss es s wit h in te nt to

di st rib ut e co cai ne in vi ol at io n of 21 U.S.C. § 84 1( b) (1 )(A)(i i) a nd 21 U.S.C. § 8 46

.

The jury fo un d th at Orte ga co ns pi red to di st rib ut e fiv e ki lo gr am s or m or e of co cai ne

,an am ou nt whi ch Orte ga no w di sp ut es

. Orte ga a l s o ap pe al s th e di st ric t co ur t’s 1

a dm is si on of 7.2 ki lo gr am s of co cai ne se iz ed fro m Orte ga ’s co co ns pi rat or s. We

affi rm

.

I.

The Dru g Enfo rcem en t Adm in is tra ti on ’s (DEA) in ve st ig at io n o f Po rfi rio

O r t e ga be ga n in 20 10 in co nju nc ti on wit h th e in ve st ig at io n of Gab rie l Garci a

Mad ri g a l

, a /k /a "Ch in to ." The DEA le arn ed th at Ch in to was di st rib ut in g na rco ti cs

an d en li st ed th e ai d of in fo rm an t Geo rg e Tut ui an u. On Nov em be r 2, 20 10

, Tut ui an u

so ug ht to pu rch as e m ari

juan a fro m Ch in to

, who di rect ed Tut ui an u to th e ho us e of hi s

as so ci at e Po rfi rio Orte ga

. Tut ui an u was un ab le to ob ta in m ari juan a fro m Orte ga

, bu t

su cces sf ul ly pu rch as ed an ou nc e of co cai ne

. In th e au di o reco r d in g of th is

tra ns act io n, Orte ga st at ed th at th e ou nc e was a po r t i o n of a "k il o an d a ha lf" of

co cai ne he po ss es se d.

One week la te r Tut ui an u cal le d Ch in to an d in qu ire d ab ou t pu rch as in g m or e

co cai ne fro m Orte ga

. Ch in to th en cal le d Orte ga who res po nd ed he was no t in to wn,

bu t th at he wou ld cal l on e of hi s ne ph ews an d te ll Ch in to whe re to go to m ak e a

pu rch as e. The ne xt da y Orte ga in st r uc te d Ch in to to go to hi s ga rag e whe re hi s

ne ph ew wou ld se ll hi m co cai ne

. W hi le in th e ga rag e, Ch in to an d Tut ui an u m et wit h

Fel i x R o d r i g ue z-Arre ol a, a/ k/ a "El Don ," who in fo rm ed th em th at he was Orte ga 's

dr ug su pp li er. Tut ui an u bo ug ht two ou nc es of co cai ne fro m El Don in ex ch an ge fo r

$1 ,60 0 t ha t h ad be en gi ve n h im by the DEA.

Tut ui an u an d Ch in to ag ai n wen t to Orte ga 's ho us e t o p u r c ha se co cai ne on

Nov em be r 23

. W hi le th ere, Ch in to an d Orte ga ha d a co nv ers at io n reco r de d by th e

The Hon or ab le Cat he rin e D. Perry, Chi ef Un it ed Sta te s Di st ric t J ud ge for 1

th e Eas te rn Dis tri ct of M is so ur i.

-2

-wire Tut ui an u wor e, in whi ch Orte ga to ld Ch in to th at "t he y " were go in g to br in g hi m

a k il og ram

of c oc ai ne an d t ha t h e co ul d s el l a k il og ram of c oc ai ne th at was s ev en ty

pe rcen t pu re. Tu t u ia nu pu rch as ed an ot he r ou nc e of co cai ne fro m Orte ga at th is

m eet in g. The n on Decem be r 13

, Tut ui an u dr ov e Orte ga to a tra il er pa rk

. The re,

Orte ga pro vi de d Tu tu ia nu wit h t hr ee o un ces of c oc ai ne

.

Tut ui an u m ad e th ree m or e pu rch as es of co cai ne fro m Orte ga : fiv e ou nc es on

Decem be r 14

, two ou nc es on Decem be r 20

, an d fo ur ou nc es on Ja nu ary 4, 20 11

. On

Ja nu ary 12 Tut ui an u br ou gh t an un de rco ve r of fic er to Orte ga 's ho us e who pu rch as ed

th ree ou nc es of co cai ne fro m hi m

. The DEA th en be ga n to m on it or Orte ga 's cel l

ph on e cal ls on Ja nu ary 31

. In Feb ru ary 20 11

, th e DEA pr ov id ed Tut ui an u wit h a

co cai ne pr es s, whi ch Tut ui an u in tu rn ga ve to Orte ga

. Orte ga an d two ot he rs pi ck ed

th e p res s u p fr om

Tut ui an u's ho m e an d t oo k i t t o Ort eg a's ga rag e.

In a co nv ers at io n be twee n Orte ga an d Tut ui an u reco rd ed on Feb ru a r y 1 5,

Orte ga st at ed th at he ha d fou rte en ou nc es of co cai ne le ft and th at he ha d m ad e tr ip s

to Ch ic ag o an d Tex as to acq ui re co cai ne

. Orte ga an d Tut ui an u al so ta lk ed ab ou t th e

ex pe ct ed arri va l of Orte ga 's su pp li er El Don

, who was co m in g ov er to Orte ga ’s ho us e

th at ev en in g. The y cal cu la te d th at Orte ga co ul d sel l Tut ui an u a ki lo gr am of co cai ne

fo r $2 3,0 00 if he pai d up fro nt an d $2 7,0 00 if he pai d afte r rece iv in g th e dr ug s. On

Feb ru ary 20

, Tut ui an u m et wit h Orte ga an d El Don at Orte ga 's ho m e. Orte ga

pr od uc ed a m ol d fo r th e co cai ne pr es s to pr es s co cai ne in to ki lo gr am si zed br ic ks

, an d

th e th ree pr es se d two br ic ks of co cai ne

. El Don st at ed th at whi le he ha d fiv e

ki lo gr am s, h e h ad on ly bro ug ht two ov er t o Ort eg a's ho us e.

In a Feb ru ary 28 in te rcep te d ph on e cal l be twee n Orte ga an d a ne ph ew, Orte ga

in st ru ct ed hi s ne ph ew to m eet wit h Mi sa el Lop ez-R ic o in or de r to ob t ai n co cai ne

fro m hi m to se ll to Dav i d M or al es

. Orte ga ex pl ai ne d th at he ha d to cal l El Don to

au th or iz e Lop ez-R ic o to gi ve th e ne ph ew th e co cai ne

. The y th en di sc us se d th e pr ic e

an d ho w m

uc h t he y wou ld m ak e fro m th e de al

. In ve st ig at or s ob se rv ed Lop ez-R ic o

-3

-an d Mo ral es en te r Orte ga 's ho m e; of fic ers st op pe d Mo ral es whi l e h e w a s dr iv in g

ho m e bu t were un ab le to lo cat e th e co cai ne

. Afte r th e st op Mo ral es cal le d Orte ga an d

reac he d an ot he r of hi s ne ph ews to rep or t th at th e po li ce ha d st op pe d th e car bu t were

un su cces sf

ul in fin di ng th e co cai ne

.

Less th an on e m on th la te r on Mar ch 2 5

, 20 11

, in ve st ig at or s le arn ed th at

Orte ga 's as so ci at e, El Don

, ha d arra ng ed to ha ve co cai ne de li ve red by Mi sa el Lop ezRi co fro m Kan sa s Ci ty to St

. Lo u i s

. Age nt s st op pe d Lop ez-R ic o's car, an d hi dd en

in si de a se cret co m

pa rtment th ey fo un d fo ur br ic ks of co cai ne wrap pe d in cl ear pl as ti c

pa ck ag in g an d se ve n br ic ks of co cai ne wrap pe d in bl ue pa pe r pa ck ag in g. Fo ll owi ng

th is in ci de nt , th e DEA ob ta in ed a warra nt to m on it or El Don 's c al ls

.

The go ve rn m en t se nt th e su bs ta n ces se iz ed fro m Lop ez-R ic o's car to a

la bo rat or y fo r id en ti fic at io n, where th ey were tes te d by ch em is t Kris te n Beer. Bee r

crea te d tw o co m

po si te sa m

pl es –o ne wit h th e su bs ta nc es in th e cl ear pl as ti c pa ck ag in g

an d th e ot he r wit h su bs ta nc es fro m bl ue pa pe r pa ck ag in g. Pri or to t r i a l Bee r was

cal le d in to act iv e du ty m il i t a r y se rv ic e in Afg ha ni st an

, m ak in g he r un av ai la bl e to

te st ify. The go ve rn m en t ha d a no th er fo ren si c ch em is t, Pet er Aus il i, ret es t th e

co m po si te sa m

pl es

. Aus il i id en ti fie d th e su bs ta nc es to be co cai ne w h i ch weig he d

ap pr ox im at el y

7.2 ki lo gr am s i n t ot al

.

On Apr il 17

, th e DEA in te rcep te d two te le ph on e cal ls be twee n Orte ga an d El

Don

. In th e fir st co nv ers at io n El Don as ke d ab ou t w h e t he r a bu y er ne ed ed “ co st ly

ch ic ke ns .” A DEA ag en t te st ifi ed at tri al th at in th is op erat io n “ ch ic ke ns ” was us ed

as a co de wor d fo r co cai ne . Orteg a to ld El Don th at th e b uyer “ is ev ery th ird da y

. .

. on ce or twi ce a week

. ” El D o n r e p l ie d th at Orte ga sh ou ld cal l th e bu y er an d se e

ho w m uc h he ne ed ed , a nd th en El Don co ul d le av e th at am ou nt wi t h O r t e g a’s wife

fo r hi m to de li ve r. Orteg a ag reed to cal l t he bu y er.

-4

-In a se co nd co nv ers at io n th at da y

, O r t e g a to ld El Don th at he ha d “ a be tt er

si tu at io n.” At th e ti m e of th is cal l Orte ga was in a ro om wit h dr ug su pp li ers

, an d he

as ke d if El Don wan te d to bu y a “ ho us e” fro m th em

. The two di sc us se d qu an ti ty an d

pr ic e, an d s et tl ed on El Don rece iv in g “ fiv e” at a pr ic e o f $2 6,0 00 or $ 26 ,50 0. The

DEA wit ne ss te st ifi ed th at th e go in g pr ic e fo r a ki lo of co cai n e at th e ti m e of th at

co nv ers at io n ha d be en $2 7,0 00

. Orte ga of fere d to pu t th e su pp li ers on th e ph on e, bu t

El Don in st ead sa id “ No! Ju st te ll th em .” Fi na ll y Orte ga as ke d “ wha t ab ou t m e? ” an d

“ [a]re y ou go in g to he lp m e? ” El Don res po nd ed th at he wou ld he lp Orte ga

, bu t th e

reco rd do es no t re ve al whet he r he ev er d id

.

At Orte ga 's tri al , DEA an al y st Pet er Aus il i te st ifi ed to hi s a n a l ys i s of th e 7.2

ki lo gr am s of co cai ne se iz ed fro m Lop ez-R ic o's car. Orte ga ob jecte d to th e ad m is si on

of th e su bs ta nc es on th e gr ou nd s th at Aus i l i t es te d th e co m po si te sa m

pl es an d no t

each ba g in di vi du al ly. The di st ric t co ur t ov erru le d th e ob jecti on an d ad m it te d th e

ex hi bi ts co nt a i n i n g t he su bs ta nc es

. The jury fo un d Orte ga gu il ty of co ns pi racy to

di st rib ut e fiv e ki lo gr am s or m or e of co cai ne

. Afte r th e ve rd ic t Orte ga m ov ed fo r a

jud gm en t of acq ui tt al

, cl ai m in g th at th e ev id en ce was in su ffi ci en t to fin d he ha d be en

in vo lv ed wit h fiv e ki lo gr am s or m or e of co cai ne

. Orte ga ack no wled ge d th at th e DEA

h ad ob ta in ed 60 5 gr am s of co cai ne fro m sa le s whi ch Orte ga m ad e or as si st ed i n

m ak in g bu t di sp ut ed th at he was res po ns ib le fo r m or e. The di st ric t co ur t de ni ed th e

m ot io n fo r acq ui tt al , and Orte ga no w app eal s.

II.

Orte ga fir st c ha ll en ge s th e su ffi ci en cy of th e ev id en ce, co nt en di ng th at no

rat io na l jury co ul d ha ve fo un d he ha d pa rti ci pa te d in a co ns pi racy in vo lv in g fiv e

ki lo gr am s or m or e of co cai ne

. W e rev ie w th e su ffi ci en cy of th e ev id en ce in th e "l ig ht

m os t fav or ab le to th e ve rd ic t" an d r e v e r se a co nv ic ti on "o nl y if no reas on ab le jury

co ul d fin d th at th e e l e men t s of th e of fen se ha ve be en pr ov en be y on d a reas on ab le

do ub t.” Uni te d St at es v. Bo ok er, 57 6 F .3d 50 6, 5 12 (8t h C ir. 2 00 9) . Th e el em en ts

-5

-of co ns pi rin g to di st rib ut e dr ug s un de r 21 U.S.C. § 84 6 are (1 ) th e ex is te nc e of a

co ns pi racy, "i .e., an ag reem en t to di st rib ut e th e dr ug s," 2) th e de fen da nt 's kn owl ed ge

of th e co ns pi racy, an d 3) th e de fen da nt 's in te nt io na l joi ni ng of th e co ns pi racy. Uni te d

St at es v. Po lk

, 71 5 F.3 d 23 8, 24 6 (8 th Ci r. 20 13 ) (in te rn al qu ot at io n m ark s om it te d)

.

A de fen da nt is li ab le fo r t he reas on ab ly fo res eeab le act io ns ta ke n by

co co ns pi rat or s in fu rth eran ce of th e co n s p i racy "u nl es s he affi rm at iv el y wit hd raws

fro m th e co ns pi racy." Uni te d St at es v. Mar qu ez, 60 5 F.3 d 60 4, 61 1 (8 th Ci r. 20 10 ).

To es ta bl is h w i t h dr awal fro m a co ns pi racy, th e de fen da nt ha s th e bu rd en to

de m on st rat e th at he to ok affi rm at iv e a c t i on by "m ak in g a cl ean br eas t to th e

au th or it ie s or by co m

m un ic at in g hi s wit hd rawal in a m an ne r r e a s o na bl y cal cu la te d

to reac h hi s co co ns pi rat or s.” Uni te d St at es v. Ja ck so n, 3 45 F.3d 63 8, 6 48 (8 th Ci r.

20 03 ) (in te rn al qu ot at io n m ark s om it te d)

. A sh owi ng of no th in g m or e th an th at th e

de fen da nt ha s ceas ed act iv it ie s "i s no t su ffi ci e n t to es ta bl is h a wit hd rawal fro m th e

co ns pi racy." Id.

Mo reo ve r, th e "s ou rin g of a rel at io ns hi p be twee n a de fen da nt an d hi s

co co ns pi rat or s re s u lt in g in an en d of th e de fen da nt 's bu si ne ss rel at io ns hi p wit h th e

co ns pi racy is in su ffi ci en t to es ta bl is h a w i t h d r a w al fro m th e co ns pi racy." Uni te d

St at es v. Ro dr ig ue z-Ra m os

, 66 3 F.3 d 35 6, 36 3 (8 th Ci r. 20 11 ). In Ro dr ig ue z-Ra m os

,

th e de fen da nt ch al le ng ed th e su f f i c i en cy of th e ev id en ce th at he ha d co ns pi red to

di s t r i b u t e m or e th an 50 gr am s of m et ha m ph et am in e. Id

. The de fen da nt 's

co co ns pi rat or th e r e ha d de li ve red 13 ki lo gr am s of m et ha m ph et am in e aft er th e two

ha d ha d a di sp ut e. W e de te rm in ed th at th e de fen da nt ha d ne it he r in fo rm ed th e po li ce

no r hi s co co ns pi rat or th at he ha d wit hd rawn

. Id

. at 36 3– 64

. In fact th e de fen da nt ha d

pu rs ue d fu rth er de al in gs wit h hi s co co ns pi rat or aft er th at de li ve r y a n d th us was

res po ns ib le fo r th e 13 ki lo gr am s whi ch ha d be en in vo lv ed in th e co ns pi racy of whi ch

he "was a m em

be r an d fr om

whi ch he ha d n ot wit hd rawn ." Id . at 3 64

.

-6

-Orte ga ack no wled ge s th at he was res po ns ib le fo r ap pr ox im at el y 60 5 gr am s of

co cai ne whi ch DEA a g e n t s ob ta in ed fro m sa le s whi ch Orte ga m ad e or as si st ed in

m ak in g, an d th at Orte ga an d El Don fo rm ed an ag reem en t "ea rly on " to di s t r ib ut e

co cai ne

. He co nt en ds

, ho wev er, th at he wit hd rew fro m th is co ns pi racy fo ll owi ng hi s

Feb ru ary 28 , 20 11 sal e o f dr ug s to Dav id Mo ral es

. Orte ga cl ai m s th at th e ev id en ce

was in su ffi ci en t to sh ow hi s in vo lv em en t wit h fiv e or m or e ki lo gr am s of co cai ne

,

a r g u i n g th at he ha d wit hd rawn be fo re El Don or ga ni zed th e de li ve ry of th e

in te rcep te d 7 .2 k il og ram s o f co cai ne on Marc h 2 5, 2 01 1.

Orte ga arg ue s th at th e so le ev id en ce of a co ns pi racy ex is ti ng at th e ti m e of th e

se iz ur e of 7.2 ki lo gr am s of co cai ne on Mar ch 25

, 20 11 was th e Apr il 17

, 20 11 ph on e

cal ls be twee n Orte ga an d El Don

. In th at cal l Orte ga ha d arra ng ed fo r El Don to bu y

fiv e k il og ram s of coca in e. Orte ga 's a rg um en t i s u na va il in g. A co ns pi racy bet ween

Orte ga an d El Don ha vi ng be en es ta bl is he d by th e go ve rn m en t, th e bu rd en res te d wit h

Orte ga to pr ov e th at he affi rm at iv el y wit hd rew fro m it

, no t wit h th e go ve rn m en t to

pr ov e th e no ne xi st en c e of wit hd rawal

. See Sm it h v. Uni te d St at es

, 13 3 S. Ct

. 71 4,

72 0 (2 01 3) (h ol di ng th at in pa ss in g 21 U.S.C. § 84 6, Co ng res s le ft th e co m m on la w

bu rd en of pr ov in g th e affi rm at iv e de fen se of wit hd rawal on th e de fen da nt rat he r th an

req ui rin g t he go ve rn m en t t o p ro ve no ne xi st en ce o f wit hd rawal ).

W e co nc lu de th at Orte ga ha s no t m et hi s b u r d e n o f es ta bl is hi ng th at he

wit hd rew fro m th e co n s p i racy he ha d en te red wit h El Don

. The ev id en ce he ci te s,

su ch as th e fact th at El Don to ld Tut ui an u th at he su sp ect ed Orte ga m ig ht be wor ki ng

wit h la w en fo rcem en t an d in st ru ct ed Tut ui an u to de al di rect ly wit h El Don rat he r th an

Orte ga

, is in su ffi ci en t to pr ov e th at Orte g a w i t h d rew fro m th e co ns pi racy. See

Ro dr ig ue z-Ra m os

, 66 3 F.3 d at 36 3. Lik e th e de fen da nt in Ro dr ig ue z-Ra m os

, Orte ga

co nt in ue d th e il le ga l rel at io n s h i p w i t h hi s co co ns pi rat or fo ll owi ng th e da te of hi s

al le ge d wi th dr awal , as s ho wn b y hi s at te m pt to arra ng e fo r El Don to pu rch as e fi ve

ki lo gr am s of co cai ne

. Orte ga di d no t c o me fo rward to th e au th or it ie s, no r is th ere

ev id en ce th at he in fo rm ed hi s c o c on sp ira to r El Don of hi s wit hd rawal fro m th ei r

-7

-co ns pi racy. See Ja ck so n, 34 5 F.3 d at 64 8. He is th eref or e li ab le fo r hi s co co ns pi rat or

El Don 's reas on ab ly fo r e s eeab le act of ha vi ng Lop ez-R ic o de li ve r 7.2 ki lo gr am s of

co cai ne in fur th eran ce o f th e co ns pi racy. See R od rig ue z-Ra m os , 66 3 F .3d at 3 64

.

III.

Orte ga ob jects to th e ad m is si on of th ree of th e go ve rn m en t's ex hi bi ts : th e fir st

co nt ai ne d a co m

po si te sa m

pl e an d th e su bs ta nc e whi ch ha d b een fou nd wrap pe d in

fo ur cl ear pl as ti c pa ck ag es se iz ed fro m Lop ez-R ic o's car, th e se co nd co nt ai ne d a

c o mp o s i t e sa m

pl e an d th e su bs ta nc e whi ch ha d be en fo un d wrap pe d in se ve n bl ue

pa pe r pa ck ag es se iz ed fro m Lop ez-R ic o's car, an d th e th ird co nt ai ne d th e cl ear pl as ti c

an d bl ue pa pe r wrap pi ng s. He co nt en ds th at th e ad m is si on of th es e ex hi bi ts vi ol at ed

th e Co nf ro nt at io n Cl au se of th e Si xt h Am en dme n t be cau se th e te st ifyin g ch em is t,

Pet er Aus il i, te st ed co m

po si te sa m

pl es whi ch an ot he r ch emi s t

, K r i st en Bee r, ha d

pr od uc ed fro m

th e su bs ta nc es sei zed in Lop ez-R ic o's car.

T he Si xth A m en dm en t pr ov id es th at "[i ]n al l cri m in al pr os ecu ti on s, the ac cu se d

sh al l en joy th e rig ht

. . . to be co nf ro nt ed wit h th e wit ne ss es ag ai ns t hi m ." U.S. Co ns t.

am en d. VI. The Su pr em e Co ur t ha s cl ar i f i ed th at th is am en dm en t "ap pl ie s to

wit ne ss es ag ai ns t th e accu se d— in ot he r wor ds

, th os e who be ar te st im on y ." Crawf or d

v. W as hi ng to n, 54 1 U.S. 36

, 51 (2 00 4) (in te rn al qu ot at io n m ark s om it te d)

. Thu s,

un de r th e Co nf

ro nt at io n Cl au se te st im on ia l s t a t e m en ts are in ad m is si bl e un le ss th e

te st ifyin g wit ne ss ap pe ars at tri al or

, if th e wit ne ss is un av ai la bl e, th e de fen da nt ha d

a pr io r op po rtu ni ty to cro ss ex am in e hi m

. Mel en de z-Di az v. Mas sa ch us et ts

, 55 7 U.S.

30 5, 3 09 (20 09 ).

Orte ga ob jecte d at tri al to th e ad m is si on of th e ph y si cal su bs ta nc es se iz ed fro m

Lop ez-R ic o's car; he di d no t ob ject to th e ad m is si on of an y ou t of co ur t st at em en t by

a wit ne ss

. To th e ex te nt th at O r te ga no w arg ue s th at Aus il i's te st im on y th at Bee r

crea te d th e co m

po si te sa m

pl e was a n ou t of co ur t st at em en t in ad m is si bl e un de r th e

-8

-Co nf

ro nt at io n Cl au se , o ur rev ie w i s f o r pl ai n erro r. See Uni te d St at es v. Ten erel li

,

61 4 F.3 d 76 4, 77 2 (8 th Ci r. 20 10 ). Orte ga m ad e no Co nf ro nt at io n Cl au se ob

jecti on

to th is st at em en t a t tri al

. Our fir st in qu iry is th eref or e whe th er th e di st ric t co ur t

pl ai nl y erre d by no t s u a sp on te ex cl ud in g Aus il i's te st im on y th at Bee r crea te d th e

co m po si te sample f

ro m th e su bs ta nc es sei zed fro m Lop ez-R ic o's car.

O r t e g a n o w se ek s to at ta ck th e fo un da ti on fo r ad m is si on of th e co cai ne by

po in ti ng to a ga p in th e ch ai n of cu st od y to qu es ti on th e au th en ti ci ty of th e sa m pl e.

W hi le Aus il i's st at em en t r e g a r di ng Bee r's crea ti on of th e co m po si te sa m

pl e was

rel ev an t to th e ch ai n of cu st od y

, we ha ve ack no wled ge d th at "ch ai n of cu st od y al on e

do es no t im

pl ic at e th e C o n f

ro nt at io n Cl au se ." Uni te d St at es v. Jo hn so n, 68 8 F.3 d

49 4, 50 5 (8 th Ci r. 20 12 ) (co nc lu di ng th at st at em en t th at la b as si st an t ha d ch eck ed

sa m pl es in an d ou t of th e la b is no t a te st im on ia l st at em en t of fere d to pr ov e th e tru th

of th e m at te r as se rte d)

. The Su pr em e Co ur t ha s ex pl ai ne d th at "i t is no t th e cas e[] th at

an y on e who se te st im on y m ay be rel ev an t in es ta bl is hi ng t h e c ha in of cu st od y

,

au th en ti ci t y of th e sa m

pl e, or accu racy o f th e te st in g de vi ce, m us t ap pe ar in pe rs on

as pa rt of th e pr os ecu ti on 's cas e." Mel en de z-Di az, 55 7 U.S. at 31 1 n.1

. Rat he r, "[i ]t

is up to th e pr os ecu ti on to de ci de wha t st ep s in th e ch ai n of cu st od y are so cru ci al as

to req ui re ev id en ce; bu t wha t te st im on y is in tro du ced m us t (if th e de fen da nt ob

jects )

be in tro du ced li ve ," an d "g ap s in th e ch ai n [o f cu st od y ] no rm al ly go to th e weig ht of

th e ev id en ce rat he r th an i t s ad m is si bi li ty.” Id

. (al te rat io n in or ig in al ) (in te rn al

qu ot at io n m ark s om it te d)

. Here, in th e ab se nc e of an ob jecti on to ad m is si on of Bee r's

ou t of co ur t st at em en t, we co nc lu de th at it was no t pl ai n erro r fo r th e di st ric t co ur t to

a dm it Aus il i's te st im on y reg ard in g th e ch ai n of cu st od y fo r th e co m po si te sa mp l e s

.

Orte ga ha s no ot he r vi ab le Co nf ro nt at io n Cl au se ba si s fo r ex cl ud in g ev id en ce.

He cl ai m s th at th is cas e is si m il ar to Mel en de z-Di az, in whi ch th e go ve rn m en t so ug ht

to in tro du ce cert ifi cat es of an al y si s th at co nt ai ne d th e res ul ts of fo ren si c an al y si s

rat he r th an pr od uc in g t h e a n a l ys ts th em se lv es to te st ify, 55 7 U.S. at 30 8– 09

, an d

Bu ll co m in g v. New Mex ic o, 13 1 S. Ct

. 27 05

, 27 10 (2 01 1)

, in whi ch th e go ve rn m en t

-9

-so ug ht to in tro du ce a fo ren si c rep or t th ro ug h th e in co ur t te st im on y of a sc ie nt is t who

ha d n o t p e r f

o r m ed or ob se rv ed th e te st in g de sc rib ed in th e rep or t. The po st ur e of

Orte ga 's cas e is si gn ifi can tl y di ffer en t fro m Mel en de z-Di az an d Bu ll co m in g. In th is

cas e th e go ve rn m en t h ad Pet er Au si li tes t t he su bs ta nc es fou nd in Lop ez-R ic o's car

an d he fo un d th em to be co cai ne

. Aus il i al so te st ifi ed to th e res ul ts of hi s an al y si s at

tri al

, w h e r e Orte ga to ok th e op po rtu ni ty to cro ss ex am in e hi m

. The ad m is si on of

Aus il i's te s t i mon y an d rep or t are th eref or e no t ba rred by th e Co nf ro nt at io n Cl au se

.

See Mel en de z-Di az, 55 7 U.S. a t 30 9. Thi s was in st ark co nt ras t t o b ot h M el en de zDiaz an d Bu ll co m in g, whe re th e wit ne ss es who ha d id en ti fie d th e su bs ta n c e s were

no t p res en t at tri al

.

The or ig in al rep or t by te st in g an al y st Bee r was no t of fere d by th e go ve rn m en t

as ev id en ce, no r di d th e go ve rn m en t qu es ti o n A u si li reg ard in g th e res ul ts of Bee r's

in it ia l te st

. In st ead

, aft er Bee r was cal le d in to act iv e du ty in Afg ha ni st an

, th e

go ve rn m en t ha d Aus il i pe rs on al ly ret es t th e su bs ta nc es an d te st ify as to th e res ul ts of

th e te st he pe rfo rm ed

. The Su pr em e Co ur t ha s ob se rv ed th at th is pr oc ed ur e co m pl ie s

wit h th e Co nf

ro nt at io n Clau se

. See Bul lc om in g, 13 1 S. Ct

. at 27 18 (n ot in g th at th e

go ve rn m en t " co ul d h av e av oi de d a ny Con fro nt at io n C la us e pr ob le m by ask in g [t he

an a l ys t who ap pe ared in pe rs on at tri al ] to ret es t th e sa m pl e, an d th en te st ify to th e

res ul ts of hi s ret es t rat he r th an to th e res ul ts of a te st he di d no t co nd uc t or ob se rv e.").

Orte ga ha d th e op po rtu ni ty to cro ss ex am in e Aus il i on th e is su e of whe th er or

no t th e sa m

pl es he te st ed in fact cam e fro m th e el ev en pa ck ag es se iz ed fro m Lop ezRi co 's car. Su ch a ch al le ng e g oe s t o t he au th en ti ci ty of th e sa m pl e an d th e ch ai n of

cu st od y

, an d as th e Co ur t ack no wled ge d in Mel en de z-Di az su ch qu es ti on s be ar on th e

weig ht of th e ev id en ce. 55 7 U.S. at 31 1 n.1

. The jury was free to de ci de whe th er th e

su bs ta nc es ad m it te d wer e p art of t he co ns pi racy Orteg a was in vo lv ed in or whet he r

th ey were in fact co cai ne

. And th e jury in fact fo un d th at Orte ga was res po ns ib le fo r

a co ns pi racy to d is tri bu te fiv e k il og ram s o r m or e o f co cai ne

.

-1 0-Fi na ll y

, Orte ga ha s pu t fo rward no ot he r m eri to rio us ba si s fo r hi s ob jecti on to

th e ad m is si on of th es e ex hi bi ts

. W e r e v i ew a di st ric t co ur t's ru li ng on th e

ad m is si bi li t y of ev id en ce fo r ab us e of di sc ret io n. Uni te d St at es v. Ro bi ns on

, 61 7

F.3 d 9 84 , 99 0 (8 th Ci r. 20 10 ). Evi de nc e is ad m is si bl e whe re t he re i s " a rea so na bl e

pr ob ab il it y it ha s no t be en ch an ge d or al te red ," J o h n s o n

, 68 8 F.3 d at 50 5, an d we

em pl oy a "p res um

pt io n of in te gr i t y o f p h y si cal ev id en ce ab se nt a sh owi ng of ba d

fai th

, il l wil l, or ta m

pe rin g wit h th e ev id en ce," id

. Orte ga 's ob jecti on to ad m is si on of

th e ex hi bi ts was ba se d on th e fact th at Aus il i di d no t pe rs on al ly te st each pa ck ag e of

co cai ne , bu t i ns te ad tes te d t he co m po si te samples . Orteg a h as m ad e n o s ho win g o f

ba d fai th or ev id en ce ta m pe rin g, an d we t h e r e f

o r e pr es um e th e in te gr it y of th e

sa m pl es ha d be en un di st ur be d. See id

. The di st ric t co ur t di d no t ab us e it s di sc ret io n

in ad m it ti ng th e ex hi bi ts

.

IV.

Orte ga joi ne d a co ns pi racy th at di st rib ut ed ov er fiv e ki lo gr am s of co cai ne an d

fro m whi ch he ne ve r wit hd rew. The di st ric t co ur t p ro pe rly den ie d Ort eg a’s m ot io n

fo r a cq ui tt al an d pr op erl y ad m it te d th e 7.2 ki lo gr am s of co cai ne whi ch th e DEA

se iz ed as pa rt of it s in ve st ig at io n in to th e co ns pi racy. Orte ga ’s Co nf ro nt at io n Cl au se

ch al le ng e to th e ad m is si on of th is ph y si cal ev id e n c e f a i l s be cau se th e an al y st who

te st ed an d i de nt ifi ed th e su bs ta nc e as co cai ne tes ti fie d a t t ria l, wh ere Orteg a ha d an

op po rtu ni ty to cr os s ex am in e h im

.

W e aff irm th e jud gm en t o f th e d is tri ct co ur t.

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

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