ANALYSIS
Alaya was convicted of conspiring to possess with intent to distribute marijuana, in
violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846 and 841(a)(1). Alaya seeks a judgment of acquittal, a new trial, or
a mistrial. Alaya contends, inter alia, that it was an error to deny the motion suppressing her
identification by Officer Guerra.

Based on the stipulation that Officer Guerra’s testimony would be the same as his
statement in the Moussiaux report, the hearing on the motion to suppress Alaya’s identification
did not consider the constitutionality of the later in-court identification by Officer Guerra. In
short, no hearing on Alaya’s motion was ever held in this regard, even though Alaya’s motion
challenged the constitutionality of all of Officer Guerra’s in-court identification testimony of
Alaya.

Officer Guerra’s identification at trial of Alaya as the female he observed take the keys
from confidential informant, back the van containing marijuana out of the parking spot at the
restaurant, and drive away was critical to the Government’s case, to say the least. As mentioned
above, Officer Guerra was the only witness who identified Alaya in possession of the marijuana.

Based on the above, admitting this critical part of Officer Guerra’s testimony without
conducting a suppression hearing as properly requested may have affected substantial rights
belonging to Alaya. This error cannot at this time be said to be harmless beyond a reasonable
doubt and of no effect on the outcome of the trial. As such, Alaya was entitled to determine
whether that identification was tainted by the show-up procedure used by the Government. See,

e.g., United States v. Favela, 03 CR 732, 2004 WL 726123, at *3 (N.D. Ill. Apr. 2, 2004).



pictures of the female, as well. He identified this female, who drove the empty van, as Alaya
when shown a single, color photograph of Alaya by Special Agent Moussiaux during the
interview.

At the time of the hearing on Alaya’s motion to suppress, it was stipulated between the
parties that if called to testify, Officer Guerra would have testified consistently with the report
filed by Special Agent Moussiaux. (Tr., Jan. 20, 2004 at 6-7). Based on this, the Court found
that there was a basis for Officer Guerra to identify Alaya, independent of the one photograph
show-up, i.e., when Officer Guerra saw Alaya driving the empty van and subsequent thereto.
There was no consideration of any other identification of Alaya by Officer Guerra, particularly as
to whether Alaya was the person who earlier drove the van with marijuana from the parking lot.

The matter was tried before a jury two months later. Critically, Officer Guerra testified
before the jury that he saw a female with black hair and a pink top take the keys from the
confidential informant, back the van containing marijuana out of the parking spot at the
restaurant, and drive away. Officer Guerra then identified Alaya as the female whom he
observed driving the van containing marijuana on July 19, 2000. This testimony, over
Defendants’ objections, was contrary to Officer Guerra’s statement in the Moussiaux report that
he only heard a female receive the keys to the van. No pre-trial hearing was ever conducted on
the issue of whether the testimony of Officer Guerra identifying Alaya as earlier driving the van
containing marijuana should be suppressed.

No other witness at trial identified Alaya as the female involved during the July 19, 2000

surveillance operation.


Accordingly, an evidentiary hearing is necessary to determine whether Officer Guerra’s
identification of Alaya as the female he observed take the keys and drive off in the van

containing marijuana should be suppressed. See United States v. Ienco, 92 F.3d 564, 567-69

(7th Cir. 1996). ¥ VA Al

Dated: B-25-Of

JOHN W. DARRAH
United States District Judge


Minute Order Form (06/97)

United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois

Name of Assigned Judge John W. Darrah Sitting Judge if Other
or Magistrate Judge than Assigned Judge
CASE NUMBER 03 CR 732 - 1,2 DATE 8/25/2004
CASE USA vs. Eduardo Favela, Aurora Alaya
TITLE

{In the following box (a) indicate the party filing the motion, e.g., plaintiff, defendant, 3rd party plaintiff, and (b) state briefly the nature
of the motion being presented. ]

MOTION:
DOCKET ENTRY:
(7) im Filed motion of [ use listing in “Motion” box above.]
(2) a Brief in support of motion due
(3) QO Answer brief to motion due___ Reply to answer brief due.
@ Oo Ruling/Hearingon___setfor__at
(5) Oo Status hearing[held/continued to] [set for/re-set for]on__—ssetfor___— att
(6) 0 Pretrial conference[held/continued to] [set for/re-set for]on__—ssetfor___——sat_
(7) o Trial[set for/re-set for] on at
(8) o (Bench/Jury trial] [Hearing] held/continued toa
(9) o This case is dismissed [with/without] prejudice and without costs[by/agreement/pursuant to]
CUFRCP4(m) (Local Rule 41.1 OOFRCP41(a)(1) CO FRCP41(a)(2).
(do) oi {Other docket entry] For the reasons stated in the attached memorandum opinion and order, an

evidentiary hearing is necessary to determine whether Officer Guerra’s identification of Alaya as the
female he observed take the keys and drive off in the van containing marijuana should be suppressed. See
United States v. Ienco, 92 F.3d 564, 567-69 (7" Cir. 1996). Enter Memorandum Opinion and Order.
Suppression hearing is set for 9/29/04 at 2:00 p.m.

al (For further detail see order attached to the original minute order.]

No notices required, advised in open court.

No notices required. .
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Notices mailed by judge's staff.

AUG 2 6 2004

darpdorketed

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Mail AO 450 form. meres Geckesing deputy initials lA ¢

Copy to judge/magistrate judge

Notified counsel by telephone.

date maited notice

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS
EASTERN DIVISION

DOCKETED

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
AUG 2 6 2094

Vv. No: 03 CR 732

EDUARDO FAVELA, JR. and
AURORA ALAYA

Judge John W. Darrah

weve

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER

The United States of America (the “Government”) brought a one-count indictment
against Defendants, Eduardo Favela, Jr. and Aurora Alaya, for conspiring to possess with intent
to distribute marijuana, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846 and 841(a)(1). Defendants were found
guilty of the charged offense. Thereafter, Alaya filed a Motion for Mistrial and a Motion for
Judgment of Acquittal or, Alternatively, for a New Trial Pursuant to Federal Criminal Procedure
Rules 29 and 33.

LEGAL STANDARD

Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 33(a) provides that “[u]pon the defendant’s motion,
the court may vacate any judgment and grant a new trial if the interest of justice so requires.”
“[T]he question whether to grant a new trial is committed to the discretion of the district judge,”
United States v. Williams, 8\ F.3d 1434, 1437 (7th Cir. 1996), and will only be reversed if “there
has been an error as a matter of law or a clear and manifest abuse of discretion.” United States v.
Reed, 875 F.2d 107, 113 (7th Cir. 1989) (Reed).

Under Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 52(a), “[a]ny error, defect, irregularity, or

variance that does not affect substantial rights must be disregarded.” Constitutional errors do not

[Af


affect substantial rights if they are harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. Neder v. United States,
527 US. 5, 7 (1999); see also United States v. Thomas, 32 F.3d 627, 635-37 (7th Cir. 2003)
(explaining that errors affecting the outcome of district court proceedings affect substantial rights
and mandate a new trial).

BACKGROUND

Defendants were indicted for conspiring to possess with intent to distribute marijuana, in
violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846 and 841(a)(1). Thereafter, Alaya moved to suppress the
identification testimony of Alaya by Drug Enforcement Agency Task Force Officer Roberto
Guerra, Alaya claimed that Officer Guerra was shown a suggestive, single, color photo of Alaya,
and this identification constituted an impermissible show-up.

Prior to trial, Officer Guerra was interviewed by Special Agent Joseph Moussiaux in the
presence of Assistant United States Attorney Kevin Rosenberg concerning a controlled delivery
in July 2000 of marijuana, which was in the back of a van driven by a confidential informant to a
parking lot. According to Special Agent Moussiaux’s written report of that interview, Officer
Guerra did not see a female obtain the keys from the confidential informant or drive away in the
van. Rather, Special Agent Moussiaux’s report stated that Officer Guerra heard a female obtain
the keys to the van while monitoring an electronic recording device.

The report further stated that Officer Guerra observed a female return the van to a drop-
off point later in the day. The van did not contain any marijuana. Officer Guerra then followed

the female as she entered her own vehicle and drove to her apartment. Officer Guerra took