Source: https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F2/860/779/465394/
Timestamp: 2019-10-13 20:54:15
Document Index: 223840128

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 846', '§ 843', '§ 846', '§ 841', '§ 2', '§ 843', '§ 3161', '§ 3161', '§ 3161', '§ 846', '§ 843', '§ 3161', '§ 3161', '§ 3161', '§ 3161', '§ 3161', '§ 3161', '§ 3161', '§ 841', '§ 3161', '§ 843', '§ 843']

United States of America, Plaintiff-appellee, v. Felipe Vega, Defendant-appellant, 860 F.2d 779 (7th Cir. 1988) :: Justia
Justia › US Law › Case Law › Federal Courts › Courts of Appeals › Seventh Circuit › 1988 › United States of America, Plaintiff-appellee, v. Felipe Vega, Defendant-appellant
United States of America, Plaintiff-appellee, v. Felipe Vega, Defendant-appellant, 860 F.2d 779 (7th Cir. 1988)
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit - 860 F.2d 779 (7th Cir. 1988) Argued April 12, 1988. Decided Oct. 17, 1988
Felipe Vega appeals his convictions and sentences on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute cocaine in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846, 841(a) (1) and of utilization of a communications facility in committing such an offense in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 843(b). We affirm.
Felipe Vega was originally charged in a 61-count indictment charging 32 defendants with various drug conspiracy violations. This was the same indictment involved in our decision in United States v. Zambrana, 841 F.2d 1320 (7th Cir. 1988). As we detail, infra, Vega's case was severed, on his own motion, from those of the other defendants named in the Zambrana indictment.
Finally, on July 2, 1985, a woman identifying herself as Felipe Vega's wife called Jesus Zambrana and during her conversation asked " [n]othing yet? " Zambrana answered that "the associate is leaving in the evening." The woman then mentioned that Felipe Vega was in Puerto Rico and asked whether Zambrana had "anything." A period of inquiry about each other's identity followed. When the woman made clear she was Felipe Vega's wife, Zambrana was evidently satisfied and stated she could "come by." However, he added that if she was going to come she should let Zambrana know so he could have "everything ready." Again, in light of the continued inquiry concerning arrival times in a conversation following earlier taped conversations of the same nature, this discussion appears consistent with the arrival of the awaited drug shipment to the Zambranas in this time frame. The woman said I need four "with the wedding." These words appear to be the type of "nonsensical language" which is employed as code language for illegal drugs. See United States v. Ramirez, 796 F.2d 212, 215 (7th Cir. 1986) ("Witness at the trial explained that the nonsensical language employed by the conversants was a code for illegal drugs") . Zambrana indicated assent and asked if the woman was going to "send the guy now." She said she would send him to Zambrana's house later that night, to which Zambrana agreed.
A grand jury handed down an indictment charging Felipe Vega with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute cocaine in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846, 841(a) (1), possession of cocaine with intent to distribute in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a) (1) and 18 U.S.C. § 2 and of utilization of a communications facility in committing the conspiracy offense in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 843(b), as part of the 61-count indictment of 32 defendants in U.S. v. Zambrana. Vega entered his initial appearance on July 30, 1985. On August 27, 1985, Vega filed a motion for severance alleging prejudicial joinder. Vega's severance motion was one of many filed by codefendants following the indictment.
The case was assigned to then District Judge Michael Kanne. On October 7, 1985, Judge Kanne entered an order severing Jesus Zambrana's case from that of his codefendants and continuing trials in all the cases. Jesus Zambrana's trial was set for October 21, 1985, and the trial of the remaining defendants was set for November 4, 1985. The order also continued the involved trials to further the ends of justice pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3161(h) (8) (A). The order noted that a 61 count indictment charging all 32 defendants was presently filed in a single case, with a number of attorneys involved. The court further observed that this was "a case of extensive proportions presenting extremely complex problems in assuring a fair trial." The court determined that the most appropriate course for it to take would be to "acknowledg [e] the existence of a judicial emergency under 18 U.S.C. § 3161(h) (8)" and utilize severance procedures. Under this method the court would "initially proceed with one trial involving a single defendant and, in accordance with the declared judicial emergency, continue the trials of remaining defendants subject to severance where appropriate." The court further noted that
" [b]ecause of the unusual and complex nature of this case it is unreasonable to expect trial of all defendants to take place within the time limits established by 18 U.S.C. § 3161. Accordingly, the court finds the ends of justice will be served by the granting of continuances and severance in this cause. The granting of continuances clearly outweigh the interests of the public and the defendants in a speedy trial."The court went on to observe that the complexity of the case, the jury's capacity to follow instructions and the jury's ability to apply evidence to the proper defendant all required severance rather than a single trial.
The trial took place on September 9-11, 1987, and the jury convicted Vega on the two charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute cocaine in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846, 841(a) and of utilization of a communications facility in committing such an offense in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 843(b) which were submitted for verdict.
" [U]nless our society and its Congress decide to cut and run, the message that I read from the Congress of the United States--and I'll have a comment on that further in a minute--is that those who engage this [sic] these kinds of criminal conduct should be, and perhaps in many instances must be dealt with firmly, within our Constitution and its laws.
The Speedy Trial Act generally requires that trials in criminal cases commence within 70 days of the filing date of the information or indictment, or from the date of initial appearance, whichever last occurs. 18 U.S.C. § 3161(c) (1). However, the Act provides that several periods of time may be excluded from this 70-day period. 18 U.S.C. § 3161(h). Among the permitted exclusions is delay "resulting from a continuance granted ... on the basis of ... findings that the ends of justice served by [the continuance] outweigh the best interest of the public and the defendant in a speedy trial." 18 U.S.C. § 3161(h) (8) (A).
An "ends of justice" continuance must be granted before "the period sought to be excluded begins to run."4 This requires the district judge to "consider the matter at the outset and determine whether the 'ends of justice' require that the trial be postponed." United States v. Janik, 723 F.2d 537, 545 (7th Cir. 1983) (quoting United States v. Brooks, 697 F.2d 517, 522 (3d Cir. 1982)). The findings required to support such a continuance may be made based upon a variety of permissible factors, 18 U.S.C. § 3161(h) (8) (B), but they may not be based upon "general congestion of the court's calendar." 18 U.S.C. § 3161(h) (8) (C).
In evaluating the propriety of this continuance we must determine whether it was based on the impermissible consideration of general docket congestion. The district court's findings supporting the continuance clearly set forth that the large number of defendants and the number of counts involved in the Zambrana case made it unlikely that the trials of all defendants could occur within the prescribed time limits. The court also observed that severance would likely be necessary in some cases and that such severance would more adequately serve the ends of justice, as well as result in some delay. The district judge obviously could have delayed a single multi-defendant trial based upon its complexity. See 18 U.S.C. § 3161(h) (8) (B); United States v. Thomas, 774 F.2d 807, 810 (7th Cir. 1985) (Ends of justice continuance appropriate based on complexity of six-defendant case involving extensive documentary evidence). It necessarily follows that delays resulting from the severance essential to preserve individual rights in a specific, complex multiple-defendant proceeding, especially when requested by a defendant, are not to be considered "general" docket congestion. Cf. United States v. Brainer, 691 F.2d 691, 698 (4th Cir. 1982) (language noting that general congestion arguably does not apply to resolution of "specific, temporary scheduling conflicts if the ends of justice so require"); United States v. Nance, 666 F.2d 353, 358 (9th Cir. 1982) ("specific delay" resulting from unexpected extension of trial set to take advantage of unused court resources is not "general congestion"). To hold otherwise could result in a situation in which the requirements of the Speedy Trial Act could very well become an obstacle to defendants who seek to obtain the desired protections accompanying severance.
Since the court did not rely upon an impermissible factor in granting the continuance, we proceed to review its decision to allow a continuance under 18 U.S.C. § 3161(h) (8) (A). This court has noted that "the decision to grant a continuance under the Speedy Trial Act, and accompanying decision to exclude the delay under (h) (8) (A) is addressed to the discretion of the trial court. To obtain a reversal of the court's decision a defendant must show actual prejudice." United States v. Tedesco, 726 F.2d 1216, 1221 (7th Cir. 1984) (citation omitted). See also United States v. Scott, 784 F.2d 787, 789 (7th Cir. 1986) (per curiam) ("Absent legal error, exclusions of time cannot be reversed except when there is an abuse of discretion by the court and a showing of actual prejudice"). There is nothing in this record to substantiate a holding that the district court's grant of the continuance constituted an abuse of discretion.5 The district court appropriately considered the ends of justice in determining that the complexity of a case involving a 61 count, 32 defendant indictment and the value of severance outweighed the interest in a speedy trial. Further, Vega made no showing of actual prejudice resulting from the delay. Accordingly, the district court appropriately granted the continuance in this matter.
Vega contends, also, that his case should be dismissed because the conditions the district court originally relied upon in granting its continuance had ceased to exist in the period following its entry. We disagree and hold that an argument of this nature does not and will not support the dismissal requested. As we noted supra, the question of the propriety of an ends of justice continuance is directed to the district court's exercise of discretion at the outset of a proceeding. Janik, 723 F.2d at 545. If conditions change following the granting of the continuance, they may justify an adjustment in the court's trial calendar involving an advancement or a rescheduling of the trial date, but they will not justify dismissal of a case in which a valid continuance or adjournment has been granted. In this respect this case appears analogous to United States v. Carlone, 666 F.2d 1112, 1115-16 (7th Cir. 1981) in which we disapproved of a district court's retroactive revocation of a continuance based upon changes occurring after the continuance's entry. We stated:
In United States v. Zambrana, 841 F.2d 1320, 1338, 1339 (7th Cir. 1988), we laid out our general standard concerning the admissibility of tape recordings:
" 'Tape recordings are only admissible if the government can establish by clear and convincing evidence, that the recordings are "true, accurate, and authentic recording [s] of the conversation [s], at given time [s], between the parties involved." United States v. Keck, 773 F.2d 759, 766 (7th Cir. 1985) (quoting United States v. Faurote, 749 F.2d 40, 43 (7th Cir. 1984)).' " ... "As we stated in United States v. Faurote,' ' [t]he trial judge's ruling on the admissibility of the tape will not be overturned on appeal absent "extraordinary circumstances." ' 749 F.2d at 43. Moreover, because ' [t]he trial judge [is] in the best position to weigh the credibility of the parties and the evidence presented,' id. at 44, 'the trial judge exercises broad discretion in determining whether [the government's] burden has been satisfied.' Id. at 43."
There is little question that Officer Johnsen's identification of Vega's voice meets the requirements of Federal Rule of Evidence 901(b) (5) which permits voice identification of tape recordings to be made "by opinion based upon hearing the voice at any time under circumstances connecting it with the alleged speaker." As long as the basic requirement of familiarity with the voice is met, lay opinion testimony is an acceptable means for establishing a speaker's identity. See United States v. Thomas, 586 F.2d 123, 133 (9th Cir. 1978) ("lay opinion on [voice identification] is permissible so long as the witness testifying has this requisite familiarity with the speaker"); Federal Rule of Evidence 901 advisory committee note to subdivision (b)--example (5) (" [A]ural voice identification is not a subject of expert testimony"). When this standard is considered in light of the broad discretion accorded trial court judges in making these admissibility determinations, there would certainly appear to be no bar to an identification which has been made based upon one previous two-hour contact with the speaker. Any questions concerning the length of Officer Johnsen's previous contact with Vega or the time between this contact and the identification, simply go to the weight the jury accords this evidence, not to its admissibility. See United States ex rel. Kosik v. Napoli, 814 F.2d 1151, 1156 n. 9 (7th Cir. 1987) (Eyewitness identification case distinguishing the role of the judge and jury by differentiating between "the degree of reliability needed to admit identification evidence, on the one hand, or to credit it in case it is admitted, on the other").
In this case the question of the identification's alleged "suggestiveness" also does not create any significant difficulty. The government asserts that Vega waived his right to object to his identification on the basis of suggestiveness because he failed to raise that objection before the trial court. Although Vega objected to the admission of tape recordings on which his voice was alleged to appear on the basis of the "insufficiency" of his identification and questioned the identification procedures during Officer Johnsen's testimony, he failed to make an explicit objection to the admission of the tapes based upon "suggestiveness." Vega's broad objection lacks the specificity required to preserve the issue for appeal. In this respect, we noted in United States v. Wynn, 845 F.2d 1439, 1442 (7th Cir. 1988):
"To preserve an issue for appellate review, a party must make a proper objection at trial that alerts the court and opposing party to the specific grounds for the objection. An objection is proper only if 'a timely objection or motion to strike appears of record, stating the specific ground of objection, if the specific ground was not apparent from the context....' Fed.R.Evid. 103(a) (1). Neither a general objection to the evidence nor a specific objection on other grounds will preserve the issue for review. 'The specific ground for reversal of an evidentiary ruling on appeal must also be the same as that raised at trial.' United States v. Taylor, 800 F.2d 1012, 1017 (10th Cir. 1986), cert. denied, [--- U.S. ----] 108 S. Ct. 123 [98 L. Ed. 2d 81] (1987)."
"Because of Agent McDaniel's stated familiarity with Jesus Zambrana's voice characteristics, Agent McDaniel's identification of Jesus Zambrana is not susceptible to meaningful challenge even though he viewed a transcript listing the speaker's name in the margin before listening to the first of approximately 30 tapes. After a review of the record and testimony in this case, we are convinced that where Agent McDaniel: (1) followed a non-suggestive neutral procedure for identifying the bulk of the tapes, and (2) demonstrated a true familiarity with the tone, quality, and inflections that distinguished Jesus Zambrana's voice based upon his recollection of past conversations with Zambrana, the mechanical problem on the first tape does not constitute reversible error.... In light of Agent McDaniel's testimony that he could recognize the characteristics of Jesus Zambrana's voice and his positive identification of that voice on each of approximately 30 tapes, we agree with the trial judge's assessment that Agent McDaniel's testimony established 'that the recordings are "true, accurate, and authentic recording [s] of the conversation [s], at given time [s], between the parties involved." ' Keck, 773 F.2d at 766 (quoting Faurote, 749 F.2d at 43). Considering the entire record, we hold that in the fact situation presented, no 'extraordinary circumstances' exist to justify disturbing the trial judge's reception of the tapes in evidence."
This case clearly requires the same disposition of the "suggestiveness" question as we made in Zambrana. A request that a police officer ascertain if a particular individual's voice is on a certain tape or tapes, some of which apparently included his voice and another which did not, cannot create the "substantial likelihood of irreparable misidentification" we have required to be demonstrated as a prerequisite for finding other types of pretrial identification procedures "suggestive." See generally United States v. L'Allier, 838 F.2d 234, 239 (7th Cir. 1988) (photographic identification case); United States ex rel. Kosik v. Napoli, 814 F.2d 1151, 1155 (7th Cir. 1987) (eyewitness identification case). Moreover, because Officer Johnsen's identification and dismissal of identification of Vega's voice was certain, was made consistently throughout a series of nine tapes, and was made without any real or inferred "suggestion," Officer Johnsen's independent familiarity with Vega was not supplanted. See Brown v. Harris, 666 F.2d 782, 785-86 (2nd Cir. 1981) ("If the court is convinced that a witness's knowledge is so firm that he is not susceptible to suggestion, then his testimony can be received at trial"). Under these circumstances we hold that the trial judge did not abuse his discretion in determining that the government satisfied its burden of establishing that the recordings in fact were of Felipe Vega's voice.
Manson v. Brathwaite, 432 U.S. 98, 116, 97 S. Ct. 2243, 2254, 53 L. Ed. 2d 140 (1977) (citation omitted). Questions of this nature go to the witness' credibility. As we recognized in United States v. Ramirez, 796 F.2d 212, 214 (7th Cir. 1986): "An appellate court will not weigh the evidence or assess the credibility of the witnesses." All we determine is that the trial judge did not abuse his discretion in determining that the recordings accurately portrayed conversations between the involved parties. The jury, then, ultimately determined the question of whether Vega's voice was actually on the tapes.
In United States v. Wilson, 578 F.2d 67, 69 (5th Cir. 1978), the Fifth Circuit noted the standard to be applied in cases in which problems of tape unintelligibility exist:
In addressing this claim the trial judge was required to determine whether evidence was sufficient to support a finding that the matter in question was what the government claimed. Federal Rule of Evidence 901(a) provides: "The requirement of authentication or identification as a condition precedent to admissibility is satisfied by evidence sufficient to support a finding that the matter in question is what the proponent claims." In making this determination, the trial court was required to exercise its discretion in determining whether the government established by "clear and convincing evidence that the recordings are 'true, accurate and authentic recording [s] of the conversation [s], at given time [s], between the parties involved.' " United States v. Keck, 773 F.2d 759, 766 (7th Cir. 1985) (quoting United States v. Faurote, 749 F.2d 40, 43 (7th Cir. 1984)). As we noted previously, this was a question on which a trial judge exercises "broad discretion" which will "ordinarily not be overturned on appeal absent 'extraordinary circumstances.' " Faurote, 749 F.2d at 43.
The only individual other than Felipe Vega whose voice identification is questioned and whose identification could have been helpful to the government's case is Felipe Vega's wife. However, the trial judge initially and the jury, ultimately, could very easily have identified Mrs. Vega not only from her self-identification but also from circumstantial evidence. See United States v. Puerta Restrepo, 814 F.2d 1236, 1239 (7th Cir. 1987) ("The authentication may be established by circumstantial evidence such as the similarity between what was discussed by the speakers and what each subsequently did"). In addition to Mrs. Vega's own self-identification, she was specifically recognized on a taped conversation by Jesus Zambrana as Vega's wife. In their conversation, when Zambrana was satisfied that she was Vega's wife, he gave her permission to "come by," a privilege which undoubtedly would have been denied in the drug culture if there was a question as to her identity. Further, Mrs. Vega referred to events (a trip to Puerto Rico and a wedding) which her husband had spoken about in his conversation with Jesus Zambrana a few days earlier. In addition, her conversation took place just days after a series of phone calls of inquiry from Felipe Vega to the Zambranas asking if there was "nothing yet" in a manner virtually identical to that which Mrs. Vega utilized in her telephone call. Based upon the totality of the circumstances, including Mrs. Vega's self-identification, Jesus Zambrana's obvious recognition of Mrs. Vega's voice, her specific reference to events discussed by her husband in a preceding phone call, as well as the timing of her call, an identification of Mrs. Vega's voice on the tape was clearly appropriate. Accordingly, we agree with the district court judge and conclude that his exercise of discretion was proper in his admission of the challenged tapes.
In a combination Secs. 841(a), 846 case "the government must prove that [Vega] knew of the conspiracy to [distribute drugs] and that he intended to join and associate himself with its criminal design and purpose."8 Since the jury found Vega guilty of the charges brought, his burden in overturning the verdict on appeal is a heavy one. See United States v. Nesbitt, 852 F.2d 1502, 1509 (7th Cir. 1988). We have summarized this burden in the following fashion:
"This court has, on numerous occasions, had the opportunity to review convictions for violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a) (1), 846. As we have previously stated, and again reiterate, when reviewing the sufficiency of evidence to establish a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute narcotics, we will affirm the trial court unless the evidence viewed in the light most favorable to the Government, could not have persuaded an [sic] rational trier of fact of defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt."
Nesbitt, at 1509 (quoting United States v. Mayo, 721 F.2d 1084, 1087 (7th Cir. 1983)).
Several specific legal propositions inherently flow from this general statement. As an initial matter, "we review all the evidence and all the reasonable inferences that can be drawn from the evidence in the light most favorable to the government." Nesbitt, 852 F.2d at 1509 (quoting United States v. Pritchard, 745 F.2d 1112, 1122 (7th Cir. 1984)). "Once a defendant has been found guilty of the crime charged, the factfinder's role as weigher of the evidence is preserved through a legal conclusion that upon judicial review all of the evidence is to be considered in the light most favorable to the prosecution." Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319, 99 S. Ct. 2781, 2789, 61 L. Ed. 2d 560 (1979) (emphasis in original) (footnote omitted). "This [standard] includes, in conspiracy cases, circumstantial as well as direct evidence." United States v. Williams, 858 F.2d 1218, 1221 (7th Cir. 1988). We determine "whether, after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the government, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt." 443 U.S. at 319, 99 S. Ct. at 2789 (emphasis in original). As we emphasized in United States v. Giangrosso, 779 F.2d 376, 382 (7th Cir. 1985): " [T]his court is not the trier of fact and we are required to uphold the jury's verdict where 'any rational trier of fact' could have found the defendant guilty of the crime." Most importantly for this case: "Only when the record contains no evidence, regardless of how it is weighed, from which the [trier of fact] could find guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, may an appellate court overturn the verdict." Nesbitt, 852 F.2d at 1509 (quoting United States v. Whaley, 830 F.2d 1469, 1472 (7th Cir. 1987), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 108 S. Ct. 1738, 100 L. Ed. 2d 202 (1988) which quoted, in turn, United States v. Moore, 764 F.2d 476, 478 (7th Cir. 1985)) (emphasis added).
" ' [I]t is perfectly legitimate to prove a conspiracy by circumstantial evidence.' [United States v. Griffin, 827 F.2d 1108, 1116 (7th Cir. 1987), cert. denied [--- U.S. ----], 108 S. Ct. 1085 [99 L. Ed. 2d 243] (1988) ]. By its very nature, a conspiracy 'is conceived and carried out clandestinely, and direct evidence of the crime is rarely available. Thus, circumstantial evidence from which the jury could reasonably infer the existence of an agreement is permissible.' [United States v. Mayo, 721 F.2d 1084, 1088 (7th Cir. 1983) ] (quoting United States v. Washington, 586 F.2d 1147, 1153 (7th Cir. 1978) (sic)). See also United States v. Marquardt, 786 F.2d 771, 780 (7th Cir. 1986) ('Circumstantial evidence is of equal probative value to direct evidence')."
This observation reflects the same experience with drug conspiracies which led us to state: " [R]elying on common sense and taking judicial notice of the clandestine and life-threatening manner in which a drug conspiracy operates, it is ridiculous to presume that the government could obtain witnesses with firsthand knowledge of the group's activities." Zambrana, 841 F.2d at 1331-32. The important role that circumstantial evidence can play in a drug conspiracy case is perhaps best summarized by our recent statement that: "Not only is the use of circumstantial evidence permissible, but 'circumstantial evidence "may be the sole support for a conviction." ' " Nesbitt, 852 F.2d at 1510 (quoting United States v. Williams, 798 F.2d 1024, 1042 (7th Cir. 1986) (dissenting opinion) which quoted, in turn, United States v. McCrady, 774 F.2d 868, 874 (8th Cir. 1985)).
"We recognize that in reviewing a guilty verdict based on circumstantial evidence, we must insure that the verdict does 'not rest "solely on the piling of inference upon inference"; but neither should we view every bit of evidence in isolation.' United States v. Guzzino, 810 F.2d 687, 696-97 (7th Cir. 1987), petition for cert. filed, (March 27, 1987) (citing United States v. Redwine, 715 F.2d 315, 319 (7th Cir. 1983), cert. denied, 467 U.S. 1216, [104 S. Ct. 2661, 81 L. Ed. 2d 367] (1984)). But ' [t]he view that the prosecution's case must answer all questions and remove all doubts ... of course, is not the law because that would be impossible; the proof need only satisfy reasonable doubt.' Borum v. United States, 380 F.2d 595, 599 (D.C. Cir. 1967) (former Chief Justice Burger dissenting)."
852 F.2d at 1511 (emphasis in original). As we further noted in Nesbitt: "If the government proves its case by circumstantial evidence, 'it need not exclude every reasonable hypothesis of innocence so long as the total evidence permits a conclusion of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.' ... The trier of fact is free to choose among various reasonable constructions of the evidence." Id. at 1510 (quoting United States v. Radtke, 799 F.2d 298, 302 (7th Cir. 1986)). This statement is based upon our recognition that " [i]n every criminal trial, each party asks the trier of fact to believe its witnesses, to weigh its evidence more heavily than the opposition's evidence, and to draw certain inferences from the basic facts in evidence in order to accept its hypothesis regarding the events in dispute." United States v. Allen, 797 F.2d 1395, 1399 (7th Cir. 1986) (quoting United States v. Moya, 721 F.2d 606 (7th Cir. 1983), cert. denied, 465 U.S. 1037, 104 S. Ct. 1312, 79 L. Ed. 2d 709 (1984)).
"Juries are allowed to draw upon their own experience in life as well as their common sense in reaching their verdict. See [United States v. Radtke, 799 F.2d 298, 302 (7th Cir. 1986) ]. While ' [c]ommon sense is no substitute for evidence, ... common sense should be used to evaluate what reasonably may be inferred from circumstantial evidence.' Id. Likewise, a reviewing court must ' "use its experience with people and events [in determining] that the evidence correctly points to guilt [to guard] against the possibility" ' of affirming a guilty verdict based solely on an ' "innocent or ambiguous inference." ' United States v. Redwine, 715 F.2d 315, 319 (7th Cir. 1983), cert. denied, 467 U.S. 1216, 104 S. Ct. 2661, 81 L. Ed. 2d 367 (1984) ] (quoting United States v. Kwitek, 467 F.2d 1222, 1226 (7th Cir.), cert. denied, 409 U.S. 1079 [93 S. Ct. 702, 34 L. Ed. 2d 668] (1972))."
In addition, we defer to the jury's determination of witnesses' credibility. As we noted in United States v. Ramirez, 796 F.2d 212, 214 (7th Cir. 1986): "An appellate court will not weigh the evidence or assess the credibility of the witnesses." Similarly, we have stated: " 'It is well settled law that a court of appeals does not stand in judgment of the credibility of witnesses. Rather that question is left to the sound discretion of the trier of fact.' " United States v. Perry, 747 F.2d 1165, 1170 (7th Cir. 1984) (quoting United States v. Roman, 728 F.2d 846, 856 (7th Cir. 1984)). Finally, "the credibility of witnesses is peculiarly within the province of the jury and our review of credibility is prohibited absent extraordinary circumstances." United States v. Noble, 754 F.2d 1324, 1332 (7th Cir. 1985).
Applying these standards to this case, there is little question that a rational jury could and did determine beyond a reasonable doubt that there existed a conspiracy to distribute cocaine and to possess cocaine with intent to distribute. Evidence was introduced of an April 1985 cocaine shipment intended for the Zambranas, a possible June 1985 shipment to the Zambranas, Vega's telephone calls to the Zambranas to obtain cocaine, telephone calls made to the Zambranas to obtain cocaine and/or marijuana between April and June 1985, and the resale of cocaine purchased from the Zambranas between February and August 1985 by Tom Lovely, a member of the conspiracy. A finding beyond a reasonable doubt that a combination of two or more persons was formed for accomplishment of the alleged criminal purposes through joint efforts was made upon this evidence. See Nesbitt, 852 F.2d at 1509-10. Indeed, we have previously affirmed a determination by a trial judge in the context of an evidentiary ruling that this drug conspiracy was a conspiracy under the relevant federal statutes. See United States v. Zambrana, 841 F.2d 1320, 1343-47 (7th Cir. 1988).
The only question remaining is whether the evidence supports the verdict "that [Vega] ... joined and participated in the conspiratorial scheme." Nesbitt, 852 F.2d at 1509 (quoting United States v. Garcia, 562 F.2d 411, 414 (7th Cir. 1977)). This court has noted that
"Participation in a criminal conspiracy may be shown through circumstantial evidence. Circumstantial evidence may include whether the defendant has a stake in the outcome of the conspiracy. Once a conspiracy is shown to exist evidence that establishes a particular defendant's participation beyond a reasonable doubt, although the connection between the defendant and conspiracy is slight, is sufficient to convict. Most important in this case is the well-established rule that mere association, knowledge or approval of a conspiracy is not sufficient to prove a defendant's guilt. However, while 'mere presence at the scene of the crime or mere association with conspirators will not themselves support a conspiracy conviction ... presence of a single act will suffice if the circumstances permit the inference that the presence or act was intended to advance the ends of the conspiracy.' United States v. Mancillas, 580 F.2d 1301, 1308 (7th Cir.), cert. denied, 439 U.S. 958 [99 S. Ct. 361, 58 L. Ed. 2d 351] (1978)."
United States v. Xheka, 704 F.2d 974, 988-89 (7th Cir. 1983) (citations omitted).
The fact that tapes of the conversations implicating Vega in the drug conspiracy may, in certain parts, have been somewhat unclear, does not preclude a determination that he participated in the conspiracy. As we observed in United States v. Zanin, 831 F.2d 740, 744 (7th Cir. 1987): "Conversations regarding drug transactions are rarely clear. A fact-finder must always draw inferences from veiled allusions and code words." In this case the jury was confronted with conversations which contained "code words" that, when considered in isolation, might seem unclear, veiled and almost nonsensical, but when analyzed properly, in the context of the totality of the evidence, can be clearly seen to be "code words" for drugs. See generally United States v. Abascal, 564 F.2d 821, 827 (2nd Cir. 1977) ("The conversing conspirators frequently discuss non-narcotic-related matters at the beginning of conversations, and often resorted to jargon and code words, a frequent practice in narcotics dealings"); United States v. Chavez, 533 F.2d 491, 494 (9th Cir. 1976) ("Jargon and code words are commonly used by those dealing in illicit drugs and were employed here") (citation omitted). It is true that, advisedly, no explicit mention was ever made of cocaine or other drugs in any of Vega's conversations with the Zambranas. However, a case was made, which was more than strong enough to convince the jury, the trier of fact, that Vega used terms like "chickens," "roosters " and "it " as code words for drugs. Not only are code words always used by drug conspirators when they realize, as they do in today's drug culture, that their telephone conversations are frequently intercepted, such terms were obviously used by the conspirators in this case. Tom Lovely, a convicted member of the Zambrana conspiracy, testified clearly and without qualification that he had been instructed to use code words for drugs when speaking on the telephone. He gave "chicken " as an example of a code word which could have been used and furthermore Vega, who the jury found to be a member of this same conspiracy, used this code word. Antonio Dominguez additionally appeared to use a code word "uncle " in a conversation with the Zambranas. Vega's wife also used cryptic terms in speaking with the Zambranas which the jury may very well have interpreted as code words for drugs. Vega's own conversations with the Zambranas were laced with possible drug code words, such as "chickens," "roosters " and "it." When one considers the use of these code words in light of the totality of the circumstances, including the correlation between the timing of Vega's conversations with the Zambranas, the April drug shipment and the possible June drug shipment, the evidence of Vega's guilt becomes most convincing.
The reasonableness of the jury's conclusion that Vega was involved in the drug conspiracy is confirmed by a previous case in which we found that repeated intercepted telephone conversations with drug conspirators in code language strongly supported a jury finding that a defendant was involved in a drug conspiracy. In United States v. Ramirez, 796 F.2d 212, 215 (7th Cir. 1986), we stated:
" [T]he evidence introduced at trial showed that Ramirez made four telephone calls either to or from the Cordobas' home telephone within a ten day period. ... He spoke with at least four different members of the conspiracy, and the conversations themselves involved some kind of code language. Witnesses at the trial explained that the nonsensical language employed by the conversants was a code for illegal drugs, and that the discussions focussed on drug negotiations or travel arrangements to facilitate the same. In addition, the evidence established that he had a close personal relationship with one of the conspirators.... The numerosity and detail of Ramirez's conversations, as well as his unusual travel agenda, connections with one of the primary conspirators, and the testimony of the agents, constitute sufficient evidence under the Jackson v. Virginia standard to establish that Ramirez knowingly participated in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine. In addition, these same considerations establish that Ramirez's participation was neither innocuous nor isolated."
(footnote omitted). Vega had the same type of frequent conversations with members of a drug conspiracy as did Ramirez. He telephoned the residence from which the conspiracy operated at least eight times during periods when the conspiracy was thriving. While speaking he frequently used code words for drugs. From the context of the recorded conversations, it seems clear that Vega knew at least one of the other conspirators well, had a motive to join in the conspiracy's ends, and could have been determined to have had a stake in the conspiracy. See United States v. Williams, 858 F.2d 1218, 1222 (7th Cir. 1988) ("We cannot conclude, based on this evidence, that no rational trier of fact could have convicted Williams of conspiracy to obstruct justice. The evidence shows that Williams knew the other conspirators well and certainly had a motive to join, and a stake in the outcome of, the conspiracy"). Thus, Ramirez strongly supports the jury's inferences that Vega was involved in the drug conspiracy.
The permissibility of the jury's verdict based upon these inferences is further supported by other drug conspiracy cases in which we have sustained decisions based upon similar inferences. For example, we have frequently upheld conspiracy determinations made by judges and juries which have relied upon inferences that "code words" or obscure language were meant to refer to drugs. In United States v. Mayo, 721 F.2d 1084, 1088-89 (7th Cir. 1983), we sustained a conviction based, in part, upon evidence of the use of code words:
Likewise in United States v. Zambrana, 841 F.2d 1320, 1346 (7th Cir. 1988), we sustained a trial judge's finding of the existence of the same drug conspiracy involved in this case. This finding was based in part on the use of "code words" for drugs. We stated: "Although the word 'cocaine' was never referred to in any of the conversations, the trial judge could properly have accepted the government's contention that phrases such as 'metallic paint' were used as code words to allude to the illegal drugs." Id. Probably the clearest support for the jury's inferences may be found in United States v. Giangrosso, 779 F.2d 376, 381-82 (7th Cir. 1986). The jury in that case determined that an individual was involved in a drug conspiracy based upon the timing of telephone conversations and the use of evasive code language frequently utilized in the drug culture during these conversations, when these matters were considered together with other evidence presented. In sustaining one conviction we quoted terse language utilized in a telephone conversation and noted that: "The timing of the phone conversations and the discussion of the address immediately preceding the delivery of the cocaine to the Post Office is persuasive evidence linking Giangrosso to the cocaine delivery." Id. at 382. In sustaining the conviction on the other count, we again referred to the same combination of the correlation between drug delivery dates and telephone conversations using evasive language, in our consideration of the entire evidence. We observed: " [I]mmediately preceding the August 16, 1983, delivery of the Express Mail package to Chicago, a conversation took place between Giangrosso and Kucala couched in evasive language, obviously to avoid the mention of cocaine." Id. (emphasis added). Clearly, the jury in this case did properly render guilty verdicts based upon inferences concerning Vega's use of "code words" for drugs and the timing between Vega's conversations and possible drug deliveries.
A decision of another court of appeals very strongly supports the jury's verdict. In United States v. Perez, 824 F.2d 1567 (11th Cir. 1987), the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit upheld a trial judge's evidentiary determination of an individual's involvement in a conspiracy under a factual situation almost identical to that involved here.10 In that case 300 kilograms of cocaine were unloaded from an airplane. The court noted:"After being advised that the plane had landed safely, Kurtz, still at Sikaffy's residence, called his wife and excitedly advised her that 300 'babies' had come in and that he would be coming home with a couple of them. Kurtz then made a second call to another woman to advise her that he had '300 white leg horns' 'all full-sized chicks' " that had all 'hatched.' Subsequently, Kurtz was advised by Gerard Latchinian that there would be no movement of the 'flowers' that night."
"In regard to appellant Kurtz, independent evidence shows that Kurtz and Cymerman tested the aircraft that was ultimately used to import the load of cocaine. In the intercepted phone conversations made after he received a coded message that the 300 kilos had arrived, Kurtz advised his associates that he would be arriving with a couple of them. The discredited testimony that he was going to raise chickens is unavailing. The independent evidence of conspiracy readily met the [United States v. James, 590 F.2d 575 (5th Cir.) (en banc), cert. denied, 442 U.S. 917, 99 S. Ct. 2836, 61 L. Ed. 2d 283 (1979) ] standard."
If Vega's theory were applied to the code language used in the above cases, a person who used the words "black cadillac" as code words for drugs in ordering narcotics from an individual or business which sold both cars and drugs could not be convicted of a drug violation. Such a wooden construction would ignore the basic precept that " [j]uries are allowed to draw upon their own experience in life as well as their common sense in reaching their verdict." Nesbitt, 852 F.2d at 1511. We decline to undermine the role of the jury in the manner Vega suggests.
Essentially Vega's argument in this case is directed toward his disagreement with the jury's verdict. However, we would remind Vega of our recent observation concerning our role in reviewing a jury's verdict on the basis of insufficiency of evidence: "All we can ask--under Jackson all we may ask--is whether, assuming the jury resolved all disputes in the state's favor and drew all inferences from that evidence, it would have been rational to convict. Not whether we would convict, but whether thoughtful people could convict." Branion v. Gramly, 855 F.2d 1256, 1266 (7th Cir. 1988). In this case we cannot say that the jury acted irrationally in convicting Vega.
It is well settled that "a trial judge in the federal system generally has wide discretion in determining what sentence to impose." United States v. Tucker, 404 U.S. 443, 446, 92 S. Ct. 589, 591, 30 L. Ed. 2d 592 (1972). In making this discretionary determination "a judge may appropriately conduct an inquiry broad in scope, largely unlimited either as to the kind of information he may consider, or the source from which it may come." Id. It follows that " ' [a] sentence which is within the limits established by statute under which it is imposed will not be vacated upon review unless the sentencing judge relied upon improper considerations or unreliable information in exercising his discretion or failed to exercise any discretion at all in imposing the sentence.' " United States v. Ford, 840 F.2d 460, 466 (7th Cir. 1988) (quoting United States v. Harris, 761 F.2d 394, 402-03 (7th Cir. 1985)).
If the district court had indicated that it was bound in any way by the federal sentencing guidelines, Vega's ex post facto law claim might have more substance. However, the court repeatedly indicated that it was merely influenced and not compelled by the guidelines. It was entirely proper for the district court's sentencing discretion to be guided in part by the sentencing parameters of the new guidelines. See United States v. Bullock, 857 F.2d 367, 372 (7th Cir. 1988) (Sentencing was proper in a case in which the judge "stated that he consulted the Sentencing Commission's Preliminary Guidelines in imposing [the defendant's] sentence" but articulated several factors, in addition to the sentencing guidelines, in support of the sentencing determination). Cf. United States v. Hanahan, 798 F.2d 187, 191 (7th Cir. 1986) (Sentencing was upheld in a case in which the trial court looked at the sentencing provision of a later statute for guidance, but made clear that it was not sentencing the defendant under the later statute). Since the court treated the guidelines as advisory and imposed sentences which were within statutory limits, Vega's sentencing was proper.
Even if we were to lend a sympathetic ear to one of Vega's arguments, we would remind all involved that the Supreme Court has "repeatedly stated, 'the Constitution entitles a criminal defendant to a fair trial, not a perfect one.' " Rose v. Clark, 478 U.S. 570, 579, 106 S. Ct. 3101, 3107, 92 L. Ed. 2d 460 (1986) (quoting Delaware v. Van Arsdall, 475 U.S. 673, 681, 106 S. Ct. 1431, 1436, 89 L. Ed. 2d 674 (1986)). Since Vega received a fair trial in this case, the defendant's convictions and sentences are
United States v. Janik, 723 F.2d 537, 545 (7th Cir. 1983). The continuance in this case was granted on October 7, 1985, prior to the conclusion of the 70-day period following Vega's initial appearance. Thus, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3161(h) (8), the continuance could validly exclude any period of time during which it was effective
In United States v. Zambrana, 841 F.2d 1320, 1328 (7th Cir. 1988), we recently emphasized the importance of permitting a trial judge discretion under the Speedy Trial Act:
" [T]he interest of allowing trial judges to effectively monitor their overworked court calendars necessitates that latitude be afforded the district court.... In Kagan v. Caterpillar Tractor Company, 795 F.2d 601 (7th Cir. 1986), we stated that:
Id. at 608. 'It is critically important that a trial court be able to maintain control over its calendars'.... Stevens v. Greyhound Lines Inc., 710 F.2d 1224, 1230 (7th Cir. 1983)."
United States v. Nesbitt, 852 F.2d 1502, 1509 (7th Cir. 1988) (quoting United States v. Griffin, 827 F.2d 1108, 1117 (7th Cir. 1987), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 108 S. Ct. 1085, 99 L. Ed. 2d 243 (1988)). Proof of the violation of 21 U.S.C. § 843(b) will require the additional element of use of a communication facility in furtherance of the conspiracy
A determination of Vega's clear intent to distribute cocaine could have been based upon his April 11, 1985, statement that one of the chickens was for another person, when considered with all of the other evidence presented to the jury. Further, based upon all of the inculpatory inferences which can reasonably be drawn from Vega's April 11, 1985, conversation, which took place over a telephone, a communication facility under the statute, the jury obviously determined that this conversation was the use of a communication facility in the conspiracy necessary for its verdict that Vega violated 21 U.S.C. § 843(b)
It should briefly be noted that this decision was under the preponderance of the evidence standard used to determine membership in a conspiracy for purposes of Federal Rule of Evidence 801(d) (2) (E)