Source: https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F3/112/1089/585239/
Timestamp: 2019-11-16 23:36:00
Document Index: 50403932

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 841', '§ 924', '§ 924', '§ 924', 'art:\n18', '§ 924']

47 Fed. R. Evid. Ser v. 133, 10 Fla. L. Weeklyfed. C 925united States of America, Plaintiff-appellee, v. Samuel Chirinos, Rolanda Guerra, David Martinez, Jose Reyes,joseph Gonzalez, Enrique Santiesteban,defendants-appellants, 112 F.3d 1089 (11th Cir. 1997) :: Justia
Justia › US Law › Case Law › Federal Courts › Courts of Appeals › Eleventh Circuit › 1997 › 47 Fed. R. Evid. Ser v. 133, 10 Fla. L. Weeklyfed. C 925united States of America, Plaintiff-appellee...
47 Fed. R. Evid. Ser v. 133, 10 Fla. L. Weeklyfed. C 925united States of America, Plaintiff-appellee, v. Samuel Chirinos, Rolanda Guerra, David Martinez, Jose Reyes,joseph Gonzalez, Enrique Santiesteban,defendants-appellants, 112 F.3d 1089 (11th Cir. 1997)
US Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit - 112 F.3d 1089 (11th Cir. 1997) May 15, 1997
Before HATCHETT, Chief Judge, DUBINA, Circuit Judge, and COHILL* , Senior District Judge.
On May 15, 1992, a federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment against Vargas, Santiesteban, Joseph Reyes, Jose Reyes, Chirinos, Martinez, Gonzalez, and Guerra charging them with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a) (1) and 846 (Count I), and using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c) and 2 (Count II). Vargas pleaded guilty and agreed to testify for the government against his codefendants. Santiesteban, Jose Reyes, Chirinos, Martinez, Gonzalez, and Guerra entered not guilty pleas and proceeded to a joint jury trial. The district court severed Joseph Reyes's trial from the remaining defendants; he, however, pleaded guilty to the indictment prior to going to trial.
We address the following issues: (1) whether sufficient evidence supports Santiesteban's conviction for using or carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking offense under 18 U.S.C. § 924(c) (1); (2) whether the prosecutor's remarks in opening and closing statements prejudicially affected appellants' substantial rights; (3) whether the district court erred in denying appellants' requested jury instructions; (4) whether the district court erred in denying Martinez's motion to suppress his post-arrest statement; and (5) whether the district court erred in sentencing appellants on the basis of possessing 300 kilograms of cocaine.
A. Santiesteban's Section 924(c) (1) Conviction
Sufficiency of the evidence is a question of law we review de novo. United States v. Farris, 77 F.3d 391, 394 (11th Cir.), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 117 S. Ct. 241, 136 L. Ed. 2d 170 (1996). In determining whether sufficient evidence supports a defendant's conviction, we view the evidence in the light most favorable to the government and draw all reasonable inferences and credibility choices in favor of the jury's verdict. United States v. Shenberg, 89 F.3d 1461, 1470 (11th Cir. 1996), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 117 S. Ct. 961, 136 L. Ed. 2d 847 (1997).
Santiesteban challenges his conviction for using or carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c) (1). Santiesteban argues that the government failed to produce sufficient evidence to demonstrate that he possessed and used a weapon during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, and failed to produce evidence to link his carrying the firearm to the drug trafficking crime.
Section 924(c) (1) provides in pertinent part:
18 U.S.C. § 924(c) (1) (1994). In order to sustain a conviction under the "use" prong of section 924(c) (1), the government must show active employment of the firearm, such as firing, attempted firing, brandishing, displaying, bartering, or striking. Bailey v. United States, 516 U.S. 137, ----, 116 S. Ct. 501, 508, 133 L. Ed. 2d 472 (1995); United States v. Jones, 74 F.3d 275, 276 (11th Cir. 1996); United States v. King, 73 F.3d 1564, 1567 (11th Cir.), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 117 S. Ct. 220, 136 L. Ed. 2d 153 (1996). To sustain a conviction under the "carry" prong of section 924(c) (1), the government must show actual transporting of the firearm during and in relation to the drug trafficking offense--i.e., that the defendant carried the firearm on his person or carried the firearm in a vehicle used for drug distribution during and in relation to the drug trafficking offense. See Farris, 77 F.3d at 395.
In this case, the government presented evidence concerning two firearms: (1) a loaded Browning arms BDA .380 semi-automatic pistol found in the waistband of Santiesteban's pants and (2) a Ruger Mini-14 assault rifle with a loaded magazine found under the back seat of one of the appellant's vehicles. Agents discovered both firearms following appellants' arrests. As Santiesteban correctly points out, neither he nor his codefendants fired, attempted to fire, brandished, displayed, bartered, or struck anyone or anything with the firearms during the course of the conspiracy. The evidence is therefore insufficient to support a jury's finding that Santiesteban "used" the weapons for drug trafficking in violation of section 924(c) (1).
Overwhelming evidence, however, supports a finding that Santiesteban carried a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime in violation of section 924(c) (1). First, Santiesteban's codefendant, Vargas, testified that he, Santiesteban and the other codefendants planned to steal a shipment of 300 kilograms of cocaine from the Opa Locka West airstrip. Second, ATF agents arrested Santiesteban at the Opa Locka West airstrip as he approached three duffel bags represented to him as containing cocaine. Third, at the time of Santiesteban's arrest agents seized a semi-automatic weapon from the waistband of his pants.1 Fourth, agents seized a mini-assault rifle from the back seat of the vehicle in which Santiesteban traveled to the airstrip. This vehicle, along with the other two vehicles the appellants traveled in, could have transported 300 kilograms of cocaine from the airstrip. We therefore find the evidence sufficient to support the jury's finding that Santiesteban carried a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking offense.
In the alternative, Santiesteban asserts that he is entitled to a new trial on the section 924(c) (1) issue because the district court failed to instruct the jury on the different requirements of proof under the "use" and "carry" prongs of section 924(c) (1). Specifically, Santiesteban argues that the jury could have convicted him on the basis that he "used" the firearms in violation of section 924(c) (1). As we previously stated, the evidence is insufficient to sustain Santiesteban's conviction on the ground that he "used" a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking offense. We therefore must determine whether the district court improperly instructed the jury on the section 924(c) (1) count and, if so, whether the improper instruction warrants reversal of Santiesteban's conviction.
We apply de novo review when determining whether the district court misstated the law when instructing the jury or misled the jury to the prejudice of the defendant. United States v. Chandler, 996 F.2d 1073, 1085 (11th Cir. 1993), cert. denied, 512 U.S. 1227, 114 S. Ct. 2724, 129 L. Ed. 2d 848 (1994). In instructing the jury on the section 924(c) (1) count, the district court stated:
In light of the Supreme Court's recent holding in Bailey that possession of a firearm without active employment of that firearm cannot sustain a conviction under the "use" prong of section 924(c) (1), we hold that the district court erred in instructing the jury that it could find that Santiesteban "used" a firearm in violation of section 924(c) (1) merely because he possessed a firearm as an integral part of the drug trafficking crime. See Bailey, --- U.S. at ----, 116 S. Ct. at 508.
Our finding that the district court erred in instructing the jury, however, does not end our inquiry. An erroneous jury charge only entitles the defendant to reversal of his conviction and remand for a new trial on the count in question when a reasonable likelihood exists that "the jury applied the instruction in an improper manner." Chandler, 996 F.2d at 1085. This being said, we are convinced that the jury found Santiesteban guilty of "carrying," and not "using," the semi-automatic pistol in violation of section 924(c) (1). In reaching this conclusion, we note that the indictment in Count II charged Santiesteban and each of his codefendants with knowingly using and carrying the semi-automatic pistol and the assault rifle. The jury, however, only convicted Santiesteban on this count. At trial, Santiesteban was the only defendant against whom the government presented evidence of carrying a firearm on his person--the semi-automatic pistol. Considering that this fact is the only difference between the evidence presented against Santiesteban and his codefendants with respect to the section 924(c) (1) charge, and that the jury found the codefendants not guilty of the section 924(c) charge, we conclude that a reasonable likelihood does not exist that the jury found Santiesteban "used" the firearms in question during and in relation to a drug trafficking offense. Accordingly, we hold that the erroneous jury charge did not affect Santiesteban's right to a fair trial.
Prior to trial, the government gave notice to the defense of its intent to introduce the evidence of the police stop at trial pursuant to Federal Rule of Evidence 404(b). The defense objected to the introduction of the evidence and moved to exclude the evidence from trial on the ground that the prejudice resulting from the evidence substantially outweighed its probative value. At the pretrial hearing, the district court advised the parties that it would rule on the motion to exclude the evidence in advance of trial. The defense, at that time, moved to exclude any reference to the police stop from the government's opening statement pending the district court's ruling of the admissibility of the evidence at trial. The district court denied the motion stating, " [t]he government, just like you, takes its chances on opening statement."
Although the district court ultimately ruled that the government could not introduce the evidence of the police stop during the trial, appellants argue that the jury's hearing about the police stop during opening arguments unduly prejudiced their case and denied them their right to a fair trial. We review the district court's evidentiary rulings for abuse of discretion. United States v. Walker, 59 F.3d 1196, 1198 (11th Cir.), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 116 S. Ct. 547, 133 L. Ed. 2d 450 (1995). Rule 404(b) of the Federal Rules of Evidence permits the district court to admit evidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts of the defendant to prove "motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, or absence of mistake or accident, provided that upon request by the accused, the prosecution in a criminal case shall provide reasonable notice in advance of trial...." Fed.R.Evid. 404(b). Although relevant, district courts are not to admit rule 404(b) evidence "if its probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice, confusion of the issues, or misleading the jury...." Fed.R.Evid. 403. Because rule 404(b) evidence has the potential to unduly prejudice the defendant's case, the district court should rule on the admissibility of such evidence prior to trial whenever possible.
Notwithstanding our holding that the district court did not abuse its discretion in allowing the government to reference the 404(b) evidence prior to ruling on its admissibility, appellants Chirinos, Guerra and Martinez argue that the prosecutor committed prosecutorial misconduct in using the 404(b) evidence in his opening statement and seek reversal of their conviction on this basis.2 "Prosecutorial misconduct is a basis for reversal only if, in the context of the entire trial and in light of any curative instruction, the misconduct may have prejudiced the substantial rights of the accused." United States v. Beasley, 72 F.3d 1518, 1525 (11th Cir.), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 116 S. Ct. 2570, 135 L. Ed. 2d 1086 (1996). This court will only reverse a conviction on the basis of prosecutorial misconduct "if that misconduct is so pronounced and persistent as to 'permeate the entire atmosphere of the trial.' " United States v. Elkins, 885 F.2d 775, 787 (11th Cir. 1989) (quoting United States v. McLain, 823 F.2d 1457, 1462 (11th Cir. 1987)), cert. denied, 494 U.S. 1005, 110 S. Ct. 1300, 108 L. Ed. 2d 477 (1990).
To establish a claim of prosecutorial misconduct, a defendant must first prove that the prosecutor made an improper remark. United States v. Obregon, 893 F.2d 1307, 1310 (11th Cir.), cert. denied, 494 U.S. 1090, 110 S. Ct. 1833, 108 L. Ed. 2d 961 (1990). If the defendant cannot show that the prosecutor's conduct was improper, the prosecutorial misconduct claim must fail. We conclude that the prosecutor's opening remarks concerning the 404(b) evidence were not improper because the prosecutor had a reasonable belief that the district court would admit the 404(b) evidence at the time he made such statements. In reaching this conclusion, we acknowledge that this court condemns the practice whereby a prosecutor refers to evidence in opening statement that the prosecutor never intends to introduce or reasonably knows cannot be introduced at trial. See Obregon, 893 F.2d at 1310. The prosecutor in this case referred to evidence he would have produced had the district court ruled it admissible.
To determine whether a prosecutor has impermissibly commented on a defendant's decision not to testify or present a defense, courts must inquire whether the statement "was manifestly intended or was of such character" that the jury would necessarily construe it as a comment on the failure of the accused to testify. United States v. Carrodeguas, 747 F.2d 1390, 1395 (11th Cir. 1984), (internal quotation marks omitted), cert. denied, 474 U.S. 816, 106 S. Ct. 60, 88 L. Ed. 2d 49 (1985). This court will not find that a prosecutor manifestly intended to comment on a defendant's failure to testify if some other explanation for the prosecutor's remark is equally plausible. Carrodeguas, 747 F.2d at 1395. " [I]n deciding whether a jury would naturally and necessarily take the statement to be a comment on the defendant's failure to testify, 'the question is not whether the jury possibly or even probably would view the challenged remark in this manner, but whether the jury necessarily would have done so.' " Carrodeguas, 747 F.2d at 1395 (quoting Williams v. Wainwright, 673 F.2d 1182, 1185 (11th Cir. 1982)) (emphasis omitted).
We do not find that the remarks at issue constituted a comment on the defendants' exercise of their right not to testify or present a defense. Rather, we believe the argument constitutes a proper comment on appellants' failure to have presented evidence that contradicted the testimony of the government's key witness, Vargas. Because it is not improper to comment on the failure of the defense, as opposed to the defendant, to counter or explain the evidence, we find no prosecutorial misconduct. See United States v. Griggs, 735 F.2d 1318, 1321 (11th Cir. 1984). We also find that the character of the remarks is not such that the jury would naturally and necessarily construe them as a comment on the failure of the accused to testify. In fact, we note that the district court on at least two occasions instructed the jury that the law does not require a defendant to testify to prove his innocence or to produce any evidence at all, and advised them not to consider appellants' failure to testify "in any way during [their] deliberations." In light of our interpretation of the prosecutorial remarks at issue and the district court's curative instructions, this prosecutorial misconduct claim also fails.
Finally, appellants Reyes, Chirinos and Gonzalez contend that the prosecutor improperly argued that the jury could consider the post-arrest confessions of two nontestifying codefendants, Santiesteban and Martinez, against them. It is well established that where two defendants are tried jointly the district court cannot admit the pretrial confession of one of the defendants against the other, unless the defendant who made the confession takes the stand. Richardson v. Marsh, 481 U.S. 200, 206, 107 S. Ct. 1702, 1706-07, 95 L. Ed. 2d 176 (1987). This is because the admission of the codefendant's confession would violate the defendant's rights under the Confrontation Clause of the Sixth Amendment. Richardson, 481 U.S. at 206, 107 S. Ct. at 1706-07. The admission of a nontestifying codefendant's confession with the proper limiting instruction, however, does not violate the Confrontation Clause when the district court redacts the confession to eliminate any reference to the defendant. Richardson, 481 U.S. at 211, 107 S. Ct. at 1709.
These remarks read in context demonstrate that the prosecutor in this case did not argue to the jury that it could consider the post-arrest statements of Martinez and Santiesteban as direct evidence of the appellants' guilt. Undeniably, such an argument would contravene the Court's holding in Richardson, and therefore constitute an improper argument. Rather, the prosecutor in his closing argument simply pointed out that Vargas's testimony corroborated Martinez's and Santiesteban's post-arrest statements. Because evidence incriminating on its face such as a post-arrest statement differs in the practical effect from evidence requiring linkage--i.e., Vargas's testimony links the post-arrest statements of Martinez and Santiesteban to the appellants--the prosecutor's remarks do not constitute an improper argument. See Richardson, 481 U.S. at 208, 107 S. Ct. at 1708 ("evidence requiring linkage differs from evidence incriminating on its face in the practical effects"). Even assuming for the sake of argument that the remarks in question constitute an improper argument, we find no reversible error because the district court instructed the jury that it could not consider the post-arrest statements against the appellants. See Richardson, 481 U.S. at 211, 107 S. Ct. at 1709 ("juries are presumed to follow their instructions").
This court reviews the district court's refusal to give a defendant's requested jury instruction for abuse of discretion. United States v. Morales, 978 F.2d 650, 652 (11th Cir. 1992). The district court should instruct the jury on the defendant's defense theory if the theory has a foundation in evidence and legal support. United States v. Williams, 728 F.2d 1402, 1404 (11th Cir. 1984). The district court, however, is not required to give the requested jury instruction if it would not have assisted the jury in resolving the issues presented to it. United States v. Phelps, 733 F.2d 1464, 1473 (11th Cir. 1984). In determining whether the district court abused its discretion in refusing to give the requested jury instruction, this court considers three factors: (1) whether the requested instruction is a substantially correct statement of the law; (2) whether the jury charge given addressed the requested instruction; and (3) whether the failure to give the requested instruction seriously impaired the defendant's ability to present an effective defense. Morales, 978 F.2d at 652; Williams, 728 F.2d at 1404. We first address the merits of Gonzalez's contention.
A defendant is not entitled to an entrapment instruction unless he first shows "some evidence, more than a scintilla, that government agents induced him to commit the offense." United States v. Timberlake, 559 F.2d 1375, 1379 (5th Cir. 1977).4 Once the defendant meets this initial burden, "the question of entrapment becomes a factual one for the jury to decide. In that situation the defendant is entitled to have his defensive theory of the case put before the jury with the appropriate instructions from the trial judge." Timberlake, 559 F.2d at 1379 (citations omitted). In this case, Santiesteban presented no evidence that a government agent induced him to commit the crime. The record clearly reveals that Santiesteban's codefendant, Vargas, and not the government's confidential informant, Ibarra, approached him regarding the plan to steal the cocaine. Because no evidence exists to support a claim of entrapment, the district court properly denied Santiesteban's request to give an entrapment instruction.
We review the district court's findings of fact on a motion to suppress evidence for clear error and the district court's application of the law to those facts de novo. United States v. Diaz-Lizaraza, 981 F.2d 1216, 1220 (11th Cir. 1993). It is well established that " [t]he government must prove by a preponderance of the evidence that [the defendant] made a knowing, voluntary and intelligent waiver of his Miranda rights." Farris, 77 F.3d at 396. At the evidentiary hearing, Martinez testified that prior to signing the ATF's waiver of rights form he repeatedly invoked his right to counsel. In spite of his numerous requests for counsel, Martinez testified that ATF agents continued to questioned him. Special Agent Arthur Cullen testified that he advised Martinez of his rights immediately after Martinez's arrest and prior to beginning questioning. Agent Cullen also testified that Martinez read the ATF's standard form advising defendants of their right to remain silent and have counsel present, that Martinez signed the form indicating that he understood his rights, and that Martinez decided to waive his rights. Agent Cullen further testified that no ATF agents made threats or promises to Martinez in exchange for his confession.
At the conclusion of the evidentiary hearing, the district court found Agent Cullen's testimony more credible than that of Martinez. Based upon its credibility determination, the district court concluded that Martinez made a knowing and intelligent waiver of his right to remain silent. We must accept the district court's credibility determination "unless we are left with 'the definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been committed.' " United States v. Holloway, 74 F.3d 249, 252 (11th Cir. 1996) (quoting United States v. United States Gypsum Co., 333 U.S. 364, 395, 68 S. Ct. 525, 542, 92 L. Ed. 746 (1948)). Finding no clear error in the district court's credibility determination, we affirm the district court's denial of Martinez's motion to suppress.
Finally, appellants Santiesteban, Chirinos and Martinez challenge the district court's determination of the drug quantity in calculating their sentences. "This court reviews the trial court's determination of the quantity of drugs used to establish a base offense level for sentencing purposes under the clearly erroneous standard." United States v. Carroll, 6 F.3d 735 (11th Cir. 1993) (quoting United States v. Robinson, 935 F.2d 201, 205 (11th Cir. 1991)), cert. denied, 510 U.S. 1183, 114 S. Ct. 1234, 127 L. Ed. 2d 577 (1994).
In Bonner v. City of Prichard, 661 F.2d 1206, 1209 (11th Cir. 1981) (en banc), this court adopted as binding precedent all decisions of the former Fifth Circuit decided prior to October 1, 1981