Opinion ID: 699543
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Proof at Trial

Text: 13 We turn to the first issue. Colon contends the evidence presented at trial was insufficient to establish beyond a reasonable doubt that he used a machine gun during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. In the early morning hours of January 9, 1991 the Task Force went to 428 East 157th Street, Colon's building, to execute an arrest warrant for him. The officers investigated apartment 3D, where Colon lived with his parents, and apartments 4B and 2B. Upon knocking on the door of apartment 2B and identifying themselves, the police officers heard a male voice say just a minute. The police officers then heard objects being moved around inside the apartment. After a second knock by police, and several seconds of hesitation, Colon opened the door and was promptly arrested. Apartment 2B is located two floors below Colon's own apartment and is leased by Denise Colon, who is his girlfriend, but not related to him. 14 While the police officers were attempting to gain entry into apartment 2B, an officer stationed outside the building saw a second-floor window thrown open and several objects hurled out. Among the items jettisoned were a loaded machine gun, a box of Absolute heroin, and a drug record with the name Hec written on it. Several officers identified the open window as belonging to apartment 2B. While being transported to the Drug Enforcement Administration headquarters for processing, Colon volunteered that his girlfriend had thrown the gun out the window. No evidence was presented that connected Denise Colon with the Ramos organization. 15 The machine gun was unique because it was manufactured without a serial number, similar to other machine guns that Ramos had purchased from co-conspirator turned government witness, Moises Serrano. Rafael Brillon, another co-conspirator turned government witness, testified that he had given Colon a machine gun at the direction of Mas, and that Colon kept it in apartment 2B at 428 East 157th Street--the apartment where he was arrested--less than one block from the street spot where he sold heroin. Further, the jury heard testimony about Colon's participation in armed searches for individuals who stole from the Ramos organization, and the shooting of one such individual. Finally, Serrano, who obtained the machine gun for Ramos, testified on behalf of the government that while he and Colon were in custody subsequent to their January 9, 1991 arrest, Colon told him that he had thrown the machine gun out of the window when the officers stormed the apartment. 16 As a result of this proof, in addition to his other convictions, Colon was convicted of using a machine gun in relation to a drug trafficking crime, namely, the conspiracy to violate federal narcotics laws (distribution of and possession with intent to distribute heroin), in violation of 18 U.S.C. Sec. 924(c) and 18 U.S.C. Sec. 2. He was sentenced to a mandatory 360-months' sentence for using a machine gun during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, that sentence to run consecutively to a 151 months' sentence on the narcotics convictions.