Opinion ID: 403955
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: facts

Text: 2 In early 1980 Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents were conducting an undercover investigation in Yuma, Arizona, attempting to infiltrate the higher levels of a cocaine dealing operation. After several cocaine transactions with lower-echelon intermediaries, the principal DEA undercover operative, Special Agent Andresano, arranged to meet a middle-level dealer in a San Diego area cocaine distribution operation. In March 1980, having gained the suspects' trust, Special Agent Andresano met the dealer, John Jacobs, to discuss a steady, large-scale supply. 3 Undercover DEA agents observed Jacobs arrive at the meeting place, a Carlsbad, California, apartment complex, in a brown van. After discussing various aspects of the planned cocaine transaction, Jacobs left Andresano in apartment A and returned shortly with approximately one ounce of cocaine. Andresano paid Jacobs $2300 and ordered six additional ounces of cocaine for delivery in the immediate future. 4 Eight days later Andresano returned to Carlsbad and contacted Jacobs, indicating that he wanted to purchase only two ounces instead of six. Again Andresano waited in apartment A for the arrival of Jacobs with the cocaine. This time, however, undercover DEA agents watched Jacobs drive his van to Kunkler's residence in Carlsbad. Kunkler met Jacobs outside and they walked together back into the house. When Jacobs left Kunkler's house, he drove in a circuitous manner back to the apartment complex, apparently trying to elude or detect surveillance. He went first to apartment D, where he resided, carrying a package wrapped in white paper. Ten minutes later Jacobs went upstairs to apartment A carrying a dark object, which, when delivered to Andresano, was found to contain approximately one ounce of cocaine. Jacobs then returned to apartment D to obtain the other ounce. Andresano paid Jacobs $4400 and they discussed future sales of even larger quantities. After Andresano left with the cocaine, other DEA agents observed Jacobs return to Kunkler's house. 5 Andresano thereafter arranged to purchase twelve ounces of cocaine one week hence. Pursuant to the modus operandi, Andresano arrived in Carlsbad with the money, telephoned Jacobs, and was told to go to apartment A. Jacobs left in his van and drove, again circuitously, to Kunkler's house, where he stayed for about fifteen minutes. Jacobs returned to apartment D, went back out to the van, and then to apartment A, where he delivered a one-ounce bag of cocaine to Andresano. After a field-test was performed, Jacobs made another trip to the van and returned with another bag of cocaine. Jacobs then asserted that he wanted the balance of the money up front before delivering the rest of the cocaine. In the ensuing discussion Andresano told Jacobs he needed to consult with his associate waiting in the car outside before fronting the entire amount. 6 Outside, Andresano and his colleague, also an undercover DEA agent, decided to terminate the undercover operation. Several agents then entered the apartments, arrested the occupants and, with their permission, searched the premises and the van. No substantial quantity of cocaine was found, though much related evidence was discovered and seized. One of the agents left to obtain a search warrant for Kunkler's house, believing that the balance of the twelve ounce order was still in Kunkler's possession. 7 Within ten minutes of Jacobs' arrest other DEA agents observed Kunkler and a companion nervously looking up and down the street in front of Kunkler's house for about five minutes. Fearful that Kunkler would become suspicious if Jacobs did not return to pick up more cocaine or deliver money, and thus might flee or destroy evidence, the agents knocked, announced their identities, and, after receiving no answer, entered through the front door, which was ajar. The agents found Kunkler upstairs, searched him, counted his money, returned it, and then secured the premises for four hours while awaiting the arrival of a search warrant. 8 The search warrant affidavit recounted the foregoing facts, although the affiant police officer failed to reveal the source of his knowledge. When the warrant arrived, a search of Kunkler's house revealed drug paraphernalia and an ounce of cocaine. 2 9 The District Court denied a motion to suppress the evidence found in Kunkler's home and, in a bench trial, convicted him of conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to distribute and aiding and abetting the distribution of cocaine.