Opinion ID: 3061858
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Blake’s Testimony

Text: Derrick Blake (“Blake”) next testified that he met Knowles in the Bahamas in 1994 and 1995 through his friend, Herbert Hannah (“Hannah”). Knowles asked Blake how much marijuana Blake could handle, and told Blake that he could keep Blake supplied with “whatever [he] needed.” R14 at 632. Shortly after returning to Miami, Blake retrieved “a couple hundred pounds of marijuana” from an individual named “Nick,” whose telephone number he had received from Knowles, in Broward County and then returned to Miami, where he distributed the marijuana. Id. at 632-35. Blake thereafter contacted Knowles about giving Knowles his portion of the proceeds from the sale of the marijuana. In 1995 and 1996, Blake and Knowles, whom Blake referred to as “the boss,” had an arrangement whereby Blake, after selling the drugs, would call Knowles, who would put Blake in touch with either Cartwright or an individual named “Vivian.” Blake would then deliver the money to Cartwright or Vivian, 12 The court repeated its cautionary Rule 404(b) instruction to the jury before admitting this testimony. 21 who were responsible for delivering the money to Knowles in the Bahamas. Blake also started handling cocaine with Knowles in the spring of 1995. Blake received kilograms of cocaine from Vivian or an individual named “Marvin” during this time period.13 Blake sold the drugs and then gave the proceeds to Vivian or Marvin. During this time, Blake was in contact with Knowles over the telephone and saw him in person in the Bahamas. Blake further testified that he was still working for Knowles’ drug organization in 2000.14 During this time, Knowles sent loads of up to 500 kilograms of cocaine and 800 to 1,000 pounds of marijuana from the Bahamas to Miami by boat. Pursuant to Knowles’ instructions, Blake would retrieve the drugs, usually around 500 kilograms of cocaine. Blake would keep 100 kilograms on Knowles’ behalf and deliver the remaining kilograms to the people who had arranged with Knowles to purchase the drugs. During this time, Blake also worked with Cartwright and an individual named Glenroy Riley (“Riley”), who was sent from the Bahamas to Miami to help secure the drugs. In addition to guarding the cocaine at the stash house, Riley was responsible for counting the money once Blake sold the cocaine and then preparing it to give to Cartwright. Knowles 13 It is unclear whether this “Marvin” was Marvin Weech. 14 Before the jury heard this testimony, the court once again reminded the jury that evidence related to Knowles’ drug-trafficking activities in 2000 were not to be considered in deciding whether Knowles was guilty of committing the acts charged in the indictment. 22 specifically requested that the drug proceeds be vacuum sealed so they would not get wet when being smuggled by boat back to the Bahamas. Blake testified that in June 2000, Hannah was arrested attempting to smuggle cocaine into the United States by boat. In a recorded call on 15 July 2000, Hannah’s daugher, Khristi Yates (“Yates”), told Knowles that the authorities had pictures of Hannah and Knowles together. Yates then told Blake, who was present during this phone call, that she needed $40,000 in U.S. currency to pay her father’s attorneys fees. Knowles and Blake agreed that Blake would sell some of the kilograms he had set aside for Knowles in order to give Yates the $40,000 she needed. Blake testified that he had already given Yates $100,000 out of Knowles’ drug proceeds for Hannah’s defense. In a 21 July 2000 phone call between Blake and Knowles, Knowles expressed concern that the authorities would start investigating the source of the money. In other recorded conversations, Blake told Knowles that, per Knowles’ instructions, he had delivered a Samsonite suitcase containing $600,000 in drug proceeds to Riley and Cartwright at a hotel in Miami. In another call on 24 July 2000, Knowles told Blake, “just be cool and watch, watch around you now, stay clean,” which meant that Blake was to be alert and avoid carrying any contraband. R14 at 664-65. In a 29 July 2000 call, Blake told Knowles that he was waiting at a scheduled meeting place to deliver drugs to the 23 Colombians, who were late. Knowles told Blake, “you got to handle them and they got to play,” which meant that Blake was to make sure the Colombians knew that Knowles was in control of the drug transaction and that it had to be done according to Knowles’ rules.15 Later that day, Blake was overheard in a recorded telephone call telling Knowles that he had completed the drug transaction, during which he sold “[s]ome kilos of cocaine” to the Colombians, and that he would call Knowles after he dropped off another 200 kilograms of cocaine to the Colombians. Id. at 673-75.