Opinion ID: 345119
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: The Allegations of Prosecutorial Misconduct.

Text: 65 The appellants argue that the prosecutors engaged in misconduct by eliciting various items of testimony which included references to the appellants' prior criminal activities and to Ramirez' status as a fugitive. Gomez alleges that this misconduct also involved continued references to the need for protection of government witnesses and concern for their safety. He also challenges the testimony of witness Miller about his earlier drug activities with co-conspirator Cravero before the alleged inception of the charged conspiracy. He objects similarly to Miller's references to his source of drugs in Colombia and his description of the source as being people and families who were very powerful and influential. He is attempting to show that the prosecutor inflamed the jury against the defendants by testimony as to the arrogance of the Colombians. Finally, he argues that the testimony of agent Short to the effect that there were investigations on these people before was prejudicial because it indicated prior narcotic investigations which were not then before the jury. 66 We will first consider the appellants' objections to certain statements made in the jury's presence concerning the safety of government witnesses. The Government contends that this line of questioning was required to show that payments made to the government informants were not made in return for testimony but were given to the witnesses to permit them to relocate in safety. The trial record shows that the district court sustained objections to many of the prosecutor's questions challenged here. Other allegedly prejudicial statements, however, were made in response to questions to which no objection was sustained. 17 The Government contends inter alia that all of these statements were harmless because the evidence on both the conspiracy and the substantive count overwhelmingly proved the guilt of the appellants. 67 The Government was properly permitted to explain the nature of payments made to Government witnesses. If unexplained, these payments might have left the jury with the impression that witnesses were being paid for testimony favorable to the prosecution. Particularly with respect to witness Orr, the fact and size of payments virtually cried out for an explanation. On cross-examination of Short, Miller and Orr, it was defense counsel who established that Orr and Miller received payments from the Government and that some of the payments were quite large. Absent an explanation of the Marshal's Protection Plan, under which payments were made to insure the safety and relocation of witnesses, defense counsel could have been expected to argue with persuasive effect that the prosecution had bought testimony from selfish and unsavory characters. Under these circumstances, we find no abuse of discretion in the district court's determination to allow proof that large payments were made, not for testimony, but for protection of witnesses. 68 Such testimony necessarily implied that protection was required because the appellants or their cohorts might seek revenge against the witnesses. Although the testimony to that extent was likely harmful to the appellants, the balancing of its probative value against prejudice was for the district judge, and his resolution was proper. We conclude that the prejudicial effect of the testimony in question was insufficient to justify a new trial. In order to require a new trial, the prejudicial effect of improper matter, viewed in the context of the particular trial, must not be overwhelmed, as it was in this case, by evidence of guilt. Rather, a significant possibility must exist that, considering the other evidence presented by both the prosecution and defense, the statement had a substantial impact on the verdict of the jury. United States v. Rojas, 537 F.2d 216 (5th Cir. 1976), cert. denied, 429 U.S. 1061, 97 S.Ct. 785, 50 L.Ed.2d 777 (1977). 69 We next consider the allegation that the district court erroneously admitted evidence of prior misconduct on the part of the appellants. Since bad man testimony of this sort is highly prejudicial, this court has repeatedly warned of the danger inherent in its use. We have followed the rule that the prosecution may not introduce evidence of other criminal acts of the accused unless the evidence is substantially relevant for some other purpose than to show a probability that he committed the crime on trial because he is a man of criminal character. United States v. Johnson, 453 F.2d 1195 (5th Cir. 1972); United States v. Pittman, 439 F.2d 906 (5th Cir. 1971); Roe v. United States, 316 F.2d 617 (5th Cir. 1963). Invoking this familiar principle, appellants are challenging certain testimony which may have incriminated them by revealing prior misconduct allegedly having no relevance to the case at bar. 70 Gomez and Ramirez object to certain testimony which refers to their prior criminal activities and to Ramirez' status as a fugitive. They both object to the following statement by Short: I asked him (Ramirez) where he was wanted in the United States (and) (h)e told me he was wanted in Puerto Rico and in New York. They also object to the statement by Archbold contained in his tape recorded conversation with agent Short that Alberto have (sic) practically the same problem as what Billy have (sic.). The Government contends that these statements were intended to show why the meeting took place in Martinique and to show lack of mistake in arresting Ramirez. (Ramirez had contended throughout the Government's case that the agents were intending to arrest another person and instead mistakenly arrested him). The Government also alleges that the evidence of Ramirez' prior activities was admissible to show the organization and structure of the conspiracy as well as the individual role played by each conspirator. 71 We find that there were substantially relevant reasons for admitting this evidence, other than to show a probability that Ramirez committed the offense because he is a man of criminal character. United States v. Johnson, 453 F.2d 1195 (5th Cir. 1972). The statement by Archbold indicated why the meetings with Short were held in Martinique rather than a United States territory. Since Andries had testified that he knew Ramirez as Alberto Bravo, and since Ramirez used mistaken identity as a defense, the testimony of Short confirmed Ramirez' identity. Furthermore, Ramirez' statement that he was wanted in New York and Puerto Rico was made during negotiations with Short after Ramirez told Short to be careful with his name because he was wanted in the United States. Thus, it was relevant to explain the design of the conspiracy. The prejudice which might have resulted from the reference to Ramirez' fugitive status is simply one of the imperfections of a conspiracy trial. Given the purpose of the testimony and the relatively slight degree of possible prejudice, we conclude that the references were harmless when viewed in the context of the entire trial. Chapman v. California, 386 U.S. 18, 87 S.Ct. 824, 17 L.Ed.2d 705 (1967); United States v. Rhoden, 453 F.2d 598 (5th Cir. 1972) (per curiam). 72 Finally, this was not prior crimes evidence in the ordinary sense of evidence that is unrelated to the acts charged except by a legal inference. Ramirez' statements, necessary to conceal the proposed deal with agent Short, were themselves made in furtherance of a conspiracy covered by the indictment and unavoidably contained references to past misconduct. While it remains imperative to guard against prejudice posed by such evidence, the strictures applicable to admission of other crimes evidence qua other crimes evidence are not fully implicated. 18 73 VI. The Refusal of the Trial Judge to Disqualify Himself. 74 The appellants filed a motion pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 144, seeking to have Judge Fay disqualify himself because of allegedly biased and prejudiced remarks made at Ramirez' bond hearing. The affidavit of Ramirez was based upon four statements made by Judge Fay to the effect: (1) that he had already concluded, on the basis of three earlier trials involving the conspiracy charged in the indictment, that a conspiracy did in fact exist; (2) that he would take those other trials into consideration; (3) that he believed DEA agent Short to be a credible witness; (4) that he had concluded that there was an abundance of testimony in addition to Short's testimony that these three individuals were members of a conspiracy that I can only describe as a large-scale conspiracy composed of the most vicious individuals that this court has ever seen. 75 The appellants contend that, once the affidavit setting forth these contentions is filed, the judge against whom it is filed is limited to a determination of three issues: (1) was the affidavit timely filed; (2) was it accompanied by the necessary certificate of counsel of record; and (3) is the affidavit sufficient in statutory terms? Parrish v. Board of Commissioners of Alabama State Bar, 524 F.2d 98, 100 (5th Cir. 1975) (en banc). The legal sufficiency of the affidavit is determined by ascertaining whether it contains facts which would convince a reasonable man that a bias exists. It is clear, however, that the facts alleged in the affidavit must show that the judge's bias is personal, as opposed to judicial, in nature. Curl v. IBM, 517 F.2d 212 (5th Cir. 1975), cert. denied, 425 U.S. 943, 96 S.Ct. 1683, 48 L.Ed.2d 187 (1975); United States v. Thompson,483 F.2d 527 (3rd Cir. 1973). 76 The very language of section 144 is expressed in terms of personal bias, and for good reason. Ours is not a system of disposable judges wherein members of the judiciary may be discarded after a single use. Yet, appellants would have this court declare that Judge Fay was disqualified from further participation in the case merely on the basis of knowledge he acquired in previous proceedings in his court. Anomalous consequences would result if we were to adopt this tortured interpretation of section 144. For example, it might well become impossible for a judge to continue participating in a case if he grants a motion to suppress illegally obtained evidence. Under appellants view, such a judge would be disqualified by the knowledge, necessarily acquired to grant the requested ruling, that a defendant was caught red-handed with contraband property in his possession. We conclude that the remarks made by Judge Fay were not personal and that his bias, if any, was not extrajudicial. 77 Moreover, we note that Judge Fay made the allegedly prejudicial statements during his consideration of a motion for reduction of bail made pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3146(b). That statute requires the presiding judge to take into account the nature and circumstances of the offense charged, the weight of the evidence against the accused, (and other factors). (emphasis supplied). Judge Fay's comments in each instance were directed to the weight of the evidence against the appellants. He was stating for the record his reasons for concluding that the appellants should be held without bail. In doing so, he indicated no personal bias whatsoever; he merely summarized and explained the reasons for his decision concerning bail. That decision was based solely on information acquired, and conclusions reached, during the performance of his judicial duties. 78