Opinion ID: 790007
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: closing remarks

Text: 33 Finally, Banks contends that the AUSA, in her closing argument, argued facts not in evidence linking Banks to the cocaine found in April's apartment. Because Banks did not object to the government's closing argument in the district court, we review for plain error. See United States v. Sandoval, 347 F.3d 627, 631 (7th Cir.2003). 34 The statements in the closing argument with which Banks takes issue were not improper. The AUSA stated that Banks admitted to both Evans and April that the cocaine was his, and the record supports this statement. Evans testified that when he and Banks were at April's apartment prior to their arrest, Banks said he had to check on something, proceeded to pull the cocaine down from the light fixture, and said, Darlene would be dipping. (Tr. at 1346-47.) April testified that she spoke with Banks after the cocaine had been seized from her apartment and that Banks complained of not knowing who told the police about [h]is drugs being in [April's] house. (Tr. at 1128.) It is a reasonable inference that Banks's words and conduct, reflected in this testimony, constituted admissions that he was the owner of the cocaine stored in April's apartment. Because the AUSA's statements were proper, there is no plain error in the closing argument. 35 We do not find prosecutorial misconduct in this case. Even if the AUSA had acted improperly in any of the situations Banks challenges — in the disclosure of the informant, testimony elicited from Evans, impeachment of Banks, and closing remarks — Banks's conviction would not rightly be reversed based on deprivation of a fair trial. See Badger, 983 F.2d at 1453-54. The informant's testimony was not favorable to Banks, the testimony and questions linking Banks to the gun found in his Jeep were cumulative, and the AUSA's closing remarks were supported by evidence in the record.