Opinion ID: 686771
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Abcasises contact the DEA

Text: 9 On March 24, 1991, a few days before Givenchi's arrest, Ralph contacted Agent Anderson of Group 86, an agent for whom the Abcasises had worked prior to April 1990, and provided information about a person who was supposed to arrive from Thailand with heroin. The testimony of the government agents and the Abcasises directly conflicted as to whether there had been previous communications between them since their termination as informants on April 2, 1990. The government agents testified that this was their first communication with the Abcasises since April 1990; the government argued the inference that Ralph initiated this call because the Abcasises realized their importation scheme was under observation. Ralph testified, as outlined below, that he maintained continuous communication with the agents since April 1990, and had given prior information about this very scheme involving Danneal. 10 Agent Anderson testified that, in response to Ralph's call, he told Ralph that Ralph had been deactivated and no longer worked for the DEA. Anderson then told Ralph that Anderson needed to contact his supervisor, Agent Colavito. Agent Colavito spoke with Ralph and asked for specifics about the individual's name or flight number. At trial, Agent Colavito testified that Ralph was trying to make it sound like he was working under my authority, even though Ralph had no authority to arrange any deal. 11 The next day, Anderson spoke with Ralph, who told Anderson that Joseph Danneal would be arriving in Toronto or Montreal with approximately four kilograms of heroin, half in a suitcase, the other half carried internally. Although Anderson was suspicious, he provided Canadian authorities with the information communicated by Ralph. 12 Ralph's next contact with the DEA agents was on March 31, when he beeped Agent Anderson. Agent Anderson informed Agent Colavito of the contact, and Colavito spoke with Ralph and Simon, who taped the conversation. Ralph provided updated information, stating that Danneal Yossef was scheduled to arrive in Toronto or Montreal on March 31 or April 1, carrying two to three kilograms of heroin. Ralph described Danneal's physical appearance. Again, Anderson relayed this information to Canadian authorities. 13 The DEA agents arranged to bring the informant Danneal directly to Kennedy Airport in New York on March 29, even though Simon had previously arranged to meet him in Canada. On April 4, Danneal called the Abcasises and spoke with Rebecca. She sounded surprised on the phone and said that her family was looking for him. Rebecca told Danneal to contact Ralph. 14 When Ralph and Danneal spoke, Ralph said that he wanted to meet with Danneal in person. They agreed to meet on Seventh Avenue and 38th Street in Manhattan. After this call, Ralph called the Task Force, but Anderson was away. Special Agent Anthony Benedetto took the call, and Ralph furnished a Connecticut phone number that he claimed belonged to the individuals involved in the scheme. Benedetto told Ralph to contact Anderson with this information, but Ralph never did. 15 Danneal and Ralph changed the location of their meeting several times, but ultimately agreed to meet at Third Avenue and 27th Street. When Ralph arrived, he was arrested. His mother and father were arrested a short time later. 16