Opinion ID: 566092
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Gonzalez' Briefcase

Text: 8 Even though we find that the search of the Sanchez house was valid, we consider separately the search of the locked briefcase belonging to Gonzalez that was found in the house. See United States v. Freire, 710 F.2d 1515 (11th Cir.1983) (search of briefcase found in co-defendant's car considered separately from search of car), cert. denied, 465 U.S. 1023, 104 S.Ct. 1277, 79 L.Ed.2d 681 (1984). Gonzalez argues 7 that even if the search of Sanchez' house was valid pursuant to the search warrant, that warrant could not justify the search of the locked briefcase which the agents knew belonged to Gonzalez. We disagree. 9 The items sought in the search of Sanchez' house were documents and United States currency related to the illegal importation and distribution of controlled substances. A briefcase could easily contain such items. Assuming without deciding that Gonzalez had a legitimate expectation of privacy in his locked briefcase, 8 we hold that the valid search warrant for Sanchez' house provided sufficient authorization for the search of the briefcase found in the house. See United States v. Morris, 647 F.2d 568, 572-73 (5th Cir. Unit B 1981) (search of locked jewelry box justified by valid search warrant for premises, though it would be different if the objects sought in the warrant were of a size that would not fit in the box.). 9 We therefore affirm the denial of the motions to suppress.