Opinion ID: 810773
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Initial Discussion of the Stash House Robbery

Text: 1 The government introduced this firearm, as well as several other firearms discussed at trial, as exhibits. 5 Case: 10-13161 Date Filed: 10/24/2012 Page: 6 of 41 On July 28, 2008, Blair fulfilled his earlier promise by giving Agents Neal and Zayas a semi-automatic handgun. During the meeting, Agent Zayas complained about “this guy” who had not paid for drugs that Zayas had supplied. Blair asked whether Agent Zayas wanted to “kill” him, but Zayas stated he wanted only to blow up his car. Agent Zayas then asked whether Blair knew anyone who could provide him with an explosive. Blair responded that an explosive was not necessary because he had “goons” who could beat the man up. After Agent Zayas repeated his interest in only the explosive, Blair called one of his “goons,” who told him that he would not be able to secure an explosive. Nonetheless, Blair told Agent Zayas, “Yeah, me and him go take care of it ’cause I like shit like that, mask on[,] put my suit on, do what I gotta do.” Blair added that his goon would want $1000 for the job and that they could “kill him too.” Agent Zayas explained that he did not want his buyer dead because that would make it impossible to obtain payment. Instead, Agent Zayas suggested “jack[ing]” the buyer, which he later testified was a street word for committing a robbery. Blair asked how much money the buyer had, and Agent Zayas stated that the buyer had a lot of “dope”—30 to 40 kilograms of cocaine—in a house. Blair asked if the agents 6 Case: 10-13161 Date Filed: 10/24/2012 Page: 7 of 41 wanted Blair and his goons to get the cocaine, but Agent Zayas stated he needed to think about the offer. Agent Zayas testified that he wanted to reassess the situation. When Agent Zayas expressed doubt over whether Blair and his “guys” knew what they were doing, Blair reassured him that they were “killers” and that he would arm himself with an SKS rifle equipped with a dagger. As the agents departed, Blair asked them to let him know about their plans because he needed money to pay a debt owed for a marijuana purchase. Later that day, Agent Zayas called Blair and confirmed that he wanted Blair and his goons to rob the stash house. Agent Zayas explained that he would order .5 to .75 kilogram of cocaine from his contact at the stash house and then would give Blair the address. Agent Zayas emphasized that it would be a difficult robbery because at least three people would be at the stash house with firearms. Blair also asked if there would be money in addition to the cocaine, but Agent Zayas told him that he could not guarantee it. Blair stated that although he might not participate in the actual robbery, he would have some of his goons do it. Agent Zayas and Blair agreed to meet the next day.