Opinion ID: 2996468
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Undisclosed Giglio Material

Text: Defendants maintain that the district court erred in failing to dismiss the indictment or grant a new trial based upon prosecutorial misconduct. Our review of a district court’s denial of a post-trial motion for a new trial is deferential. See Turner v. Miller, 301 F.3d 599, 601 (7th Cir. 2002); see also Amer. Nat. Bank & Trust v. Regional Trans. Auth., 125 F.3d 420, 431 (7th Cir. 1997) (citation omitted). We reverse the district court’s denial of such a motion only upon a showing that the district court abused its discretion. Carter v. Chicago Police Officers, 161 F.3d 1071, 1079 (7th Cir. 1998). Under the abuse of discretion standard, we do not second-guess the decision of a trial judge, Amer. Nat. Bank & Trust, 125 F.3d at 420, nor do we reweigh the evidence. See Alverio v. Sam’s Warehouse Club, Inc., 253 F.3d 933, 939 (7th Cir. 2001). In reviewing a motion for a new trial, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prevailing party, we draw all reasonable inferences that can be drawn from the evidence and will not set aside the jury’s verdict if there is a reasonable basis in the record which supports that verdict. See Carter, 161 F.3d at 1079. Defendants, therefore, face a difficult burden in order to succeed. See Alverio, 253 F.3d at 939 (“[Defendant] bears a heavy burden in convincing us that the district court should have granted her a new trial.”); see also Amer. Nat. Bank & Trust, 125 F.3d at 431. The first issue of the joint brief repeats the six instances specified in the supplemental motion for a Giglio hearing and new trial alleging the government failed to disclose that: (1) Woodall’s testimony lacked credibility because he was being investigated for the theft of cocaine from an unrelated drug dealer’s car; (2) Woodall Nos. 00-2837, 00-3017, 00-3070, and 00-3514 9 committed perjury in swearing to the affidavit that provided the basis for the search warrant executed on Souffront’s apartment; (3) Woodall stole cocaine and money from Souffront’s apartment; (4) Woodall stole drugs, fabricated a search warrant, and engaged in criminal activity with respect to the arrest and prosecution of Evelyn Miranda (“Miranda”) in an unrelated case; (5) an ATF agent in the instant case covered-up and allegedly participated in the theft of jewelry and money from an unrelated third party in a 1992 search; and (6) Escobar committed perjury in omitting to testify about his receipt and sale of drugs for another drug ring during his involvement with the charged conspiracy. In Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83, 87 (1963), “the suppression by the prosecution of evidence favorable to an accused upon request violates due process where the evidence is material either to guilt or to punishment, irrespective of the good faith or bad faith of the prosecution.” Impeachment evidence as well as exculpatory evidence falls within this rule. Giglio, 405 U.S. at 154; see also United States v. Bagley, 473 U.S. 667, 676 (1985). Such evidence also includes information which may be known only to the police investigators and not the prosecutors. Kyles v. Whitley, 514 U.S. 419, 433-34 (1995). With a Brady challenge, a defendant must establish that the prosecution suppressed evidence, the evidence was favorable to the defense, and the evidence was material to an issue at trial. United States v. Silva, 71 F.3d 667, 670 (7th Cir. 1995) (citations omitted). Like the case in Bagley, 473 U.S. at 678, where the government failed to assist the defense by disclosing information that might have been helpful in conducting cross-examination, “such suppression of evidence amounts to a constitutional violation only if it deprives the defendant of a fair trial . . . and . . . only if the evidence is material in the sense that its suppression undermines confidence in the outcome of 10 Nos. 00-2837, 00-3017, 00-3070, and 00-3514 the trial.” The suppressed evidence is material “only if there is a reasonable probability that, had the evidence been disclosed to the defense, the result of the proceeding would have been different.” Id. at 682; see also Strickler v. Greene, 527 U.S. 263, 280 (1999). In addition, the effect that a particular piece of evidence is likely to have had on the outcome of a trial must be determined in light of the full context of the weight and credibility of all evidence actually presented at trial. Having personally observed the entire proceeding, the district court judge is best positioned to make this determina- tion. Silva, 71 F.3d at 670. Although we will address each of the six Giglio allegations individually, after reviewing the extensive record, we agree with the district court’s determination in its unpublished memorandum opinion and order in response to defendants’ motion and supplemental motion for a Giglio hearing and a new trial, holding that “[t]he staggering weight of the evidence at trial leads this Court to the certain conclusion that there was no reasonable probability of a different result at the trial even had all of the allegedly suppressed evidence been disclosed.” The district court noted, During a nine-week trial, the jury listened to hours of evidence recorded on approximately seventy audio tapes. The tapes featured numerous conversations in which the Defendants spoke about the charged drug sales. The jury was presented with more than enough evidence from the lips of the Defendants to convict all of the Defendants.
Woodall testified that he and nine other officers executed a search warrant at Souffront’s apartment. Woodall cataNos. 00-2837, 00-3017, 00-3070, and 00-3514 11 logued the evidence brought to him by the other officers. The items recovered included a .38 caliber handgun and a fire extinguisher with a false bottom which concealed a quantity of powder and rock cocaine. No substantive charges were based on this cocaine. The handgun, fire extinguisher, and cocaine were introduced into evidence at trial. The scope of Woodall’s testimony involved identifying the exhibits which had been collected by the other officers. The materials disclosed by the government indicate that Woodall was being investigated for allegedly stealing narcotics from the car of a purported drug dealer named Garza, who had no involvement in the defendants’ conspiracy. The district court conceded this evidence would be favorable to the defendants in order to impeach the credibility of Woodall’s testimony in defendants’ case. However, the remaining question is whether this evidence was material to an issue at trial, see Silva, 71 F.3d at 670, which would then have changed the result of the trial if the information had been disclosed to the defendants. See Bagley, 473 U.S. at 682. Defendants argue that Woodall was not a credible witness to the search of Souffront’s apartment because he allegedly acted improperly on a prior occasion and that the evidence from the search should have been excluded because Woodall was involved. Defendants conclude this entitles them to a new trial yet they have not demonstrated that Woodall’s testimony was false. In a single, tape-recorded conversation with Colon, Souffront corroborated Woodall’s testimony. Souffront told Colon that the police “got a gun from the house,” “took the rest of the [cocaine],” and recovered “the fire extinguisher.” The trial record indicates Woodall’s testimony was corroborated not only by other witnesses, including conversations between some of the defendants and testimony from Herrera and Escobar, but by the government’s physical 12 Nos. 00-2837, 00-3017, 00-3070, and 00-3514 evidence. Even without the evidence found in Souffront’s apartment, additional evidence against the defendants was so overwhelming that it was sufficient to convict them of the charges. There was no reasonable probability that the outcome of the proceeding would have been different, see Bagley, 473 U.S. at 682, and the district court did not abuse its discretion in denying defendants’ motion based on this factor.
Defendants maintain that Woodall committed perjury in his affidavit in support of the search warrant for Souffront’s apartment. Although all defendants join in this argument, only Souffront, who had an expectation of privacy in his apartment, has standing to challenge the affidavit. See Minnesota v. Carter, 525 U.S. 83, 91 (1998). Even had the evidence from Souffront’s apartment been obtained through an illegal search and seizure, it would still be admissible against the other defendants. See Rakas v. Illinois, 439 U.S. 128, 134 (1978) (“A person who is aggrieved by an illegal search and seizure only through the introduction of damaging evidence secured by a search of a third person’s premises or property has not had any of his Fourth Amendment rights infringed.”); see also Terry v. Martin, 120 F.3d 661, 664 (7th Cir. 1997). Defendants state that “[t]he warrant is defective on its face and should have been quashed,” based on the fact that the warrant contained a statement that police were told about Souffront’s apartment from a reliable informant on February 4, 1994 but the warrant was signed and dated February 4, 1996. A motion to quash a search warrant based on false information in the supporting affidavit is reviewed under the dictates of Franks v. Delaware, 438 U.S. 154 (1978). See United States v. Jackson, 103 F.3d 561, 573 (7th Cir. 1996). Nos. 00-2837, 00-3017, 00-3070, and 00-3514 13 Due to the procedure of the case, in that the undisclosed information was first revealed to the court at Martinez’s sentencing hearing, Souffront never actually requested a Franks hearing. The district court, therefore, did not rule on whether or not Souffront was entitled to a hearing. Although the defendants have concentrated on arguing this issue as a Giglio violation, the possibility of a Franks hearing was raised in post-trial motions and analyzed under the Franks criteria in the district court’s memorandum opinion and order in response to defendants’ motion and supplemental motion for a Giglio hearing and new trial. Therefore, we will examine the underlying issue of the Franks hearing. See United States v. McDonald, 723 F.2d 1288, 1292-93 (7th Cir. 1983) (citation omitted). In Franks, the Supreme Court held that intentionally or recklessly submitting false statements in the affidavit supporting a search warrant violates the Fourth Amendment. 438 U.S. at 164-65. The Court further held that in certain limited situations, a defendant may obtain a hearing to present evidence challenging the affidavit’s truth. To obtain an evidentiary hearing, the defendant must make a “substantial preliminary showing” that the affiant has intentionally or recklessly included a false statement in the affidavit, and that the false statement is material in order to find probable cause. Id. at 155-56; see also United States v. Hornick, 815 F.2d 1156, 1158 (7th Cir. 1987) (“[defendant] bears a substantial burden to demonstrate probable falsity”). The defendant “must offer direct evidence of the affiant’s state of mind or inferential evidence that the affiant had obvious reasons for omitting facts in order to prove deliberate falsehood or reckless disregard.” United States v. McNeese, 901 F.2d 585, 594 (7th Cir. 1990) (citation omitted). If the material that is allegedly false is set aside, and “there remains sufficient content in the warrant affidavit 14 Nos. 00-2837, 00-3017, 00-3070, and 00-3514 to support a finding of probable cause, no hearing is required.” Franks, 438 U.S. at 171-72. In addition, there is a presumption as to the validity of the affidavit supporting the search warrant which must be overcome. Id. at 171. Souffront argues the warrant was “defective on its face” because of the differences in the two dates—February 4, 1994 and February 4, 1996. What he fails to note is that the complainant line of the cover page of the Search Warrant is dated 04 FEB 96, with the judge’s signature and date of February 4, 1996 signed at the bottom. The first page of the Complaint for Search Warrant again begins with “On 04 FEB 96” and the judge’s signature and date of February 4, 1996 signed at the bottom of the page. The second page of the Complaint reads, “The [reliable informant] stated that in the afternoon hours of 03 FEB 96, he went to [Souffront’s] residence,” and again is signed and dated February 4, 1996 by the judge. The singular appearance of 04 FEB 94 occurs in the probable cause paragraph on the first page of the Complaint. The district court correctly concluded that this singular occurrence of 1994 was merely a typographical error. A technical contradiction does not reveal a disregard of the truth. United States v. Maro, 272 F.3d 817, 822 (7th Cir. 2001). Souffront also contends that “[a] Franks motion could have been filed if the warrant were not quashed outright” if the information concerning the investigation of Woodall had been disclosed. Again, Souffront must make a substantial showing that the affidavit contained erroneous information and that Woodall knew the affidavit was false or at least demonstrate that Woodall recklessly disregarded the truth. See United States v. Amerson, 185 F.3d 676, 687-88 (7th Cir. 1999) (citation omitted). Evidently, Souffront bases this argument on Woodall’s conduct concerning Garza, which we have already disNos. 00-2837, 00-3017, 00-3070, and 00-3514 15 cussed and dismissed, and Woodall’s alleged conduct in an unrelated search of Miranda’s apartment in 1995, information which was part of the undisclosed material the court reviewed in camera. Miranda, arrested for narcotics offenses, alleged that statements made in support of the search warrant for her apartment were false and that the police officers who executed the search, one of whom was Woodall, stole a kilogram of cocaine. See also People v. Miranda, 769 N.E.2d 1000, 1003 (Ill. App. Ct. 2002). Woodall did not sign the affidavit in support of Miranda’s warrant, and she made no specific allegations against him; she never mentioned him at any time. The state court judge held a Franks hearing at which Woodall was not asked to testify and denied Miranda’s motion to suppress. Miranda was tried and convicted at that time.6 Therefore, Miranda’s allegations would not have been admissible against Woodall under FED. R. EVID. 608(b), 6 Miranda’s conviction was later vacated, see Miranda, 769 N.E.2d at 1003, based on the admissions of Chicago police officer John Galligan, who signed the Miranda search warrant. Galligan pleaded guilty to felony charges and stated that he had protected his partner, Joseph Miedzianowski, who had stolen the cocaine from Miranda’s apartment. See Todd Lightly, Ex-cop’s Partner Guilty of Cover-up, CHI. TRIB., Nov. 9, 2001, § 2, at 1. Miedzianowski, leader of a drug ring operating within the police department’s gang crimes unit, was convicted on ten felony counts, including racketeering and drug conspiracy. Id.; see United States v. Miedzianowski, No. 98 CR 923, 2003 WL 280582, at  (N.D. Ill. Feb. 6, 2003); United States v. Miedzianowski, No. 98 CR 923, 2002 WL 737248, at  (N.D. Ill. Apr. 25, 2002). However, there was no admissible evidence against Woodall at the time of defendants’ trial. These later developments are irrelevant “because the question is whether the result would have changed if the prosecutors disclosed the evidence at the time, not whether the outcome would differ if the case were tried today.” United States v. Dimas, 3 F.3d 1015, 1019 n.3 (7th Cir. 1993). 16 Nos. 00-2837, 00-3017, 00-3070, and 00-3514 which only allows evidence concerning specific instances of witness conduct as to truthfulness or untruthfulness. See United States v. Tomblin, 46 F.3d 1369, 1389 (7th Cir. 1995). At the time of defendants’ trial, all the AUSAs knew was that there were unsubstantiated allegations against several Chicago police officers, but none directly accusing Woodall, who had participated in the search of Souffront’s and Miranda’s apartments, of misconduct. The failure to disclose untrustworthy and unsubstantiated allegations against a government witness is not a Brady violation. See United States v. Locascio, 6 F.3d 924, 948 (7th Cir. 1993). While it is unlikely this information would have been admissible to cast doubt on Woodall’s credibility, we do not believe the AUSAs withheld material evidence or that defendants were prejudiced by the nondisclosure of the information. Defendants’ trial ended in July 1998, and it was not until the fall of 1998 that government wiretaps revealed the truth of Miranda’s allegations. Souffront does not make a clear or concise argument but insists that Woodall’s alleged involvement in the Miranda theft, along with other evidence, would have required a Franks hearing, resulting in suppression of the warrant and thereby “negating [defendants’] guilt.” However, Souffront must make a “substantial preliminary showing” that Woodall lied in the affidavit. Souffront continues to argue that because one of the officers indicted in the Miranda case was found to have made false statements in the affidavit for a search warrant, and Woodall was one of the officers present at the execution of the Miranda search warrant, then Woodall must have made false statements in this case. Souffront has failed to identify any false statement in the affidavit nor has he established that there was a false statement material to probable cause. The presumption of validity cannot be overcome by defendant’s self-interested inferences and conclusory Nos. 00-2837, 00-3017, 00-3070, and 00-3514 17 statements. McDonald, 723 F.2d at 1294 (citing Franks, 438 U.S. at 171). The district court did not abuse its discretion in denying defendants’ motion for a new trial based on Woodall’s alleged perjury in the search warrant. c. Woodall’s alleged theft from Souffront’s apartment Again, only Souffront has standing to contest this issue concerning the search of his apartment. See Rakas, 439 U.S. at 134. And again, the argument on this issue lacks any clarity beyond stating that “Officer Woodall stole cocaine and money from Souffront’s apartment on February 5, 1996, and other personal property.” The consolidated brief states: [W]e know from the allegations of Rene Herrera that there was substantially more than 44 grams of cocaine at Souffront’s house on February 5, 1996. It also seems unusual that the officers failed to inventory any money following that search. Clearly, materials similar to those stolen at Miranda’s house were present in Souffront’s house. Souffront has not presented any facts or evidence supporting the conclusion he infers from these assertions. In fact, in making this argument, he contradicts a previous statement he made to Officer Michael Cusack and ATF agent Terry Jackson and taped telephone conversations which indicated that the only things taken were the gun, some cocaine, and the fire extinguisher. There is no evidence that there were substantial quantities of cocaine in the apartment or that money had been taken. Souffront continues to point to Woodall’s alleged behavior concerning Garza and Miranda and concludes that Woodall must have stolen from Souffront’s apartment because Woodall was with a group of police officers who had allegedly stolen money and/or property before. Even if Woodall’s testimony were totally compromised to render the search invalid, given the weight of the evidence, 18 Nos. 00-2837, 00-3017, 00-3070, and 00-3514 Souffront has not shown there was a reasonable probability the trial verdict would have been different. See Bagley, 473 U.S. at 682; see also Strickler, 527 U.S. at 280. d. Woodall’s alleged criminal activity in the Miranda search The merits of this issue have previously been dis- cussed and dismissed. e. ATF agent’s alleged corruption ATF Special Agent Laurie Jolley (“Jolley”) was one of the investigators in this case. In 1994, a discharged ATF supervisor filed a civil suit against the ATF which contained allegations of misconduct against Jolley, claiming that during the execution of a search warrant, Jolley participated in or assisted in the cover-up of the theft of jewelry and money by Miedzianowski, one of the police officers from the Miranda case who was eventually convicted of racketeering and distribution of narcotics. See Klipfel v. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, No. 94 C 6415, 1996 WL 566452 (N.D. Ill. Sept. 27, 1996). Defendants maintain the government failed to disclose these allegations against Jolley. Although the district court believed the government had provided defendants with this information, even had they not, the use of this information to impeach Jolley’s testimony at trial would have been of no assistance to defendants as Jolley testified only on behalf of the defendants. The defendants called Jolley to impeach Herrera’s testimony and to testify as to Marisol’s state of mind when the ATF agents arrested and interrogated her. Impeaching the testimony of their own witness is not favorable to the defense, see Brady, 373 U.S. at 87, and does not raise the probability of a different verdict. Bagley, 473 U.S. at 682. This argument is without merit. Nos. 00-2837, 00-3017, 00-3070, and 00-3514 19 f. Escobar’s alleged perjury Defendants maintain that Escobar’s testimony at trial indicated his only source for obtaining drugs was defendants’ gang and that the government failed to disclose information that Escobar was involved in other drug deals besides those of defendants. Again, defendants’ argument is rambling and inferential. Defendants imply that, had they known Escobar was dealing with other parties, they could have used that evidence to show that the quantity of drugs Escobar received came from other sources, not defendants. Defendants had received discovery materials in which Escobar stated that he had other sources. As part of pretrial discovery in the instant case, defendants received surveillance reports indicating that Escobar was visiting the apartment building of a known supplier. Prior to trial, defendants received a videotape made of Escobar after his arrest in which he acknowledges he had other suppliers. Defendants used a copy of that videotaped statement during cross-examination, yet failed to question him about receiving drugs from other sources. At trial, Escobar testified that while he dealt cocaine from 1980 through 1996, he had “[a]bout ten, at least” suppliers, in addition to the defendants. Defendants also rely on the plea agreement of Yolanda Navarro, another of Escobar’s drug suppliers. However, her plea agreement does not mention Escobar by name or alias. Defendants argument as to Escobar’s perjury is without merit. Based on the above-stated arguments, taken individually or cumulatively, defendants have failed to meet the necessary requirements to grant a Giglio hearing or new trial. The district court did not abuse its discretion in denying defendants’ motion and, given the overwhelming evidence of record, there is no reasonable probability the withheld evidence would have produced a different verdict. See Strickler, 527 U.S. at 280. 20 Nos. 00-2837, 00-3017, 00-3070, and 00-3514