Opinion ID: 2982569
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: May 2007 Conspiracy – Delivery to Bush

Text: Defendant Uwazurike met Joanna Bush in 2000, and the two began an affair that lasted, off and on, for several years. In early 2007, Uwazurike told Bush he was having a package delivered to her house in Howell, Michigan. When the package arrived, Bush became curious, and called Uwazurike to tell him she was going to open it. He seemed unconcerned, and she opened the shipping bag. It contained several children’s books. Bush examined them, and finding nothing unusual, gave them to Uwazurike when he arrived at her home later that day. Uwazurike continued using Bush’s address to receive packages. She believed each of these also contained books because she felt them through the shipping bags. Bush estimates she received five or six packages for Uwazurike in the following months. In May 2007, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) received a message from the Narcotics Control Bureau of India (“Bureau”) that the Bureau had intercepted a DHL package destined for the United States.1 The package contained children’s books. The books’ covers had been modified, and over 500 grams of heroin were pressed and sealed inside. The package was addressed to Bush’s residence in Michigan. The DEA decided to attempt a controlled delivery of the package. Agents opened the shipping bag, removed most of the heroin from the book covers, and repackaged them in a shipping box. The box contained a hidden device that would signal when it was opened. On May 30, 2007, the DEA attempted to deliver the package at Bush’s residence. Uwazurike was tracking the package and called to notify her it was at her house. Bush did not 1 The Bureau declined the DEA’s request to investigate the source of the shipment; the sender has not been identified. -2- Case No. 13-2067 United States v. Uwazurike return home in time, and an undercover agent left a delivery tag on the door. Uwazurike told Bush to refuse delivery. She wrote “return to sender” on the door tag, replaced it, and called Uwazurike to let him know. But when she did, he yelled at her, telling her “we want the package,” and instructed her to call DHL and request delivery. (R.52: Trial Tr., 602.) Bush called DHL, and the undercover agent returned to her residence. Bush signed for the box. That evening, the DEA executed a search warrant at Bush’s house. The box was still unopened on the kitchen counter. Bush agreed to cooperate with the government and allowed them to record her phone calls with Uwazurike. Shortly after 10:00 p.m., she called and told him that this time, the shipment had come in a box, not a bag. Uwazurike was concerned and, after asking her more about the box, instructed her to wait while he “ask[ed] the guy.” (R.60: Ex. 7A (First Call Tr.), 820-21.) Uwazurike then called a number in India. He then called Bush, telling her, “take it right back . . . it’s nobody’s shit.” (R.60: Ex 8A (Second Call Tr.), 822.) Uwazurike then phoned the number in India again, and spoke with someone for about fifteen minutes. When he spoke with Bush a third time, he told her to leave the package in her garage and bring it to him in the coming days. By that time, however, the DEA agents had taken the box with them, and Bush told Uwazurike she had sent the package back. Uwazurike was upset, and told her, “[t]hey can’t find it. They are mad.” (R.52: Trial Tr., 617.) The following day he called her again, telling her not to worry; the package had been located.