Opinion ID: 2645892
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The search of Aguiar’s cell phone.

Text: After Aguiar was arrested, his car was searched. One of the items seized was his iPhone. Roughly two months after he was arrested, the DEA examined the iPhone, and discovered a photograph of what appeared to be a brick of cocaine. The district court found Aguiar’s iPhone was located in his car, and thus the DEA could legally search it without a warrant because it was a closed container, found in the car, “that may conceal the object of the search.” United States v. Ross, 456 U.S. 798, 825 (1982). On appeal, Aguiar challenges the search of his cell phone, which he argues required the agents first obtain a warrant. See United States v. Flores‐Lopez, 670 F.3d 803, 805 (7th Cir. 2012) (noting that cell phones are “quite likely to contain, or provide ready access to, a vast body of personal data. The potential invasion of privacy in a search of a cell phone is greater than in a search of a ‘container’ in a conventional sense even when the conventional container is a purse that contains an address book (itself a container) and photos.”) Even assuming arguendo that the warrantless search of Aguiar’s cell phone violated the Fourth Amendment, the only evidence derived therefrom and introduced at trial was a picture of a brick of cocaine and a print‐out of Aguiar’s contact list. “[E]ven an erroneous evidentiary ruling will not lead to 23 reversal unless affirmance would be inconsistent with substantial justice. . . . We will not conclude that a substantial right was affected unless it is likely that in some material respect the factfinder’s judgment was swayed by the error.” Perry v. Ethan Allen, Inc., 115 F.3d 143, 150 (2d Cir. 1997) (internal quotation marks omitted). Given the volume of evidence introduced at trial by the government, any error resulting from the introduction of evidence collected from Aguiar’s cell phone was harmless. See, e.g., United States v. Al–Moayad, 545 F.3d 139, 164 (2d Cir. 2008) (“A district court’s erroneous admission of evidence is harmless if the appellate court can conclude with fair assurance that the evidence did not substantially influence the jury.”(internal quotation marks omitted)).