Opinion ID: 608859
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Appellant Mills

Text: 15 Brian Mills was introduced to Manko in Raleigh during the summer of 1988 as a prize customer/distributor--someone who wanted to buy ten kilograms of cocaine weekly from Manko. Mills eventually participated in a joint purchase with Glen Marks of four kilograms of cocaine from Manko. That four kilogram quantity of cocaine was delivered to Mills and his associates in the purchase at an auto-repair shop in Reidsville, N.C. 16 Co-conspirator Reginald Gaddy testified he purchased cocaine from Mills prior to the period covered by the conspiracy beginning in 1985. Gene Burns, a co-conspirator, testified he bought cocaine from Mills during the summer of 1988 which includes the conspiracy period. There was also testimony that Mills assisted Marks in an eight to ten ounce sale of cocaine in Raleigh, N.C. Later in 1989, Mills sought to buy three kilograms, but actually purchased one kilogram less nine ounces, and was told by Manko, if they needed more cocaine, they could follow him back to Florida and he could purchase any amount.... (App. 389-90). There was other testimony that Mills was either a participant in or facilitated (i.e. he carried cocaine to a co-conspirator's car after a sale) conspiracy-related drug transactions. 17 During trial, cross examination of DEA Agent John Ingram by Mills' counsel uncovered an odd predicament presented by the Grand Jury's indictment of Mills. Agent Ingram testified at trial for the first time that his testimony before the Grand Jury concerning Mills' involvement in the conspiracy was factually mistaken. Agent Ingram admitted at trial that he wrongly told the Grand Jury of a co-conspirator called Brincefield but inadvertently called him by Mills' name. Just before resting his case, Mills moved to dismiss the indictment and renewed that motion after the jury delivered its guilty verdict. The district court denied both motions. 18 Simply put, Agent Ingram unintentionally confused Brincefield with Mills in his Grand Jury testimony. Accordingly, the Grand Jury heard testimony about a man called Brian Mills who was involved in the conspiracy, but did so through an account of conduct which actually related to a man named Brincefield. Ultimately, the Grand Jury indicted Mills on the testimony of Agent Ingram. There was no claim at trial that either the Government or Agent Ingram maliciously misled the Grand Jury.