Opinion ID: 561304
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: issues

Text: 15 (1) Was it proper for Ramirez to receive multiple punishments for convictions on two separate counts of possessing cocaine with intent to distribute; (2) Did the trial court properly refuse to sever the trials of Ramirez and Izquierdo from those of their co-defendants; (3) As to all the defendants, did the trial court err in admitting and allowing the jury to view 2,248 kilograms of cocaine in the courtroom; (4) With respect to Chao, did the district court abuse its discretion in admitting expert testimony concerning the unusual length of narcotics-oriented telephone calls; (5) Was Chao's Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination violated when the trial court received in evidence Chao's affidavit of indigency; (6) Did the prosecutor's reference in closing argument to facts not in evidence pertaining to Chao's alleged theft of a missing box of cocaine deny Chao a fair trial; (7) Did the trial court deny Luis Gonzalez a fair trial in giving the jury a conscious avoidance instruction pertinent to its consideration of the evidence against him; (8) Was there sufficient evidence to support Chao's, Izquierdo's, Amejeiras' and Luis Gonzalez' convictions of (a) conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to distribute, (b) possession with intent to distribute and (c) aiding and abetting possession of cocaine with intent to distribute; 5 (9) Was the trial court's refusal to give Roberto Gonzalez' proffered instruction requiring membership in the conspiracy to establish vicarious liability on the two possession with intent to distribute counts proper together with the related question of whether sufficient evidence supported Roberto Gonzalez' convictions on the substantive counts; and (10) Did the government's failure to disclose information concerning alleged prior drug activity of government witness Cesar Tobon require that a new trial be granted to Izquierdo, Chao, and Roberto Gonzalez.