Opinion ID: 4510144
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Officer Gula’s Testimony at Trial

Text: At trial, the government introduced evidence of Jeffrey Guzman’s conspiracy and Diaz’s role in it, including the testimony of Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Task Force Officer Jason Gula. The government asked Officer Gula about the members of the conspiracy and requested that he “briefly describe in summary how each of these individuals were involved.” App. at 254. Gula testified that Guzman was the head of the operation; that Landy Then, Richard Chalmers, and Louis Bracey bought drugs from Guzman and sold them to their own customers; and that Guzman’s mother helped move and deliver the drugs. The government then asked, “how about the Defendant, Evans Samuel Santos Diaz, how is he involved in this case?” App. at 256. Gula responded, “Evans Santos Diaz through the investigation we identified as being basically a subordinate of Jeffrey Guzman, working at the direction of Jeffrey Guzman, bagging up drugs for Jeffrey Guzman, distributing on behalf of Jeffrey Guzman, and also distributing to his own customers, which we learned through the investigation.” Id. Gula also testified about intercepted communications between Diaz and others and between others talking about Diaz. He repeatedly testified as to the meaning and significance of those communications. After the testimony of several other witnesses, including co-defendants Guzman and Alvarez, and the introduction of text messages and recorded phone calls, the jury convicted Diaz of conspiring to distribute 6 and possess with intent to distribute heroin, cocaine, and crack. 1