Opinion ID: 197765
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Neves Brothers

Text: Jorge testified that, in mid-1994, St. Louis recruited him to help set fire to the building, stating that they would receive money and a car as payment from defendant, who owned a used car dealership. Jorge admitted to pouring and lighting gasoline on the first floor of the building, at the direction of St. Louis. Firefighters arrived shortly thereafter, preventing damage to the building; as a result, Jorge never received payment from defendant. Jorge's testimony also revealed that the government agreed not to prosecute him in exchange for his cooperation in court, that for the past six months he had been held in custody as a material witness and wanted to be released, and that he had several criminal cases pending against him at the time of trial. Joaquim testified that, in the summer of 1994, he learned from St. Louis' brother that defendant was looking for someone who would burn down the Ames building. Joaquim reported that he agreed to set the fire in exchange for $5,000, and then solicited St. Louis' assistance; but, an illegal immigrant, he was detained by the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) -3- before he could act. After his release on bail, he and St. Louis told defendant they would set the fire. Joaquim testified that he witnessed defendant agree to pay St. Louis with a car valued at $2,900. Joaquim admitted pouring gas on the first and second floors of the Ames building, which was then lit by St. Louis, resulting in an explosion and fire that destroyed the building. Joaquim also testified that, the day after the fire, he and St. Louis went to defendant's shop, where St. Louis signed paperwork for the car. The following day, Joaquim went with St. Louis to get the car from defendant, and a few days later, he personally received $2,100 in cash from defendant. Joaquim reported that, in exchange for his testimony and a guilty plea, the government would request that the court depart downward from his guidelines sentence. He also acknowledged that he feared impending deportation, and that he had an extensive criminal history. Defendant denied soliciting either of the Neves brothers to commit arson. He explained that Joaquim had become angry with him sometime prior to the fire because defendant had refused to provide him with bail from INS custody, and had twice ordered Joaquim off his car lot. On the first occasion, about two weeks before the second fire, Joaquim told defendant that he wanted to buy an expensive car, and became angry when defendant questioned him about where he would get the money; the second time, when defendant asked Joaquim whether he had been involved in the fire, Joaquim responded in the negative, but smirked suspiciously. On -4- cross-examination, defendant stated that he did not tell the police when they interviewed him before trial about any existing hostility between himself and Joaquim. St. Louis' brother denied having any conversation with defendant or Joaquim about burning defendant's property.