Opinion ID: 492031
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 12

Heading: Government's Summation

Text: 106 Several appellants maintain that the prosecutor made improper and prejudicial remarks during summation and rebuttal summation. They claim that those remarks went far beyond the broad latitude allowed to both the prosecutor and defense counsel in the inferences they may reasonably suggest to the jury during closing argument. United States v. Suarez, 588 F.2d 352, 354 (2d Cir.1978). In assessing a claim of prosecutorial misconduct we draw guidance from the Supreme Court's statement in United States v. Young, 470 U.S. 1, 11-12, 105 S.Ct. 1038, 1044-45, 84 L.Ed.2d 1 (1985), that [i]nappropriate prosecutorial comments, standing alone, [do] not justify a reviewing court to reverse a criminal conviction obtained in an otherwise fair proceeding. Instead ... the remarks must be examined within the context of the trial to determine whether the prosecutor's behavior amounted to prejudicial error. We have recently stated that we will not lightly overturn a conviction solely on the basis of a prosecutor's misstatement in summation. United States v. Cruz, 797 F.2d 90, 93 n. 1 (2d Cir.1986). Whether a prosecutor's improper statement during summation results in a denial of due process depends upon whether the improper statement causes substantial prejudice to the defendant. United States v. Modica, 663 F.2d 1173, 1181 (2d Cir.1981) (per curiam), cert. denied, 456 U.S. 989, 102 S.Ct. 2269, 73 L.Ed.2d 1284 (1982). Bearing these standards in mind, we turn to an examination of the specific instances of excess argued by appellants. 107 Appellants generally contend that the prosecutor impermissibly vouched for the credibility of its case in its rebuttal summation. Appellants cite numerous instances in which they claim that the prosecutor personally attested not only to the witnesses' credibility but also to the government's version of the facts. For example, commenting on one witness' credibility, the prosecutor said, I think that clearly, from what has been said Mr. Cannata [a government witness] was correct (emphasis added). Or, commenting on the evidence a few minutes later, the prosecutor said: I think it is fair to say that Mr. Restaino did deal after this incident with Mr. Annabi (emphasis added). Appellants have identified at least 65 instances in which remarks by the prosecutor were replete with the use of the personal pronoun I or with assertions that a witness was correct or right. At other times the prosecutor introduced a sentence with phrases such as I think it is clear, I am going to suggest to you, or I believe on the basis of what you've heard (emphasis added). On other occasions, the prosecutor answered rhetorical questions such as was [the witness] correct? with phrases such as the answer is yes, or simply, yes.It is well settled that it is improper for a prosecutor to interject personal beliefs into a summation. Young, 470 U.S. at 8-9. The American Bar Association Standards for Criminal Justice state: [i]t is unprofessional conduct for the prosecutor to express his or her personal belief or opinion as to the truth or falsity of any testimony or evidence or the guilt of the defendant. ABA Standards for Criminal Justice 3-5.8(b) (2d ed. 1980); see also United States v. Clark, 613 F.2d 391, 405 (2d Cir.1979), cert. denied, 449 U.S. 820, 101 S.Ct. 78, 66 L.Ed.2d 22 (1980); Suarez, 588 F.2d at 354. While we recognize that [o]ccasional use of ... rhetorical devices is simply fair argument, Modica, 663 F.2d at 1181 (emphasis added), we stress that it is a poor practice, one which this court has repeatedly admonished prosecutors to avoid, see id. at 1179, for prosecutors to frequently use rhetorical statements punctuated with excessive use of the personal pronoun I. It is a perfectly acceptable practice for a prosecutor to use language in addressing the jury such as you are free to conclude, you may perceive that, it is submitted that, or a conclusion on your part may be drawn, to mention only a few examples of unobjectionable phraseology. It is obligatory for prosecutors to find careful ways of inviting jurors to consider drawing argued inferences and conclusions and yet to avoid giving the impression that they are conveying their personal views to the jurors. See id. at 1178-81. 108 However, in deciding whether to reverse a conviction because of the use of the offending personal pronoun or other rhetorical language used improperly or with undue frequency, we assess whether such use amounts to unacceptable vouching. In this instance, we find that the summation, viewed as a whole, is not affected fatally. This is not to say that we find the repeated use of expressions such as, I think it is clear, Does it make sense--I think it does, I don't think we have to guess, or I think it is important to be acceptable. Rather, in this instance, we conclude that the summation viewed as a whole does not reflect prejudicial improper vouching. Appellants point to no objectionable references in the government's initial summation which fills 123 pages of transcript and sought to focus the jury's attention on the government's evidence. The objectionable language occurred in portions of the rebuttal summation which filled some 43 pages of transcript. The prosecutor's offending conduct was thus limited to a relatively small portion of an overall lengthy summation. Although objected to later, contemporaneous objections were not taken by defense counsel. Therefore, the prosecutor did not disregard rulings of the trial court. The judge did instruct the jury that the lawyers' statements were not evidence. We note that the jury acquitted two defendants entirely, and three in part. The district court observed that, in its opinion, the jurors, who deliberated for ten days, considered the evidence very carefully. Under these circumstances, it can hardly be said that appellants suffered substantial prejudice so as to deny them a fair trial. See id. at 1181-82. In our view, it can fairly be said that appellants' convictions were the result of the jury's assessment of the evidence, not the result of improper argument by the prosecutor. See United States v. Biasucci, 786 F.2d 504, 514-15 (2d Cir.1986), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 107 S.Ct. 104, 93 L.Ed.2d 54 (1986). 109 Also challenged by appellant Hani Fraih is a portion of the government's summation. Fraih claims that the prosecutor in summation suggested that he was involved in the actual transportation of heroin from the Middle East to the United States, an accusation which Fraih argues is unsupported by any evidence admitted at trial. Specifically, Fraih objects to the following remarks by the prosecutor: 110 What actually happened during [Fraih's trip to the Middle East], I suggest to you Hani Fraih went to Syria to meet somebody maybe at that church, maybe someplace else, to deliver something and to pick something up; and I suggest to you that he delivered the money and he picked up the heroin. 111 .... 112 Why do I say he picked up the heroin? Why waste the trip? 113 Fraih's counsel's objection to these remarks was overruled by the district court. 114 Though the prosecutor suggested that Fraih actually was involved in the transportation of heroin, Fraih was not charged in the indictment with substantive counts of narcotics importation or possession. However, taken as circumstantial proof that Fraih was involved in the conspiracy to distribute and the conspiracy to import, the actual charges brought against Fraih, the prosecution's accusation has some support in the record. One witness, Basil Cannata, did testify that Fraih traveled to Syria, on his and Sami Annabi's behalf, with money sewn into his coat to pay for heroin. Yet, he did not testify that Fraih transported or possessed heroin. On cross-examination, Cannata stated, I have no personal knowledge that Hani Fraih is involved in narcotics. Hani Fraih, who testified in his own defense, admitted that he traveled to the Middle East, but denied bringing back any contraband into the United States. In asking the jury [w]hy do I say he picked up heroin? and answering [w]hy waste the trip, the question is presented as to whether the prosecutor invited the jury to draw an inference not supported by evidence in the record. 115 We do not believe that the prosecutor's remarks dictate reversal. As stated above, a reversal is warranted only where improper statements have caused substantial prejudice to the defendant. Modica, 663 F.2d at 1181. In Modica, we identified three factors for determining the existence of substantial prejudice: the severity of the misconduct; the measures adopted to cure the misconduct; and the certainty of conviction absent the improper statements. Id.; accord United States v. Valentine, 820 F.2d 565 (2d Cir.1987). Applying these factors, we conclude that the prosecutor's remarks did not result in substantial prejudice to Hani Fraih, such that he was deprived of a fair trial. 116 Our first inquiry is to determine the severity of the claimed misconduct. We do not think that it was especially grievous. The prosecutor's statement does not appear to have been intentionally made, or to be the product of a premeditated plan to suggest to the jury inferences not fairly supported by the evidence; rather, the comment appears to have been one made in passing. Furthermore, the remark was a brief statement in a lengthy summation which occurred after a months-long trial. As such, the remark can fairly be characterized as  'a minor aberration[ ] in a prolonged trial.'  Modica, 663 F.2d at 1181 (citation omitted). Moreover, the remark was not wholly unsupported by evidence in the record, such as Cannata's testimony that the purpose of Fraih's trip to the Middle East was heroin-related. That appellant was not charged with substantive counts of narcotics importation or possession does not preclude the jury from considering evidence of such substantive violations with respect to the conspiracy counts. United States v. Taylor, 562 F.2d 1345, 1353 n. 3 (2d Cir.), cert. denied, 432 U.S. 909, 97 S.Ct. 2958, 53 L.Ed.2d 1083 & 434 U.S. 853, 98 S.Ct. 170, 54 L.Ed.2d 124 (1977); United States v. Chen, 629 F.Supp. 263, 271 (S.D.N.Y.1986). Circumstantial evidence that may be insufficient to support a conviction on a substantive count may still be considered by a jury on a conspiracy count. See United States v. Anderson, 611 F.2d 504, 510 (4th Cir.1979). Under these circumstances, the prosecutor's remarks do not appear particularly egregious. 117 Our second inquiry relates to the curative measures taken by the trial court to deal with the remarks. By sustaining a defendant's objection, or perhaps ordering that the remarks be stricken from the record and issuing a cautionary instruction to the jury, a district court can minimize the prejudicial effect of a prosecutor's remarks. However, in view of the de minimis nature of the prosecutor's alleged errors, the absence of prompt curative instructions did not prejudice appellant. 118 Finally, we inquire as to the certainty of conviction absent the challenged remarks. [I]f proof of guilt is strong, then the prejudicial effect of the comments tends to be deemed insubstantial; if proof of guilt is weak, then improper statements are more likely to result in reversal. Modica, 663 F.2d at 1181. Although the evidence against appellant was not overwhelming as in Modica, it was clearly strong. The government proved that Fraih stored approximately $50,000 in his apartment, rented a safe deposit box together with Maysoun Annabi and stored $138,000 in it, kept a scale in his apartment, and rode in a car with Sami Annabi when Annabi made deliveries of narcotics to Jorge Audinot, an alleged co-conspirator, on a number of occasions. Large amounts of cash and a scale can fairly be said to be tools of the narcotics trade from which a jury could infer participation in a narcotics conspiracy. The strongest evidence in support of the government's theory is Basil Cannata's testimony that Fraih traveled to Syria with money sewn into his coat to pay for drugs. Although Fraih denied that he took any money for delivery with him on his trip and provided various innocent explanations for the money and scale found in his apartment and the money in the safe deposit box, the jury reasonably could have inferred from Cannata's testimony, supported by the other evidence, that Fraih was a part of the narcotics conspiracy charged in the indictment. 119 In sum, two of the three factors mentioned in Modica for assessing whether a defendant was prejudiced by claimed improper remarks by a prosecutor point toward a conclusion that Hani Fraih was not substantially prejudiced in this instance. We believe that any failure by the trial court to take corrective action to cure the effects of the challenged remarks was more than offset by the fact that the claimed impropriety was not egregious and the fact that the case against appellant was strong. It appears to us that based on the evidence properly admitted, the jury would have found Fraih guilty even absent the prosecutor's comments. We conclude that appellant did not suffer substantial prejudice as a result of the prosecutor's remark, and, accordingly, Hani Fraih's convictions on Counts One and Two are affirmed.