Opinion ID: 395219
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Appellant Wagner

Text: 19 We now turn to Wagner's individual allegations of error. Motion to Dismiss Indictment 20 Wagner first argues that the district court erred in denying his motion to dismiss the indictment. Wagner argues that the government's attorney improperly submitted a presigned indictment to the grand jury and that such conduct unduly influenced the grand jury's deliberations. Fed.R.Crim.P. 7(c) (1) requires that (t)he indictment ... shall be signed by the attorney for the government. This signature performs the function of attesting to the action of the grand jury. Its execution is intended to show that the attorney for the government joins with the grand jury in instituting the proceeding .... United States v. Gold, 470 F.Supp. 1336, 1354-55 (N.D.Ill.1979) (citations omitted). 21 In our view appellant's objection to the submission of a presigned indictment to the grand jury has some merit. The grand jury must function independently. 14 We strongly suggest that the government's attorneys not present presigned indictments to the grand jury. Such forbearance is consistent with the independent role of the grand jury and may provide criminal defendants with fewer opportunities to attack their indictments on appeal. However, (i)n the absence of some additional evidence that the prosecutors actually exerted undue influence on the grand jury, the fact that their signatures may have been affixed to the indictment before, rather than after the grand jury's consideration is not significant enough to require dismissal of the indictment. United States v. Tedesco, 441 F.Supp. 1336, 1342 (M.D.Pa.1977); accord, United States v. Frantze, 655 F.2d 128 at 130 (8th Cir. 1981); United States v. Levine, 457 F.2d 1186, 1189 (10th Cir. 1972) (presigned indictment not reversible error where record reveals no undue influence); United States v. Climatemp, Inc., 482 F.Supp. 376, 386 (N.D.Ill.1979); cf. United States v. Gold, supra, 470 F.Supp. at 1354-55 (presigned indictment, which was one of many instances of abuse of grand jury, condemned as a mockery of the grand jury system). See also United States v. Cox, 342 F.2d 167 (5th Cir.) (banc), cert. denied, 381 U.S. 935, 85 S.Ct. 1767, 14 L.Ed.2d 700 (1965). 22 Wagner also argues that the government's attorney improperly appeared as a witness before the grand jury by explaining the elements of the offenses to the grand jury. 15 An appearance before the grand jury by the government's attorney as both a prosecutor and a witness would violate both the Code of Professional Responsibility and Fed.R.Crim.P. 6(d). See United States v. Gold, supra, 470 F.Supp. at 1351; United States v. Treadway, 445 F.Supp. 959, 960-65 (N.D.Tex.1978) (establishing per se rule). However, the government's attorney may explain the elements of the offenses under investigation to the grand jury. Such conduct does not make the government's attorney a witness before the grand jury. Cf. United States v. International Paper Co., 457 F.Supp. 571, 576 (S.D.Tex.1978) (prosecutors' presentation of summaries of testimony from massive and complex investigation to the grand jury was not abuse of grand jury; prosecuting attorney serves as the guiding arm of the grand jury and is responsible for orderly and intelligible presentation of case). 23 Wagner also argues that the indictment was multiplicitous and should have been dismissed because it charged him with both conspiracy to commit a substantive offense and the substantive offense. 16 This argument is not well taken. It is firmly established 'that the commission of the substantive offense and a conspiracy to commit it are separate and distinct offenses.'  United States v. Clark, 613 F.2d 391, 400 (2d Cir. 1979), cert. denied, 449 U.S. 820, 101 S.Ct. 78, 66 L.Ed.2d 22 (1980), citing Pinkerton v. United States, 328 U.S. 640, 643, 66 S.Ct. 1180, 1181, 90 L.Ed. 1489 (1946). Testimony about Revocation of Probation 24 Wagner next argues that the district court erred in refusing to permit him to testify about the possible revocation of his probation. Wagner argues that this information was relevant to the issue of motive. Wagner contends that he could not have participated in further criminal activity with the requisite specific intent because he knew that such activity would jeopardize his probation. The government opposed this proffered testimony on the grounds that any reference to revocation of probation was speculative. 25 Under the circumstances we can find no error in the district court's ruling. The district court permitted Wagner to testify that he was on probation at the time of the offense, that he had employment and insurance problems as a result of his probationary status, and that he was interested in obtaining a pardon. The district court only refused to permit Wagner to testify that his probation would in fact be revoked. The effect of the possibility of revocation of probation on Wagner's motive, lack of specific intent, and good faith belief that he was acting as an informant were presented to the jury during closing arguments. Motion for Mistrial 26 Wagner next argues that the district court erred in denying his motion for a mistrial on the ground of prosecutorial misconduct. 27 During the opening statement the government's attorney made the following comment: 28 On behalf of the United States, I would like to outline for you briefly and explain for you to give you an edge as you begin to listen to the evidence what the Government will introduce to prove to all of you beyond any doubt the guilt of these three defendants, Singer, Alley, and Wagner. 29 Wagner argues that this comment was an impermissible expression of the personal belief or opinion of the government's attorney about the guilt of the defendants. We agree that 30 (a) personal expression of (a) defendant's culpability, which inserts an extraneous and irrelevant issue before the jury, is particularly objectionable and highly improper when made by the prosecutor, whose position of public trust and experience in criminal trials may induce the jury to accord some unwarranted weight to the comment. 31 United States v. Splain, 545 F.2d 1131, 1135 (8th Cir. 1976). However, the prosecutorial comment challenged here does not constitute an expression of personal belief in Wagner's guilt. Fairly read, this comment refers to the government's evidence and introduces the government's theory of the case. 32 Wagner also argues that the government's attorney improperly and prejudicially referred to the defendants as crooks. Following an objection by defense counsel, the district court ordered the question stricken from the record and cautioned the jury to disregard the question. Under the circumstances we find no basis for reversal. See id. at 1134, citing United States v. Cook, 432 F.2d 1093, 1106-07 (7th Cir. 1970), cert. denied, 401 U.S. 996, 91 S.Ct. 1224, 28 L.Ed.2d 535 (1971), and United States v. Hoffman, 415 F.2d 14, 21 (7th Cir.), cert. denied, 396 U.S. 958, 90 S.Ct. 431, 24 L.Ed.2d 423 (1969). However, we emphasize that the remarks are clearly improper, Hall v. United States, 419 F.2d 582, 587 (5th Cir. 1969), and prosecutors must avoid this type of characterization of criminal defendants. United States v. Splain, supra, 545 F.2d at 1134. 17 33 Wagner similarly argues that the government's attorney improperly asked two questions containing the words crimes and theft. We agree that the government's attorney should have used more neutral words in framing these questions. However, we find no grounds for reversal. The district court instructed the jury to disregard the crimes question and answer. With respect to the theft question, the district court initially overruled defense objections but then later offered to give a cautionary instruction to the jury. Defense counsel declined, stating that counsel did not believe the reference caused any prejudice and would prefer not to call the attention of the jury to the reference. Under the circumstances Wagner has no grounds for complaint. 34 Wagner next argues that, in response to the government's attorney's question Would you tell the members of the jury whether or not you carry a gun?, witness Gordon answered that he carried a gun for self-protection and because he was afraid. Under the circumstances the district court did not err in refusing to grant a mistrial. First, the witness's answer was volunteered, not solicited by the government. The government did not exploit the answer and advised the witness to avoid that type of answer in the future. Second, following defense objections, the district court promptly informed the jury that there had been no evidence of threats against the witness in the case and instructed the jury to disregard the answer. Cf. United States v. Vitale, 549 F.2d 71, 72-73 (8th Cir.) (per curiam) (other crimes), cert. denied, 431 U.S. 907, 97 S.Ct. 1704, 52 L.Ed.2d 393 (1977); United States v. Splain, supra, 545 F.2d at 1133 (other crimes). 35 Wagner next argues that the government's attorney during closing arguments improperly expressed her personal opinion of the defendants' credibility 18 and made two references about Wagner's statements to the FBI which were not supported by the record. 19 With respect to the reference to the defendants' credibility, we agree that this remark comes perilously close to an expression of personal opinion. However, as noted by the district court, such remarks by both sides were not uncommon in this trial. The district court cautioned the government's attorney about the choice of words and had earlier instructed the jury that closing arguments only provided an opportunity for argument by counsel and were not evidence. 36 When reviewed in the context of the entire trial, we are satisfied that the remark does not warrant reversal. See United States v. Dawkins, 562 F.2d 567, 568 (8th Cir. 1977) (per curiam), citing United States v. Chrisco, 493 F.2d 232, 238 (8th Cir.), cert. denied, 419 U.S. 847, 95 S.Ct. 84, 42 L.Ed.2d 77 (1974). In view of the conflicting testimony about the defendants' status as informants, some attack upon their credibility was justified. See United States v. Franklin, 568 F.2d 1156, 1158 (8th Cir.), cert. denied, 435 U.S. 955, 98 S.Ct. 1588, 55 L.Ed.2d 807 (1978). The government's attorney made this remark during the course of a closing argument in which she repeatedly emphasized the jury was the final judge of the credibility of the witnesses. We are persuaded that under the circumstances this remark did not carry an inference of outside knowledge or ask the jurors to rely on the prosecutor's own credibility. Id. at 1159, citing United States v. Dawkins, supra, 562 F.2d at 569. 37 We find more troublesome the allegations that the government's attorney inaccurately repeated statements allegedly made by Wagner to the FBI. We do not accept the government's argument that these statements were in effect reasonably drawn inferences based upon Wagner's apparent lack of cooperation with the FBI in the past or at the time of the events in question. The statements were not clearly presented as argument only but were referred to as statements made by Wagner. The government must carefully review the accuracy of statements of this kind before attributing them to a particular witness. 38 Nonetheless, we do not find that the district court abused its discretion in denying the motion for mistrial. Each time the references were made and objected to by defense counsel, the district court cautioned the jury to recall the testimony of the witness. The jury had been instructed earlier that the closing arguments were not evidence. Under the circumstances the district court's admonitions to the jury were sufficient. Cf. United States v. Miranda, 556 F.2d 877, 879-80 (8th Cir. 1977) (government attorney in rebuttal argument improperly read from portions of transcripts of tape recordings; transcripts were not in evidence; cautionary instructions given). 39 We are concerned about the cumulative effect of the improper statements and questions of the prosecutor and affirm only because of the very strong case against the defendant and the prompt cautionary actions taken by the district judge. In affirming, we repeat the admonition of Mr. Justice Sutherland in Berger v. United States, 295 U.S. 78, 88, 55 S.Ct. 629, 633, 79 L.Ed. 1314 (1935): 40 The United States Attorney is the representative not of an ordinary party to a controversy, but of a sovereignty whose obligation to govern impartially is as compelling as its obligation to govern at all; and whose interest, therefore, in a criminal prosecution is not that it shall win a case, but that justice shall be done. As such, he is in a peculiar and very definite sense the servant of the law, the twofold aim of which is that guilt shall not escape or innocence suffer. He may prosecute with earnestness and vigor indeed, he should do so. But, while he may strike hard blows, he is not at liberty to strike foul ones. It is as much his duty to refrain from improper methods calculated to produce a wrongful conviction as it is to use every legitimate means to bring about a just one. Motion for Severance 41 Wagner next argues that the district court erred in denying his motion for severance. Wagner argues that his theory of defense was inconsistent with that of his codefendant Alley, coconspirators' statements were improperly admitted, and the evidence against his codefendants was far more damaging than the evidence against him. These are familiar severance arguments. 42 It is the general rule that persons charged in a conspiracy should be tried together, particularly where proof of the charges against the defendants is based upon the same evidence and acts. Severance will be allowed upon a showing of real prejudice to an individual defendant. However, the motion to sever (under Fed.R.Crim.P. 14) is addressed to the discretion of the trial court, and a denial of severance is not grounds for reversal unless clear prejudice and an abuse of discretion are shown. A defendant must show something more than the mere fact that his (or her) chances for acquittal would have been better had (the defendant) been tried separately. (The defendant) must affirmatively demonstrate that the joint trial prejudiced (his) (or her) right to a fair trial. Thus, before the refusal to sever may be deemed an abuse of discretion on the part of the trial court, prejudice to a defendant's right to a fair trial must be established. 43 United States v. Jackson, 549 F.2d 517, 523-24 (8th Cir.) (citations omitted), cert. denied, 430 U.S. 985, 97 S.Ct. 1682, 52 L.Ed.2d 379 (1977); see United States v. Knife, 592 F.2d 472, 480-81 (8th Cir. 1979); United States v. Martinez, 573 F.2d 529, 532-33 (8th Cir. 1978). 44 First, Wagner argues that his defense was antagonistic to that of his codefendant Alley. Alley's defense theory was intoxication. Even assuming that Wagner's and Alley's defense theories were antagonistic, Wagner failed to show any prejudice to his defense. In order to demonstrate an abuse of discretion, defendants must show more than the fact that co-defendants whose strategies were generally antagonistic were tried together. United States v. Jackson, supra, 549 F.2d at 525 n.6. The district court did not abuse its discretion in denying the motion for severance on this ground. 45 Wagner next argues that the district court should have granted his motion to sever because several statements made by Alley and Singer were erroneously admitted as coconspirators' statements during their joint trial. Sam Jordan, general manager of Allied Transportation, testified on redirect examination that Alley called him about 5:45 a. m. Monday, March 24, and reported that his truck was missing and that he had no idea what had happened to it. Jordan also testified that Singer called him about 8:30 a. m. that morning and reported that he had taken the truck out for a test drive, had stopped at a local motel for a cup of coffee, and had been approached by two men who hijacked the truck. Jordan further testified that he talked to Alley on Tuesday, March 25. 20 Jordan also testified that neither Alley nor Singer told him that they were working for the FBI or the police. 21 46 The district court did not err in admitting into evidence Jordan's testimony about Alley's and Singer's telephone calls on the morning of Monday, March 24. These telephone conversations were properly admissible as coconspirators' statements. See, e. g., United States v. Williams, 604 F.2d 1102, 1112-13 (8th Cir. 1979). Contrary to Wagner's argument, even though these calls were made the day after the events in question, the calls were admissible as acts of concealment done in furtherance of the main criminal conspiracy. Grunewald v. United States, 353 U.S. 391, 405, 77 S.Ct. 963, 974, 1 L.Ed.2d 931 (1957) (emphasis in original). 47 Wagner further argues that his sixth amendment right to confrontation was violated by the admission into evidence of Alley's extrajudicial statements under the coconspirator exception. Unlike Singer, Alley did not testify at trial. We distinguish Bruton v. United States, 391 U.S. 123, 88 S.Ct. 1620, 20 L.Ed.2d 476 (1968), cited by Wagner, because Alley's statements were properly admitted as coconspirators' statements. In the case of a confrontation clause challenge to evidence admitted under an exception to the hearsay rules, this court follows a case-by-case analysis. See, e. g., United States v. Scholle, 553 F.2d 1109, 1119-20 (8th Cir.), cert. denied, 434 U.S. 940, 98 S.Ct. 432, 54 L.Ed.2d 300 (1977). We find that the admission of Alley's statements did not violate Wagner's confrontation rights. The statements were made during telephone calls voluntarily made by the declarant. The statements were damaging because they were consistent with the government's theory of the case; however, the statements were not critical to the government's case in light of other strong evidence of guilt. Jordan was cross-examined; the jury was able to weigh his credibility as a witness. Finally, the district court gave appropriate cautionary instructions to the jury. 48 Having concluded that Alley's and Singer's statements were properly admissible as coconspirators' statements and did not violate the confrontation clause, the district court did not abuse its discretion in denying Wagner's motion for severance on that ground. 49 Last, Wagner argues that the district court should have granted a severance because the evidence against his codefendants was far more damaging than the evidence against him. Wagner stresses that the Monday morning telephone calls made by Alley and Singer were particularly damaging and characterizes these calls as false exculpatory statements. 50 We find no abuse of discretion in the district court's denial of the motion for severance on this ground. 51 The preference for joint trials of defendants jointly indicted, particularly where conspiracy is charged, is not limited by any requirement that the quantum of evidence of each defendant's culpability be equal. It is indeed hard to imagine a multiple defendant case in which the evidence against individual defendants is either quantitatively or qualitatively equivalent. A defendant is not entitled to severance merely because the evidence against a co-defendant is more damaging than the evidence against him (or her). Severance becomes necessary where the proof is such that a jury could not be expected to compartmentalize the evidence as it relates to separate defendants. 52 United States v. Jackson, supra, 549 F.2d at 525 (citations omitted); see United States v. Knife, supra, 592 F.2d at 480. Despite the length of the trial (and this opinion), this was a relatively straightforward case. The government's evidence was not unduly complex or confusing. The principal questions at trial involved the credibility of the witnesses. Each defendant was represented by his own counsel. The district court instructed the jury to consider the evidence against each defendant separately. Even if we accept Wagner's evaluation of the relative strengths of the evidence against each defendant, that factor would not alone warrant a severance. See United States v. Jackson, supra, 549 F.2d at 526. Motion for Judgment of Acquittal 53 Wagner next argues that the district court erred in denying his motion for judgment of acquittal on the ground that the government failed to establish an essential element of the offense charged in each count. Wagner first argues that the government manufactured the requisite interstate commerce element under 18 U.S.C. § 2315 (count I) by deliberately changing the place of delivery from Olathe, Kansas, to Kansas City, Missouri. See note 3 supra. The district court rejected this challenge. We cannot say that this finding is clearly erroneous. Moreover, the record indicates that the beef was in transit from Kansas to Massachusetts; this fact was established by bills of lading and shipment invoices. Under the circumstances it is clear that the beef was moving in interstate commerce. See United States v. Thies, 569 F.2d 1268, 1272-73 (3d Cir. 1978) (18 U.S.C. § 2315); cf. United States v. Garber, 626 F.2d 1144, 1147-52 (3d Cir. 1980) (18 U.S.C. § 659), cert. denied, 449 U.S. 1079, 101 S.Ct. 860, 66 L.Ed.2d 802 (1981); 22 United States v. Franklin, supra, 568 F.2d at 1157 (18 U.S.C. § 659). 54 Wagner next argues that the government's evidence failed to show that the defendants removed the beef from the trailer. Wagner argues that the district court should have granted his motion for acquittal under count II because 18 U.S.C. § 659 requires removal of the goods in question from the vehicle. We must disagree. 55 In the phrase did steal, take, and carry away from a motor truck, ( 23 the indictment was tracking the language of the statute, 18 U.S.C. § 659. While penal statutes are to be strictly construed, the courts are not required to abandon common sense. The purpose of 18 U.S.C. § 659 is to protect interstate shipments. Stealing the truck with its contents is most certainly violative of the statute which proscribes theft of the contents. 56 United States v. Green, 446 F.2d 1169, 1173 (5th Cir. 1971) (citations omitted); see United States v. Padilla, 374 F.2d 782, 784-85 (2d Cir. 1967). Nondisclosure of Brady Materials 57 Wagner next argues that the district court erred in denying his request for disclosure of certain exculpatory materials under Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83, 83 S.Ct. 1194, 10 L.Ed.2d 215 (1963). Wagner sought information about government witness Gordon and the beginning of the undercover investigation. The government opposed disclosure. The district court examined the documents in camera and denied the disclosure request, noting that the documents largely involved ongoing FBI investigations and contained nothing pertinent to Wagner's defense theory. We have reviewed the documents in question and agree with the district court's assessment. The district court did not abuse its discretion in denying Wagner's request for disclosure. See United States v. Washington, 150 U.S.App.D.C. 68, 463 F.2d 904, 905-06 (1972) (per curiam). 58 Accordingly, the judgments of the district court are affirmed. 59