Opinion ID: 714140
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Figueroa's Motion For A New Trial.

Text: 19 On appeal, Figueroa contends that a new trial is warranted because (i) the government withheld critical evidence that could have been used to impeach Teixeira; (ii) the government failed to disclose that Ventura, another government witness, had allegedly received substantial consideration for his testimony; and (iii) Teixeira's perjured testimony in the Villado-Arango trial demonstrates that he committed perjury in the Figueroa trial. 20 We review for abuse of discretion a district court's denial of a motion for a new trial made pursuant to Rule 33. United States v. Mayo, 14 F.3d 128, 132 (2d Cir.1994); United States v. Underwood, 932 F.2d 1049, 1052 (2d Cir.), cert. denied, 502 U.S. 942, 112 S.Ct. 382, 116 L.Ed.2d 333 (1991). Findings of fact made in connection with the denial of a motion for new trial are reviewed for clear error. Underwood, 932 F.2d at 1052. We separately consider each of Figueroa's contentions. 21
22 Figueroa argues that a new trial is warranted because the government intentionally failed to disclose transcripts of Teixeira's prior testimony in the Restrepo and Salcedo trials. Those transcripts indicate that Teixeira received a tidy and regular income over a period of several years for serving as an informant, and that his cooperation in ongoing drug investigations may have earned him favorable treatment by the Immigration and Naturalization Service. In addition, while his testimony was unclear, Teixeira admitted in those trials either that he did not file an income tax return for 1987, or that he did not file an income tax return for 1988 reporting his 1987 income. As Figueroa contends, this newly produced evidence reflects Teixeira's bias, interest, and dishonesty. 23 At the outset, we note that a [Rule 33] motion for a new trial based upon previously-undiscovered evidence is ordinarily 'not favored and should be granted only with great caution.'  United States v. Stofsky, 527 F.2d 237, 243 (2d Cir.1975) (quoting United States v. Costello, 255 F.2d 876, 879 (2d Cir.), cert. denied, 357 U.S. 937, 78 S.Ct. 1385, 2 L.Ed.2d 1551 (1958)), cert. denied, 429 U.S. 819, 97 S.Ct. 65, 50 L.Ed.2d 80 (1976). See also United States v. Spencer, 4 F.3d 115, 118 (2d Cir.1993) (new trial is warranted only in the most extraordinary of circumstances (citation and emphasis omitted)). A new trial is warranted under Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83, 83 S.Ct. 1194, 10 L.Ed.2d 215 (1963), however, where (1) the government failed to disclose favorable evidence, and (2) ... the evidence it 'suppressed' was material. United States v. Payne, 63 F.3d 1200, 1208 (2d Cir.1995) (citing Brady, 373 U.S. at 87, 83 S.Ct. at 1196-97). 24 As to the first factor, evidence whose disclosure is required under Brady may consist not only of exculpatory evidence but also of impeachment evidence. Id. at 1210 (citing United States v. Bagley, 473 U.S. 667, 676, 105 S.Ct. 3375, 3380, 87 L.Ed.2d 481 (1985)). As to the second factor, evidence is material generally if it could reasonably be taken to put the whole case in such a different light as to undermine confidence in the verdict. Kyles v. Whitley, --- U.S. ----, ----, 115 S.Ct. 1555, 1566, 131 L.Ed.2d 490 (1995); see also Bagley, 473 U.S. at 678, 105 S.Ct. at 3381-82. Evidence of impeachment is material if the witness whose testimony is attacked supplied the only evidence linking the defendant(s) to the crime, United States v. Petrillo, 821 F.2d 85, 90 (2d Cir.1987), or where the likely impact on the witness's credibility would have undermined a critical element of the prosecution's case. Payne, 63 F.3d at 1210. However, new impeachment evidence is not material, and thus a new trial is not required when the suppressed impeachment evidence merely furnishes an additional basis on which to impeach a witness whose credibility has already been shown to be questionable. Id. (citations omitted). See also United States v. Rosner, 516 F.2d 269, 273-74 (2d Cir.1975) (additional impeachment evidence was not material where other evidence supported conviction), cert. denied, 427 U.S. 911, 96 S.Ct. 3198, 49 L.Ed.2d 1203 (1976). In sum, a new trial is warranted only if the evidence is material, noncumulative, and would probably lead to an acquittal. United States v. Locascio, 6 F.3d 924, 949 (2d Cir.1993) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 114 S.Ct. 1645, 128 L.Ed.2d 365 (1994). 25 The government concedes that the transcripts of Teixeira's prior testimony should have been disclosed as Brady material, as well as pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3500 and in compliance with the district court's disclosure order; but the government argues that these transcripts were not material to the outcome of the trial because Teixeira's credibility was called into question by the defense in cross-examination, and therefore that the further evidence eroding his credibility would have been merely cumulative. 26 We agree with the district court that any evidence of bias, interest or dishonesty stemming from Teixeira's prior testimony in Restrepo or Salcedo would not have been material to the outcome of the trial. Figueroa's jury was aware that Teixeira's testimony regarding his taxes was untrue, because Teixeira recanted it later in the cross-examination. Thus, on the one hand Teixeira swore that he had always paid his taxes, and that he had turned in his 1988 income figures to the IRS at the time of trial; on the other hand Teixeira conceded under oath that, as of the time of trial in 1989, he had not yet filed his 1987 and 1988 tax returns. In summation defense counsel used Teixeira's inconsistent testimony concerning his taxes to attack his credibility. (The district court duly instructed the jury that it could disregard Teixeira's testimony in its entirety if the jury found him unworthy of credence.) Moreover, Teixeira testified that he had received a large sum of money from the government in exchange for testifying and serving as a confidential informant, and defense counsel exploited that testimony in summation to establish Teixeira's interest in the outcome of the case and his bias in favor of the government. 27 In short, defense counsel had sufficient ammunition concerning Teixeira's mendacity, interest and bias as to justify the district court's conclusion that the undisclosed impeachment evidence in the Restrepo and Salcedo transcripts was cumulative. It is also clear that independent evidence was adduced to corroborate Teixeira's testimony regarding Figueroa's participation in the drug deal. 4 We therefore hold that Figueroa is not entitled to a new trial based on newly disclosed evidence because it is probable that the evidence newly discovered would not have altered the outcome of the trial. See United States v. Reyes, 49 F.3d 63, 68 (2d Cir.1995) (New evidence that is merely impeaching will not ordinarily justify a new trial.); Locascio, 6 F.3d at 949 (new trial not warranted unless evidence would probably lead to an acquittal); United States v. Gordils, 982 F.2d 64, 72 (2d Cir.1992) (affirming denial of Rule 33 motion where impeachment evidence was cumulative), cert. denied, 507 U.S. 1054, 113 S.Ct. 1953, 123 L.Ed.2d 657 (1993); United States v. White, 972 F.2d 16, 22 (2d Cir.) (cumulative evidence is routinely held insufficient to warrant a new trial), cert. denied, 506 U.S. 1026, 113 S.Ct. 669, 121 L.Ed.2d 593 (1992). 28
29 Figueroa next contends that a new trial is warranted based on newly discovered evidence of Ventura's interest and bias. Figueroa alleges that Ventura received consideration for his testimony that was never disclosed to the defense as required under section 3500 and Brady. According to Figueroa, this consideration was granted in the form of a great favor to one Pedro Taveras, who is Ventura's cousin. It appears undisputed that Taveras, an indicted co-defendant in this case, was released on bail and fled to the Dominican Republic. 5 Counsel for Figueroa recounted the following allegations in a May 1992 affidavit filed with the district court: that, after Ventura's arrest, Taveras acted as a translator when Ventura was interviewed by the government; that Ventura sought favorable treatment for himself and Taveras in exchange for saying anything; that Ventura assured Taveras that Taveras would get out of here; and that the government did not fight Taveras's release on $100,000 bail (secured by $5000). 30 Taveras's story, as recounted in the attorney's affidavit, relies on post hoc reasoning that is unsupported by a chronology of events. As the district court observed, Taveras's bail was set on November 15, 1988; yet Ventura was not indicted and did not first meet with prosecutors to discuss cooperation until November 22, 1988, and did not enter into a cooperation agreement with the government until April 17, 1989. Even assuming that the bond was set at an unusually low figure, as Figueroa asserts, Figueroa cannot establish a cause and effect relationship between Ventura's cooperation agreement and the setting of Taveras's bail five months earlier. 31 Moreover, such additional evidence of Ventura's interest, even if credible, would not warrant a new trial. For reasons stated above, a defendant who makes a Rule 33 motion must show a reasonable probability that, had the new evidence been disclosed, the jury would have arrived at a different result. Kyles, --- U.S. at ----, 115 S.Ct. at 1566. Additional impeachment evidence will not meet the standard expressed in Kyles if it merely furnishes an additional basis on which to impeach a witness whose credibility has already been shown to be questionable. Payne, 63 F.3d at 1210. Here, defense counsel attacked Ventura's credibility on cross-examination by offering abundant evidence of Ventura's interest and bias, including his written agreement with the government. Evidence concerning Ventura's interest in the bail arrangement for Taveras would therefore have been cumulative, and for that reason does not warrant a new trial. 32
33 Figueroa next argues that the government knowingly permitted Teixeira to commit perjury when he testified on cross-examination that he always did [his] taxes and that he filed a 1988 tax return. Figueroa contends that the government knew, or should have known, that Teixeira's testimony with respect to his income tax filings was perjurious when made because Teixeira had previously testified, in both the Restrepo and Salcedo trials, that he had not paid any income tax in 1987. In Restrepo, Teixeira further conceded that his failure to pay income tax was a criminal act. 34 If newly discovered evidence indicates that testimony given at trial was perjured, the grant of a new trial depends on the materiality of the perjury to the jury's verdict and the extent to which the prosecution was aware of the perjury. United States v. Wallach, 935 F.2d 445, 456 (2d Cir.1991), cert. denied, 508 U.S. 939, 113 S.Ct. 2414, 124 L.Ed.2d 637 (1993). Where the prosecution knew or should have known of the perjury, a new trial is warranted if there is any reasonable likelihood that the false testimony could have affected the judgment of the jury. Id. (quoting United States v. Agurs, 427 U.S. 97, 103, 96 S.Ct. 2392, 2397, 49 L.Ed.2d 342 (1976)); see also Sanders v. Sullivan, 863 F.2d 218, 225 (2d Cir.1988) (question is whether the jury's verdict might be altered). But see United States v. Stofsky, 527 F.2d 237, 243 (2d Cir.1975) (where government knowingly offers perjured testimony, new trial is virtual[ly] automatic). However, where the government was unaware of the perjury at the time of trial, a new trial is warranted only if the testimony was material and 'the court [is left] with a firm belief that but for the perjured testimony, the defendant would most likely not have been convicted.'  Wallach, 935 F.2d at 456 (quoting Sanders, 863 F.2d at 226). 35 For purposes of analysis, the district court proceeded on the assumption that the government knew that Teixeira's testimony was perjurious when made. That assumption was supported by some of the evidence presented to the district court. Prior to the Figueroa trial, Teixeira had testified in both the Restrepo and Salcedo trials that he had not paid any income taxes for 1987. In all of his assignments, Teixeira had worked with the same DEA agent, who was present throughout the Restrepo, Salcedo and Figueroa trials. All three of these cases were prosecuted by the office of the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York. It can be argued, therefore, that the government knew or should have known that Teixeira's statements at the Figueroa trial that I always did my taxes, and that he filed his 1987 and 1988 tax returns, were false when made. See Wallach, 935 F.2d at 457 ([G]iven the inconsistencies in [government witness's] statements the government should have been on notice that [the witness] was perjuring himself.). 36 On the other hand, Teixeira's false testimony in the Figueroa trial was first elicited not by the government, but by defense counsel on cross-examination. That testimony was partially impeached on cross-examination, and then was further discredited, and recanted, on re-cross. In addition, throughout Teixeira's testimony, there was ambiguity as to whether his reference to a particular year was intended to signify the tax year (i.e., the year in which he earned income on which taxes were due), or the year in which he filed a return in respect of that tax year. These circumstances, in our view, may support a finding that the government should not be charged with knowledge of Teixeira's perjury. The district court, however, did not decide whether Teixeira's testimony in the Figueroa trial was perjurious, or whether the government knew that Teixeira's testimony was perjurious. 37 Even assuming, as the district court did, that the government knowingly introduced the perjured testimony, Figueroa is not entitled to a new trial. Where the government knowingly allows perjured testimony to be introduced, a new trial is warranted if there is a reasonable likelihood that the false testimony affected the judgment of the jury. Wallach, 935 F.2d at 456 (citation omitted). No doubt, new impeachment evidence may satisfy the reasonable likelihood standard where a conviction depends on the testimony of a single government witness, or on a witness whose credibility was not attacked on cross-examination. See, e.g., id. at 457-58; Stofsky, 527 F.2d at 246 (recognizing possibility that new evidence regarding credibility of witness may warrant new trial). But where independent evidence supports a defendant's conviction, the subsequent discovery that a witness's testimony at trial was perjured will not warrant a new trial. See, e.g. United States v. Reyes, 49 F.3d 63, 68 (2d Cir.1995) (where government agent subsequently discovered to have perjured himself, new trial not warranted where core of the evidence came from a different witness). 38 The circumstances do not suggest that the undisclosed evidence of Teixeira's perjury would have affected the result. Ample evidence supports Figueroa's conviction. See supra note 4. The additional evidence concerns a collateral issue (Teixeira's taxes), and d[oes] not refute any of [the witness's] testimony against Figueroa. Reyes, 49 F.3d at 68. And Teixeira's testimony regarding his taxes was impeached--actually recanted--on further cross-examination, so that further impeachment evidence on that issue would have been cumulative. For these reasons, the new evidence of Figueroa's perjury is the sort of cumulative impeachment material that is routinely held insufficient to warrant a new trial, United States v. White, 972 F.2d 16, 22 (2d Cir.), cert. denied, 506 U.S. 1026, 113 S.Ct. 669, 121 L.Ed.2d 593 (1992), because it does not undermine the confidence in the verdict. Whitley, --- U.S. at ----, 115 S.Ct. at 1566. Since the jury would probably not have altered its verdict had it known of [Teixeira's] false testimony, Wallach, 935 F.2d at 458, a new trial is not required. 39