Opinion ID: 75947
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: evidence of the substantive drug offenses

Text: 27 Smith, Allen, and Gallashaw were not only charged with the drug conspiracy of Count 1, but were also charged with substantive offenses of drug possession with intent to distribute. Count 4 charged Allen and Gallashaw with possession of an unspecified amount of cocaine with intent to distribute in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1). This substantive drug charge was the result of the seizure of cocaine at Allen's residence at 1520 Northwest 61st Street on September 10, 1998. Counts 10 and 11 charged Smith and Gallashaw with possession of unspecified amounts of cocaine and marijuana with intent to distribute in violation of the same statute. The Government alleged these counts as a result of the seizure on October 24, 1998, of both substances at Gallashaw's residence, located at 7705 Northwest 10th Avenue. 28 To prove Count 4, the Government called law enforcement officers to testify about the seizure and identification of drugs at Allen's residence. Detective Robert Couseillant of the Miami Police Department testified that he participated in the search of this location. On September 10, 1998, at about 5 o'clock in the afternoon, Couseillant and about seven or eight other police officers arrived at the target location and knocked on the door. Allen answered the door, holding a bag containing a suspicious substance, and then ran back into the apartment upon discovering who was at the door. Officers apprehended Allen and conducted a search of the premises. The search resulted in the seizure of numerous suspicious substances in varying quantities. 24 Bolstering the evidence against Allen, Couseillant testified that Allen admitted responsibility to him for the substances recovered from the residence. 25 Lab tests revealed the substances to be cocaine. 29 Also indicting Gallashaw on Count 4, the Government presented significant evidence to show that he, at the very least, aided and abetted in the substantive drug violation. Bullard confirmed that Allen's duty was to report any drugs seized by the police to Gallashaw through Riggins. 26 Consistent with Bullard's testimony, the Government introduced wiretap evidence of a phone conversation between Gallashaw and Harrison Riggins, an unindicted co-conspirator, in which Gallashaw inquires as to what the police seized from Allen's residence. 27 In another wiretap, Allen asks Gallashaw for money for an attorney, and Gallashaw agrees to pay. 28 30 To prove Counts 10 and 11, the Government took the same approach as it did to prove Count 4. The Government called law enforcement officers to testify about the seizure and identification of drugs at Gallashaw's residence. Special Agent David McCranie of the Federal Bureau of Investigation testified that he participated in executing a search warrant at Gallashaw's address on October 24, 1998. McCranie, and approximately ten to fifteen other officers, including a SWAT team from the Miami police department, gained entry to the residence and seized a number of suspicious substances. 29 Lab tests confirmed that the substances were cocaine and marijuana. 31 Bullard, a Government witness, testified that he was packaging cocaine at Gallashaw's residence when McCranie and other law enforcement officers raided the place and arrested him. He also testified that both cocaine and marijuana were present in Gallashaw's residence at the time of the raid. When shown pictures at trial of the substances that were seized, Bullard identified them as packaged cocaine. 30 32 Also indicting Smith on Counts 10 and 11, the Government presented significant evidence to show that he, at the very least, aided and abetted in these substantive drug violations. Importantly, as shown by the testimony of several individuals, Gallashaw reported to Smith in the organization's hierarchy. The Government intercepted a telephone call from Gallashaw to Smith in which Gallashaw informs Smith about the raid. Smith asks Gallashaw, What they got, dope out of there? 31