Opinion ID: 669661
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: facts

Text: 2 The investigation leading to Minier-Contreras's arrest, trial, and conviction began when a confidential informant (the CI) informed Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) Special Agent Robert Berger that the CI had purchased cocaine on several occasions in apartment 4F at 1766 Amsterdam Avenue in Manhattan. Agent Berger instructed the CI to return to the apartment to attempt to purchase cocaine on January 23, 1992. Upon returning to the apartment, one of the suspects searched the CI for weapons and then directed him to wait in line behind other customers. After gaining admission to apartment 4F, the CI attempted to purchase cocaine. Before the transaction could be consummated, however, an alarm sounded and the suspects picked up the money and cocaine and fled into nearby apartments 4R and 5F. 2 3 After the CI reported this information, Agent Berger obtained a search warrant for apartments 4F, 4R, and 5F. Agent Berger then instructed the CI to return to apartment 4F and purchase cocaine on January 29, 1992. On that date, the CI purchased $30 worth of cocaine from two men in apartment 4F. After purchasing the cocaine, the CI reported that at least five men were involved in the transaction: one man patted him down on the fourth floor landing; another sat on a bannister on the fourth floor; still another stood in the doorway of the apartment holding a .38 caliber, silver-colored handgun; and two more men handled the drugs and cash inside apartment 4F. The CI described each of these men to Agent Berger. 4 Agent Berger instructed the CI and Officer Steven Johnson, of the New York City Housing Authority Police who was working under cover, 3 to go to the building's fourth floor and observe where people ran during the planned ATF raid. The CI and Johnson proceeded to apartment 4F. They were searched for weapons by a man on the landing just below the fourth floor. They then proceeded to the fourth floor, joining other customers in line. After a few minutes, the CI and Johnson signalled to Agent Berger that they were in position. 5 As the raid commenced, an alarm sounded inside apartment 4F. Johnson and the CI observed the customers, who were waiting in line in the hallway, run downstairs while the suspects each ran to apartment 4R or 5F. Johnson and the CI observed Minier-Contreras run past them and throw a revolver into the building's garbage chute. 4 Johnson and the CI then followed the customers downstairs. 6 Agent Berger then executed the search warrants on apartments 4F, 4R, and 5F. No people were found in apartment 4F. However, the agents seized assorted narcotics paraphernalia and .477 grams of cocaine. Three men and a woman were found in apartment 4R. Four men and a woman were found in apartment 5F. All nine of these people were handcuffed and led to the common hallway. Johnson returned to the building's fourth floor and identified six of the men as having been involved in the narcotics operation. After these identifications by Johnson, all nine people were taken outside. One at a time, each person was brought to a car in which sat the CI. The CI was asked to view each to determine whether he or she was one of the people involved in the narcotics operation. The CI identified the same six men as had Johnson. Minier-Contreras was amongst those identified. The man who was not identified and the two women were immediately released. Five days later, Agent Berger presented the CI with a group of photo arrays. Again, the CI identified Minier-Contreras. The CI subsequently identified Minier-Contreras in court. 7 The district court conducted a pre-trial evidentiary hearing pursuant to United States v. Wade, 388 U.S. 218, 239-243, 87 S.Ct. 1926, 1939-41, 18 L.Ed.2d 1149 (1967), in which it determined that testimony concerning the pre-trial identifications was admissible. At trial, the jury heard testimony concerning the previous identifications. 8 Judgment was entered on March 10, 1993. Minier-Contreras filed a timely notice of appeal on March 15, 1993.