Opinion ID: 626993
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Sufficiency of the Title III Application

Text: Moore offers a curious argument that the Title III application submitted by the investigating prosecutor was facially deficient because the prosecutor was not admitted to practice in Puerto Rico, the jurisdiction where the warrant was obtained. We find that this argument was waived under Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 12. [U]nder Rule 12, a suppression argument raised for the first time on appeal is waived ( i.e., completely barred) absent good cause, including when the defendant filed a suppression motion but failed to include the specific issues raised on appeal. United States v. Rose, 538 F.3d 175, 177, 182 (3d Cir.2008). Rose concerned evidence which the defendant sought to suppress under the Fourth Amendment on the grounds that the warrant was facially deficient, id. at 176-77, but in light of the expansive language of Rule 12(b)(3)(C), which applies broadly to a motion to suppress, we find it equally appropriate to apply this waiver rule in the Title III context. See, e.g., United States v. Kincaide, 145 F.3d 771, 778 (6th Cir. 1998) (holding that failure to seek suppression of Title III wiretap evidence waived claim on appeal under Rule 12); United States v. Torres, 908 F.2d 1417, 1424 (9th Cir.1990) (same). Thus, although Moore submitted a pre-trial motion to suppress the wiretap evidence, that motion preserved only those arguments which he specifically raised, and he did not raise this purported deficiency. Nor can Moore offer any argument as to why he was unable to make a proper motion, or contend that he was unaware of this potential basis for suppression, as would warrant a waiver exception under 18 U.S.C. § 2518(10)(a): his co-defendant, Berrios, moved for a new trial based on the purported deficiency in the Title III application, which Moore did not join. The argument was accordingly waived under Rule 12, and because the plain error doctrine is inapplicable, see Rose, 538 F.3d at 177, we do not reach its dubious merits.