Opinion ID: 475421
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Zarate's Arguments

Text: 46 Zarate claims (1) that the evidence established two conspiracies rather than the single conspiracy charged and that he was therefore prejudiced by spillover from the other conspiracy, see Kotteakos v. United States, 328 U.S. 750, 765, 66 S.Ct. 1239, 1248, 90 L.Ed. 1557 (1946); (2) that it was error not to grant his severance motion; and (3) that evidence of his involvement in racial rivalries and with the use of firearms was so prejudicial that it should have been excluded under Fed.R.Evid. 403. 47 From the evidence we have summarized above it is apparent that the jury could find the New Jersey and New York operations were one conspiracy run by the same people. United States v. Alessi, 638 F.2d 466, 472 (2d Cir.1980); United States v. Potamitis, 739 F.2d 784, 787 (2d Cir.), cert. denied, 469 U.S. 934, 105 S.Ct. 332, 83 L.Ed.2d 269 and 469 U.S. 918, 105 S.Ct. 297, 83 L.Ed.2d 232 (1984). It is well established that one conspiracy does not necessarily end and a new one begin whenever there is a change in personnel, location, or a lapse of time in the conspiracy's operation. United States v. Vila, 599 F.2d 21, 24 (2d Cir.), cert. denied, 444 U.S. 837, 100 S.Ct. 73, 62 L.Ed.2d 48 (1979). In any event, in this case the evidence showed a significant overlap in personnel between the Camden, New Jersey and Bronx, New York locations; there was evidence that the heroin sold from both places was Mexican brown heroin; the selling methods used by the group were the same at both locations; and the lapse in time between the New Jersey and New York operations was minimal. There was sufficient evidence for the jury to find that there was one conspiracy. Moreover, Judge Motley properly instructed the jury on multiple conspiracies; thus, the issue was properly left to the jury's determination. United States v. Tramunti, 513 F.2d 1087, 1107-08 (2d Cir.), cert. denied, 423 U.S. 832, 96 S.Ct. 55, 46 L.Ed.2d 50 (1975). 48 Zarate failed to make any showing that he was prejudiced by the denial of his severance motion. In light of the ample evidence implicating Zarate in the conspiracy, there was no reason to grant his severance motion. 49 Zarate now complains about the admission of allegedly inflammatory testimony that his bodyguard was armed when arrested outside Zarate's house and testimony that Salas fired a machine gun at Zarate's house on Zarate's birthday. By failing to object at trial to the machine gun evidence and by failing to suggest to the trial judge that evidence concerning the bodyguard was unduly prejudicial, Zarate's complaint comes too late. In any event, the evidence was properly admitted. 50 The probative value of the testimony that Bueno-Risquet obtained weapons from Zarate's house in order to chase away a rival group of black drug dealers outweighs any prejudicial impact. As the government suggests, the evidence did not concern racial rivalries; it concerned business. The district court acted within its discretion under Fed.R.Evid. 403 in admitting the evidence. 51 The other claims of error do not merit discussion. 52 Convictions affirmed.