Opinion ID: 761049
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Evidence Linking Ellick To Methamphetamine Distribution

Text: 19 At trial, the government presented evidence linking Ellick to the drug trafficking activities detailed above, including dealings with Lee, Vera, Altamirano, Harper, and others. Michael Clark, testifying under a plea agreement, stated that he knew Ellick as one of a number of people who had traveled to California and stayed at Vera's home in Ontario, people to whom Vera sold drugs, whom Vera called big money. Trial Transcript (Tr.) at 409. Clark testified that these people included not only Ellick but Lee, Harper, and Marshall. The government also presented receipts from various wire transfers, including one from Ellick to Vera ($90, no date specified), one from Lee to Harper ($899, dated December 1994), two from Marshall to Vera (both undated), and one from Vera to Altamirano (dated January 1996). 20 The most direct evidence against Ellick was the testimony of Agent Woodson. According to Woodson, DEA agents and other law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Ellick's residence on May 30, 1996. During the search, Woodson and one other officer asked Ellick if they could talk to him. Ellick stated that he had a doctor's appointment; the officers told him he was free to go to it. They informed Ellick that he was not under arrest and that he would not be arrested that day. Ellick stated that he did not want to go to his doctor's appointment, and then walked the officers to his backyard and sat down with them. Woodson further testified that the officers did not coerce or threaten Ellick and that no guns were drawn. 21 According to Woodson's testimony, Ellick admitted to being involved with Christopher Lee and others in the distribution of methamphetamine. Ellick told the officers he had traveled four or five times between California and Roswell and had delivered a total of approximately 14 ounces of methamphetamine. He told the officers that he had purchased cell phones for drug couriers and that he had purchased a pager for Lee. He stated that he and Lee had stayed at Vera's residence in California. Woodson further testified that Ellick admitted to having stolen scales from Lee. Ellick told the officers that Lee believed Ellick owed him $1500 for previously distributed methamphetamine. The district court denied Ellick's pretrial motion to suppress Woodson's testimony regarding these statements. 22 Officers executing the search warrant found physical evidence linking Ellick to drug trafficking. They found a handwritten transaction record detailing exchanges of grams placed in bags for dollar amounts, involving Mr. E, Mr. P, and Marshall. (Christopher Lee used Pimp as a nickname.) For example, In California, Mr. E. gave Mr. P. $1,000 in $100 bills for the balance of Monday, January 15, 1996, pickup of 12 grams. Tr. at 355. One entry denotes a $3,400 transfer from Mr. E to Mr. P. Id. Officers also found a handgun. They obtained telephone records for Ellick's residence documenting phone calls to Ricardo Vera's pager, as well as a $3,240 cellular telephone bill. 23 Other evidence found in Ellick's residence linked Ellick with Harper. Officers found a receipt in the name of Larris Slaton (one of Harper's aliases), as well as a photograph of Harper matching one found in Young's residence. They found a handwritten letter from Ellick to a state judge on behalf of Harper, stating Ulysses has lived with me and my family for the last four years. He has been a positive influence on us all. Tr. at 352. Investigators had previously linked Ellick to Harper when they found Ellick's address on the ID card used by Harper at Travelodge in San Bernardino, and Ellick's phone number in Harper's address book. 24 Prior to trial, the court held a competency hearing and determined that Ellick was competent to stand trial. At trial Ellick was convicted of Count I, and he was later sentenced to 151 months imprisonment.