Opinion ID: 3153469
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: South Florida “Wise Guys”

Text: During closing argument, the prosecutor commented that “Azmat came to East Health Center for one reason, and that was not to minister to people’s pain. He is every bit as cynical and ruthless as Al LeFrancois, Sean Clark, Frankie Barbuscia, all those wannabe wise guys from [S]outh Florida. He’s no different. He’s no better.” Dr. Azmat argues that this comment was unsupported by the evidence, and, in conjunction with the prosecutor frequently noting that his codefendants were from South Florida, was meant to connect him to organized crime. Dr. Azmat’s counsel did not object to the prosecutor’s closing arguments or use of the phrase “South Florida” during questioning. When the defendant does not object to the propriety of the prosecutor’s statement, we review for plain error only. United States v. Flanders, 752 F.3d 1317, 1332-33 (11th Cir. 2014), cert. denied, 135 S. Ct. 1757 (2015). In that case, “the defendant must show that (1) an error occurred; (2) the error was plain; (3) it affected his substantial rights; and (4) it seriously affected the fairness of the judicial proceedings.” Id. As to the “wise guys” comment, we conclude that there was no error, much less that it was plain. See id. First, the comments concerning Dr. Azmat’s impure motives and similarities with LeFrancois, Clark, and Barbuscia, who all previously worked in South Florida, were based on the record evidence. See United States v. 50 Case: 14-13703 Date Filed: 11/10/2015 Page: 51 of 60 Reeves, 742 F.3d 487, 505 (11th Cir. 2014). LeFrancois, Clark, and Barbuscia came to Georgia from southern Florida, and it was uncontroverted that Dr. Azmat joined them in working at East Health Center. The evidence also suggested that Dr. Azmat, like his codefendants, did not have his patients’ health and safety in mind when he prescribed them controlled substances. It appeared that he was writing them prescriptions in exchange for money. The prosecutor was merely drawing these conclusions from the record when he discussed Dr. Azmat’s motives. See id.; United States v. Windom, 510 F.2d 989, 994 (5th Cir. 1975) (stating that “unflattering characterizations of a defendant will not provoke a reversal when such descriptions are supported by the evidence”). Second, the prosecutor’s use of the term “wise guys” in association with men from southern Florida was not improper. We have held much more inflammatory phrases to be insufficient to warrant reversal. See, e.g., United States v. Tisdale, 817 F.2d 1552, 1555 (11th Cir. 1987) (refusing to reverse when the prosecutor called the defendant a “dirty, low-life criminal” (quotation marks omitted)); United States v. Taylor, 792 F.2d 1019, 1027 (11th Cir. 1986) (upholding a conviction when the prosecutor referred to the defendant as a “hit man”). Once again, though, even if the prosecutor’s comments were improper, there was no prejudice in light of the entire record, because the “South Florida” 51 Case: 14-13703 Date Filed: 11/10/2015 Page: 52 of 60 language was fleeting and there was ample evidence of Dr. Azmat’s guilt. See Lopez, 590 F.3d at 1526.