Opinion ID: 318307
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: TANTILLO'S CHALLENGE TO THE 4704(a) CONVICTION

Text: 76 Count 9 of the indictment charged Tantillo jointly with Verderosa and Paladino with a violation of 26 U.S.C. 4704(a). The count was based upon cocaine seized in the late afternoon of August 18, 1969 in apartment 723 of the Cambridge Apartments, 1221 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., in Washington. Tantillo contends that there was no evidence to justify a finding beyond a reasonable doubt that he possessed the cocaine, either actually or constructively. Analysis of the evidence impels us to a contrary conclusion. 77 At trial the parties agreed on a single instruction outlining the legal concepts of possession. Included in the instruction and given to the jury was the following charge on constructive possession: 78 . . . A person who, although not in actual possession, knowingly has the power and the intent at a given time to exercise dominion or control over a thing, either directly or through another person or persons, is then in constructive possession of it. Such constructive possession of a narcotic drug may be found where a person has the power to control the disposition of the drug and to assure its delivery. Thus, a person who has a working relationship with or is otherwise exclusively associated with those who have physical custody of a narcotic drug so that he is without difficulty and, as a matter of course, able to assure production of the drug to a customer, may be found to have constructive possession of the narcotic drug. 79 However, a person who lacks such a working relationship or association sufficient to assure production of the drugs may not be found constructively to possess it even if he knows the person or persons possessing and trading in the narcotic drug. (Tr. 5741-42). 8 80 Applying the test stated in the court's charge we think the evidence justified the jury in concluding that Tantillo possessed the cocaine found in apartment 723. 81 There was evidence from which the jury could reasonably infer that on July 28, 1969 Tantillo, Verderosa and Paladino came to Washington, established a base of operations at the Hotel America and made a delivery of narcotics to Jackson. A week later, on August 5, Tantillo and Verderosa went to the Cambridge Apartments and inquired about a one-bedroom apartment. Later that day Tantillo in the presence of Verderosa filled out a rental application for apartment 723. Using the fictitious name 'DiCarlo', Tantillo represented to Mrs. Ann Vernon, the resident manager, that he was in Washington to open a bakery and Verderosa was his helper. 82 On August 11 Tantillo, Verderosa and Paladino again operated from the Hotel America while dealing in narcotics with Lawrence Jackson and Leon James. On that same day Tantillo and Verderosa returned to the Cambridge .apartments and Tantillo signed a one-year lease for apartment 723. Tantillo was given a set of keys to the apartment. Tantillo and Verderosa were in and out of the Cambridge that afternoon and were together at the apartment house on the following day. 83 On August 13 Tantillo introduced Paladino to Mrs. Vernon as 'Mr. Rizzo', his brother-in-law. Tantillo told Mrs. Vernon he wanted her to meet Mr. Rizzo because Mr. Rizzo 'would be spending quite a bit of time here from New york'. 84 There was evidence that on August 15 Paladino called Jackson and agreed to resupply Jackson with cocaine on Monday, August 18. On Monday morning Paladino arrived at National Airport by plane and proceeded to Union Station where he met Verderosa who was carrying the cocaine, wrapped in multi-colored paper. Verderosa then went by cab to the Cambridge Apartments where he left the cocaine in apartment 723, using Tantillo's keys to open the apartment. Verderosa and Paladino thereafter made several attempts to reach Jackson by telephone. Verderosa finally reached Jackson at the 582 number and they agreed to meet at Alabama Vavnue, S.E., where Jackson was to pay Verderosa for the cocaine. At the meeting place Verderosa, Paladino and Jackson were arrested and agents recovered two keys which were dropped by Verderosa. The agents took the two keys to the Cambridge Apartments, compared them with the keys to apartment 723 which Mrs. Vernon produced, and found they were identical. Shortly thereafter the agents, using the two keys, and armed with a search warrant, entered the apartment. There they found a plastic bag containing 463.72 grams of 55.4% Anhydrous cocaine. Also found was some crumpled multi-colored wrapping paper which was identified by an agent as the same kind of paper that was on the package Verderosa had been carrying that morning at Union station. 85 While the agents were searching apartment 723 there was a knock on the door and when an agent opened it Tantillo and a yound lady were standing in the doorway. Tantillo was then arrested and searched. In one of his pockets was a roll of bills totaling $2,210. Among his papers was one on which several telephone numbers were written, including the 582 number, the 399 number, and a number listed to the wife of Leon James. 86 When Tantillo entered the lobby of the Cambridge Apartments just before his arrest he tried to use the telephone at the switchboard to call his apartment; however, the switchboard was busy and Tantillo went up to the apartment unannounced. 87 From all this evidence we think the jury could reasonably conclude that Tantillo rented the apartment at the Cambridge as a base for his operations and as a place for the storage of narcotics pending their delivery. The evidence also justified the conclusion that Tantillo had given his keys to Verderosa, intending that the drugs consigned to Jackson be kept in the apartment until they were delivered. Tantillo was plainly the managing partner of the unlawful enterprise; his working relationship and association with Verderosa and Paladino were such that he obviously had dominion and conrol over the apartment and the drugs stored there, and was able to assure their production to the customer Jackson. This was enough to show that he had constructive possession of the drugs.