Opinion ID: 3002082
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Gerald Howliet

Text: Howliet was convicted of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base and heroin, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(A), and (b)(1)(C), and being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g). Evidence against Howliet was obtained during the execution of a search warrant at Howliet’s residence in Cahokia, Illinois. A magistrate judge issued the search warrant based on an affidavit signed by DEA Agent Larry Fox, which included the following information: Agent Fox had reason to suspect, based on information provided by two reliable confidential sources, that Howliet’s cousin, Charles, sold the informants crack cocaine that he obtained from Howliet.4 At the direction of law enforcement, both of the confidential sources purchased an ounce of crack cocaine from Charles, during which all conversations were recorded and Charles was driving a vehicle known to be used by Howliet. After these controlled purchases and again at the direction of law enforcement, one of the confidential sources ordered an eighth of a kilogram of crack from Charles, who told the source that it would take some time for him to obtain the drugs and that he would call the source when he was ready to complete the sale. Law enforcement maintained surveillance of Charles, who then went to Howliet’s 4 The affidavit explained that both of the sources had successfully completed multiple controlled purchases for the DEA (which field tested positive for cocaine) and that information provided by one of them had led to an arrest and a drug and currency seizure. 22 Nos. 07-2505, 07-2506, 07-2507 and 07-3313 residence. Upon leaving Howliet’s house, Charles drove to his apartment. The confidential source then called Charles to check the status of his drug order, who told the source he needed a few more minutes. Less than an hour later, Charles met the confidential source at a nearby restaurant, where they completed the crack cocaine transaction. During the exchange, Charles told the confidential source not to worry about a portion of the crack being a different color, explaining that it had just been prepared. Upon law enforcement’s observation of the crack cocaine provided by Charles, the agents noted that approximately one half ounce of the crack was a different color and was packaged separately in a bag with condensation inside it. In light of this information, Agent Fox believed that Charles did not have the full amount of crack ordered by the confidential source, so he went to Howliet’s residence to obtain additional cocaine, and then went to his apartment to “cook” the powder cocaine into crack cocaine. The DEA field tested the substance provided by Charles, which tested positive for cocaine. Before the district court, Howliet argued that the evidence obtained from the search should be suppressed because the search warrant lacked probable cause. On appeal, Howliet makes this same argument, and also asserts that the good faith exception to the exclusionary rule should not apply because Agent Fox could not have reasonably believed that probable cause existed. We review a district court’s findings of historical fact for clear error and its legal conclusions de novo. United States v. Garcia, 528 F.3d 481, 485 (7th Cir. 2008) (citing Nos. 07-2505, 07-2506, 07-2507 and 07-3313 23 United States v. McIntire, 516 F.3d 576, 578 (7th Cir. 2008)). On the issue of whether the facts add up to probable cause, we give great deference to the judge who initially issued the warrant, but we give no weight to the district court judge’s decision. Id. We will defer to the determina- tion of the warrant-issuing judge that probable cause existed so long as “there is substantial evidence in the record supporting the judge’s decision.” United States v. Koerth, 312 F.3d 862, 865 (7th Cir. 2002). “Probable cause is established when, based on the totality of the circumstances, the affidavit sets forth sufficient evidence to induce a reasonably prudent person to believe that a search will uncover evidence of a crime.” Garcia, 528 F.3d at 485-86 (citing Illinois v. Gates, 462 U.S. 213, 238 (1983); United States v. Jones, 208 F.3d 603, 608 (7th Cir. 2000)). It requires only a probability, not absolute certainty, that evidence of a crime may be found. United States v. Sidwell, 440 F.3d 865, 869 (7th Cir. 2006). When the affidavit includes information supplied by an informant, we consider: “(1) the extent to which the police have corroborated the informant’s statements; (2) the degree to which the informant has acquired knowledge of the events through firsthand observation; (3) the amount of detail provided; and (4) the interval between the date of the events and police officer’s application for the search warrant.” Garcia, 528 F.3d at 486 (citing Koerth, 312 F.3d at 866). We agree that a reasonable judge could find that the affidavit here set forth sufficient facts to establish probable cause. The affidavit explained that Agent Fox 24 Nos. 07-2505, 07-2506, 07-2507 and 07-3313 had worked with both confidential informants before, and had determined them to be reliable sources through numerous controlled purchases as well as an arrest and seizure of cocaine and drug money. It also stated that the DEA had field tested suspected drugs from the informants’ controlled purchases and they tested positive for the presence of cocaine. Both informants had direct contact with Charles during which Charles sold them crack cocaine, and the transactions were monitored and recorded by law enforcement. The affidavit detailed the DEA’s surveillance of the informants’ interactions with Charles, which verified the information they obtained from the informants, in particular, that Charles needed time to obtain the cocaine requested by the informant, and that during that time he went to Howliet’s house. The informants had already told the agents that Charles got his supply from Howliet, thus Charles’s procession to Howliet’s house after the informant requested a large quantity of cocaine corroborated that statement. Shortly after leaving Howliet’s house, Charles met with the informant with freshly cooked crack cocaine. The warrant was issued on the same day as the events described in the affidavit. Thus, based on the facts presented to the warrant-issuing judge, there was substantial evidence to suspect that Charles had obtained cocaine from Howliet’s house. Accordingly, the warrant was supported by probable cause. Because the warrant was supported by probable cause, we need not address the good faith exception under United States v. Leon, 468 U.S. 897 (1984). The district court Nos. 07-2505, 07-2506, 07-2507 and 07-3313 25 did not err in admitting evidence seized from Howliet’s residence, and his conviction is affirmed.