Opinion ID: 396333
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: D'Alessandro and Howell Motions for Severance.

Text: 25
26 Appellants D'Alessandro and Howell claim that they suffered 'spill-over' prejudice from the Vafaie--Van Coughnett conflict. In essence, their argument is that this conflict, combined with trying seven defendants together, resulted in jury confusion that denied D'Alessandro and Howell a fair trial. This argument is without merit. 27 No evidence has been cited that would support the claim that the jury was confused. The trial court properly instructed the jury that they were to consider separately the evidence offered against each defendant. See United States v. Perez, 489 F.2d 51, 66-67 (5th Cir. 1973), cert. denied, 417 U.S. 945, 94 S.Ct. 3067, 41 L.Ed.2d 664 (1974). Indeed, the jury refused to return a verdict against one of the defendants (Vincent Anzelone) present in the Hidden Harbor Condominum whose connection to the conspiracy was only marginally established by the evidence. Such a verdict supports the inference that the jury meticulously sifted the evidence; there is no reason to believe otherwise. See Tillman v. United States, 406 F.2d 930, 936 (5th Cir.), vacated in part on other grounds, 395 U.S. 830, 89 S.Ct. 2143, 23 L.Ed.2d 742 (1969). 28 Even if some confusion did exist, we have difficulty understanding how this would prejudice D'Alessandro and Howell. Given the overwhelming evidence against D'Alessandro and Howell, any confusion at trial could have only inured to their benefit. The government's brief quite aptly describes D'Alessandro's decision to maintain a low profile at trial as a tactic 'saturated with intelligence.' 8 Similarly, Howell has made no showing of any prejudice whatsoever, let alone compelling prejudice necessary to require reversing the district court's denial of severance. 29 Howell also argues that the similarity between the names of defendants Howell, Hovan and Haughey may have engendered confusion in the jury. This position has no merit. As previously noted, the trial judge carefully cautioned the jury to evaluate separately the evidence relevant to each defendant. During the trial, the judge required that each defendant and his respective counsel stand and identify themselves in order to assist the jury. Hovan had pled guilty and thus was not tried with Howell. Howell and Haughey's roles in the conspiracy were entirely distinct; indeed, the two were never in each other's presence during the course of the conspiracy. During the trial, references to these defendants often included their first names (i. e., Wendall Howell, Charles Hovan, and Pat Haughey). We find no basis for concluding that the similarity of the three defendants' names confused the jury and caused an unfair trial. 30
31 Appellants D'Alessandro and Howell also contend that they were entitled to severance under de Luna v. United States, 308 F.2d 140 (5th Cir. 1962), because statements in summation by counsel for co-defendant Van Coughnett and by the prosecutor amounted to impermissible comments on the failure of these appellants to testify. This circuit has firmly established the rule that convictions can be overturned where a comment on a defendant's exercise of his right to remain silent impairs the integrity of that Fifth Amendment right. Moreover, reversal has been required even when the comment was made by someone other than the prosecutor. See United States v. Aguiar, 610 F.2d 1296, 1302 (5th Cir. 1980), cert. denied, 449 U.S. 827, 101 S.Ct. 91, 66 L.Ed.2d 31 (1981); United States v. Kaplan, 576 F.2d 598, 600 (5th Cir. 1978), cert. denied, 439 U.S. 1078, 99 S.Ct. 858, 59 L.Ed.2d 47 (1979); de Luna v. United States, 308 F.2d at 141. However, not every statement that under some conceivable interpretation might draw attention to a defendant's decision not to testify is a comment on silence. '[T]he test in determining whether or not a statement is a comment on the failure of a defendant to testify is whether or not the statement was manifestly intended or was of such character that a jury would rationally and necessarily take it to be a comment on the failure of the accused to testify.' United States v. Wilson, 500 F.2d 715, 721 (5th Cir. 1974), cert. denied, 420 U.S. 977, 95 S.Ct. 1403, 43 L.Ed.2d 658 (1975). 32 Appellants D'Alessandro and Howell 9 contend that in closing arguments counsel for co-defendant Van Coughnett commented on the failure of these appellants to testify by stating: 33 So I ask you to evaluate and weigh in Kevin's [Van Coughnett] favor the fact that he took the stand in his own defense and he did not have to. He did not have to present any evidence whatsoever. 34 Record on Appeal, vol. IV, at 1182. This statement was not manifestly intended, nor would a jury rationally and necessarily construe it, to be a comment on silence. The most plausible explanation for this statement is that it was an attempt to curry sympathy from the jury on behalf of Van Coughnett, to bolster his testimony, and to enhance his credibility. See United States v. Macker, 608 F.2d 223, 226-27 (5th Cir. 1979). This court has held that: 35 A mere favorable comment upon the fact that one of several co-defendants testified does not involve the same potential for prejudice as an adverse comment by counsel upon the failure to testify of the other co-defendant. We decline to extend DeLuna to cover that situation. United States v. Hodges, 502 F.2d 586, 587 (5th Cir. 1974). The statement at issue here is a favorable comment on the fact that Van Coughnett testified and not an adverse comment on Howell's or D'Alessandro's failure to testify. Furthermore, the district court substantially mitigated any possible prejudice by immediately giving sua sponte a curative instruction that a defendant has the right not to testify and that no adverse inference may be drawn from the exercise of this right. 36 Howell also claims that the government commented on his silence by arguing in summation that: 37 It's not the report [of the Drug Enforcement Administration agents] that's evidence. Mr. Tarlowe [counsel for Howell] is not correct. All Mr. Zimet [Assistant United States Attorney] has to do is introduce Mr. Silvestri's report and that rebuts what was brought out on his case. It's not the reports . . . it's not the reports that's evidence; it's the testimony. 38 Record on Appeal, vol. IV, at 1266. An objection to this characterization of the evidence was promptly sustained by the court on the ground that the reports of the DEA agents had been admitted into evidence. The prosecutor acknowledged his error in characterizing the evidence and proceeded to argue that the agents' testimony at trial should be given greater weight than the reports prepared by these agents. This statement manifestly was not intended nor could it be reasonably understood as a comment or silence. Rather, the government was attempting to rebut defense efforts at impeaching the testimony of these agents by showing inconsistencies with their reports. The government simply was urging the jury to give greater credence to the live testimony of the agents than to their reports, a perfectly permissible argument. 39
40 D'Alessandro also argues that a question propounded by counsel for co-defendant Berkowitz, inquiring whether defendants Korp and Hovan had pled guilty, prejudiced D'Alessandro and denied him a fair trial. Prior to this question by counsel for Berkowitz, the court during a sidebar conference had discussed with counsel whether or not the jury should be informed that Korp and Hovan had pled guilty. At the conclusion of that conference, the court cautioned the jury that they should not consider or speculate about why persons mentioned in the testimony were not present at trial. When the question was posed by counsel for Berkowitz, the prosecutor immediately objected. During the bench conference that ensued, D'Alessandro stated his objection to the question and moved for severance or a mistrial. These motions were denied. The trial judge sustained the objection and instructed the jury to disregard the question. The prosecutor proposed a further curative instruction but this was opposed by counsel for D'Alessandro. 41 In light of these facts, we hold that the asking of the question did not deprive D'Alessandro of a fair trial. The question was never answered and the jury was instructed to disregard it. The case is unlike United States v. Miranda, 593 F.2d 590 (5th Cir. 1979); United States v. Corona, 551 F.2d 1386 (5th Cir. 1977); and United States v. Hansen, 544 F.2d 778 (5th Cir. 1977), cited in appellant D'Alessandro's brief. In those cases, the prosecutor or the court affirmatively and gratuitously told the jury that the absent co-defendant had pled guilty. Here the jury had before them only a question posed by a co-defendant, and the prosecutor and the court did everything possible to protect the appellants from prejudice. The government objected in time to prevent an answer to the question to come before the jury, and suggested a curative instruction that was rejected by appellant D'Alessandro. The court sustained the objection, instructed the jury to disregard the question, and twice cautioned the jury that they should not consider why the persons mentioned were not present at trial. If we were to grant D'Alessandro a new trial on these facts, we would be inviting collusion and gamesmanship by future defendants seeking to manufacture their own mistrial. We decline to create an incentive for this sort of misconduct. 10 42