Opinion ID: 754069
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Britton's Motion to Suppress

Text: 24 Pursuant to Rule 404(b) of the Federal Rules of Evidence, the Government gave notice that it would seek to introduce evidence of similar acts committed by Britton. The evidence involved a January 1996 incident in which a large sum of United States currency and a suitcase with a false bottom were seized from Britton (who was then traveling under an assumed name with false identity documents) at the Baltimore-Washington International Airport. Britton moved to exclude the governments's 404(b) evidence. At a pretrial hearing, the district court ruled that the 404(b) evidence would be admitted. However, the trial court did agree to conduct a suppression hearing to determine whether the defendant's constitutional rights had been violated during the airport stop that was the subject of the government's 404(b) evidence. 25 We will not reverse the district court's decision to admit Rule 404(b) evidence absent an abuse of discretion. United States v. Zanabria, 74 F.3d 590, 592 (5th Cir.1996). However, our determination of whether the district court abused its discretion necessitates an examination of the issues involved in the pretrial suppression hearing that was conducted by the district court. 26 At the hearing, the Government presented the testimony of Michael Bolewicki, a police officer with the Department of Maryland Natural Resources. Bolewicki testified that he was told by the airport security officers that an individual was stopped when he tried to pass an airport screening point with a large sum of money. Bolewicki also testified that Britton was the individual who was stopped and that Britton produced a passport with the name Gary Louis Ellis. Bolewicki further testified that Britton had bundles of money totaling $38,000 and clothes in a false compartment of a suitcase and a duffle bag. Bolewicki questioned Britton concerning his travel plans. Britton told Bolewicki that he had purchased a one-way cash ticket to New York and that he was carrying the money to buy clothes. Britton told Bolewicki that he planned to bring the clothes back to Washington, D.C. Britton also told Bolewicki that he had traveled to New York to purchase clothes three or four times. Britton told Bolewicki that a friend was going to help him transport the clothes from Washington to Baltimore, but Britton could not remember the friend's name. Britton was unable to give Bolewicki the names of the companies or people from whom he bought clothes in New York. Britton stated that his annual income was $12,000. He further stated that he did not have a business license. 27 Bolewicki testified that he told Britton that he was not under arrest and that he was free to leave. Britton consented to a search of his bags. Britton stated that he had $300 in cash on his person but Bolewicki found $1000 on Britton's person. Britton also had a Maryland driver's license and a Florida identification card with the name Gary Louis Ellis. However, Britton had previously failed to give Bolewicki a driver's license. Bolewicki testified that police conducted a K-9 scan of the money and bag for drugs and both tested positive for drugs. 1 28 On cross-examination, Bolewicki testified that when he arrived, Britton was in a room with one police officer who was not in uniform. Bolewicki testified that he was not in uniform either. Bolewicki testified that he asked Britton the questions that he generally asks when he stops suspected drug couriers. 29 Based on the testimony presented at the hearing, the district court determined that there was no custodial interrogation requiring that Britton be given Miranda warnings. The district court reasoned that the questioning was somewhat analogous to a general inquiry made during a stop-and-frisk situation under Terry v. Ohio. 2 The trial court did, however, agree to give a limiting instruction before the testimony was elicited from Bolewicki, in open court. 30 Britton maintains that the airport stop and subsequent questioning by police officers in a private office at the airport constituted custodial interrogation requiring that he receive Miranda 3 warnings. Britton argues that because he did not receive Miranda warnings his statements were obtained in violation of his Fifth Amendment rights and should have been suppressed. 31 Miranda warnings must be given prior to custodial interrogation. United States v. Pofahl, 990 F.2d 1456, 1487 (5th Cir.1993). The issue of whether an interrogation is custodial has been treated by this Court as a legal question subject to de novo review. See United States v. Collins, 972 F.2d 1385, 1404-06 (5th Cir.1992). A suspect is ... 'in custody' for Miranda purposes when placed under formal arrest or when a reasonable person in the suspect's position would have understood the situation to constitute a restraint on freedom of movement of the degree which the law associates with formal arrest. United States v. Bengivenga, 845 F.2d 593, 596 (5th Cir.1988)(en banc). 32 There is conflicting evidence concerning whether Britton was free to leave during the time that he was being questioned. Although Bolewicki testified that he advised Britton he was free to leave, Britton argues that the police report states that Britton was not advised that he was free to leave until after he was questioned. 33 It is, however, unnecessary for us to determine whether Britton was actually in custody. Assuming, arguendo, that Britton was questioned in violation of his Miranda rights, violations of Miranda 's teachings may fall within the purview of the harmless error rubric. United States v. Baldwin, 691 F.2d 718, 723 (5th Cir.1982). This Court determines whether absent the ... unconstitutional effect, the evidence remains not only sufficient to support the verdict but so overwhelmingly so as to establish the guilt of the accused beyond a reasonable doubt. Id. at 723-24 (internal quotations and citation omitted). The admission of Britton's statements regarding the unrelated airport stop, even if error, was harmless error because as discussed above there was overwhelming independent evidence of Britton's guilt. Id. at 724. The evidence, including the taped telephone conversations, as well as the testimony of the undercover Customs Agent Orate and Adam, established that Britton participated in the conspiracy by traveling to New Orleans and going to the ship's berth to pick up the cocaine. Therefore, even if the admission of Britton's statements during the airport stop was error, the error was harmless. 34 Given that the district court's failure to suppress evidence of the airport stop was, at worse, harmless error, it is apparent that the district court did not abuse its discretion in denying Britton's motion to exclude the Government's 404(b) evidence at trial.