Court Opinion

ID: 5148
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-25 05:02:56+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:30:42.287820
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IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

                         FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT

               ________________________________________

                              No. 91-4098

              _________________________________________

                       United States of America

                                                    Plaintiff/Appellee,

                                 versus

               Jimmy Beaumont, Alvin Paul Brevell, Jr.,
              a/k/a "Junior", Gerald Daniel Beaumont and
              Johnie Fae Beaumont, a/k/a Johnie R. Meyers

                                       Defendants/Appellants.
_________________________________________________________________

            Appeals from the United States District Court
                   for the Eastern District of Texas

__________________________________________________________________
                       (September 3, 1992)

Before GARZA, REYNALDO G., DAVIS AND BARKSDALE, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:

     In   this   multiple   defendant     appeal,   appellants   variously

challenge     their   convictions   for     conspiracy   to   manufacture

methamphetamine in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846, possession of

precursor chemicals with intent to manufacture methamphetamine in

violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(d)(1) and use of a telephone to

facilitate a conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine in violation

of 21 U.S.C. § 843.     Finding no reversible error, the convictions

and sentences of appellants are in all respects AFFIRMED.

                               THE FACTS
       Appellants Jimmy Beaumont (Beaumont) and his wife Johnie Fae

Beaumont        (Johnie)   regularly        purchased      chemical     glassware     and

precursor        chemicals1    for    use    in    manufacturing       methamphetamine

between 1987 and 1989.               The purchases were made at a chemical

distribution store in Houston, Texas.2                     The owner of the store

reported the purchases and, in 1989, agents of the Drug Enforcement

Administration (DEA) began an investigation.                     DEA agent Ed Collins

(Collins) instructed the store owner to provide Beaumont with

Collins' phone number on his next visit, requesting that the owner

inform Beaumont that the number belonged to an individual who could

provide large quantities of precursor chemicals.

       On December 13, 1989, Beaumont phoned Collins and offered to

purchase        440   pounds   of    phenylacetic         acid   and   50   gallons   of

methylene for $9,200.00.             The next day, Beaumont phoned Collins to

discuss the delivery of the precursor chemicals and the market

conditions of the availability of other precursors.                         Finally, on

December 15, 1989, Beaumont again phoned Collins and asked to meet

him at a truck stop near Houston.                 Collins suggested the two should

meet       on   the   following      Monday.        The   meeting,     however,   never

transpired as Collins was reassigned to another investigation.                         In

his stead was placed DEA Agent Rene Castaneda (Castaneda) and Sgt.

       1
          The particular precursor chemicals purchased included
phenylacetic acid, methylene and sodium acetate. There is no
contention by the appellants that these chemicals are not used in
the processing of methamphetamine.
       2
          Jimmy and Johnie were occasionally accompanied on the
purchases by appellant Gerald Beaumont, Jimmy's brother, and
appellant Alvin Brevell.

                                             2
Investigator Howard Jake Smith (Smith) of the Texas Department of

Public Safety.

      On March 13, 1990, Smith and Castaneda met with appellant

Alvin Paul Brevell, Jr. (Brevell) at a restaurant in Orange, Texas.

Castaneda posed as a seller of precursor chemicals while Smith

adopted the identity of a manufacturer of methamphetamine.            Smith

and Castaneda offered to sell Brevell 110 pounds of phenylacetic

acid in exchange for $4,500.00 and a percentage of the subsequently

manufactured methamphetamine.       Brevell responded that any deals

would have to be approved         by Beaumont.       He was informed by

Castaneda that word of Beaumont's approval of the deal should be

transmitted to Smith. Upon completion of this meeting, the parties

left the restaurant and, in the parking lot, Castaneda revealed

some glassware used in the manufacture of methamphetamine to

Brevell.    Brevell commented, after smelling the residue contained

in the glassware, that he enjoyed the chemical odor.

      In April of 1990, appellant Gerald Daniel Beaumont (Gerald),

Beaumont's brother, phoned Smith and offered to purchase 440 pounds

of phenylacetic acid and 50 gallons of methylene for the price of

$16,200.00. Gerald phoned Smith again on April 9, 1990, to arrange

a   meeting.     That   same   afternoon,   Smith,   Gerald   and   Brevell

discussed the offer in the parking lot of a grocery store in

Orange.    During this meeting, Gerald delivered to Smith a piece of

paper bearing the name "Jimmy" and containing Beaumont's phone

number.

      On April 10, 1990, the day after the meeting at the grocery

                                     3
store parking lot, Smith phoned Gerald and informed him that the

seller of the chemicals, Castaneda, would contact him shortly to

discuss the transaction.      Later that same day, Castaneda phoned

Gerald and agreed to Gerald's offer.        Gerald was informed at this

time that Castaneda's younger brother, in actuality DEA Agent

Miguel Villafranca (Villafranca), would deliver the chemicals along

with Smith.     The transaction was later discussed by Smith and

Gerald on April 30, 1990 and, on May 1, 1990, Gerald was informed

by Smith that the deal had been delayed.

     On May 2, 1990, Smith phoned Gerald and informed him the

seller had not produced the chemicals.           Smith offered to further

discuss   the   purchase   with   Gerald   and   the   two   met   that   same

afternoon at a nightclub owned by Gerald.         Smith demanded proof of

payment for the chemicals and after Gerald made several phone

calls, Beaumont arrived on a motorcycle and displayed before Smith

$8,000.00 in cash.    Beaumont smelled of precursor chemicals upon

presentation of the money.        Further discussions between Smith and

Gerald occurred on May 3, 1990, and on May 7, 1990, Smith phoned

Gerald to inform him the chemicals would arrive the following day.

On May 8, 1990, Smith informed Gerald of a minor delay and, later

that same afternoon, phoned Gerald again informing him the seller

had arrived with the chemicals.       Gerald was told to return the call

at approximately 5:00 P.M.. At approximately 5:15 P.M., Smith told

Gerald to meet him at a mini-storage facility in Groves, Texas.

Later that same day, Smith and Villafranca sold 110 pounds of

phenylacetic acid and two five gallon drums of methylene to Gerald

                                      4
and Brevell at the mini-storage facility.3

      Subsequent to the purchase of the chemicals, Gerald and

Brevell transported the goods to a storage facility in Orange.

After the two left the area, a search warrant was executed for the

warehouse and the chemicals were seized.            On May 9, 1990, a search

warrant was executed for Beaumont's residence at 705 Suduth Drive,

Bridge City, Orange County, Texas.            Beaumont was arrested during

the   execution    of    the    warrant.     In    addition,     agents     seized

$12,300.00    in        cash,     various    precursor        chemicals,4     drug

paraphernalia,5 chemical glassware and laboratory equipment.                  That

same afternoon, Gerald was arrested in Louisiana and his tote bag

was found    to    contain      glassware   used   in   the   manufacturing     of

methamphetamine.

                                 II. DISCUSSION

      The appellants raise a variety of issues in this appeal.                  We

address them individually.           Any error claimed by any appellant

which is not addressed has been held to be completely without merit

and is overruled.

A. Rule 41 Compliance

      All appellants challenge the validity of the search warrant

      3
          During the sale, Villafranca explained that, due to car
trouble, the rest of the phenylacetic acid could not be provided.
Villafranca additionally discussed future purchases of chemicals
with Gerald as well as purchases of cocaine. Gerald explained to
Villafranca that Beaumont would have to approve all deals.
      4
          The chemicals seized at Beaumont's home included acetic
anhydride, methylene, mercuric chloride and sodium acetate.
      5
          The paraphernalia included a scale, various weights and
measures, cutting agents and various catalogs or shopping lists,
some of which smelled of precursor chemicals.

                                        5
executed at the home of Beaumont.            As an initial matter, we note

that Gerald and Brevell have not alleged that they owned or

occupied   Beaumont's    home    such       that   they   could    establish    an

expectation of privacy necessary to confer standing under the

Fourth Amendment. See Rakas v. Illinois, 439 U.S. 128, 133-34

(1978) (defendant lacks standing under Fourth Amendment where

defendant has no expectation of privacy in area searched).                Thus,

we do not address their contentions vis-a-vis the constitutional

validity of the warrant.

      Beaumont   and   Johnie    raise      several   issues      regarding    the

validity of the warrant.        First, they contend the warrant did not

comply with the requirements of Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure

41.   This contention is premised upon two assertions: 1) the state

judge issuing the warrant, although a judge within the Eastern

District of Texas, was not a judge in Orange County, Texas and thus

lacked the authority, under the language of Rule 41, to issue the

warrant and 2) the agent requesting the warrant was not a "federal

agent" as that term is contemplated under Rule 41.

      Rule 41, as it existed at the time of the issuance of the

warrant in this case, provided, in relevant part:

           (a) Authority to Issue Warrant.       A search warrant
      authorized by this rule may be issued by a federal magistrate
      or a judge of a state court of record within the district
      where the property or person sought is located, upon request
      of a federal law enforcement officer or an attorney for the
      government.

1. Rule 41 Is Confusing

      Beaumont and Johnie contend that the language of Rule 41

                                        6
mandates that if a warrant is to be issued by a state court judge,

the judge must be a judge in the state district where the property

or person sought is located.         It is undisputed that the issuing

judge in this case was not from the same state district where

appellants Beaumont and Johnie and their home were located.                  It is

also undisputed, however, that the issuing state court judge was in

the federal district where the property and persons were located,

namely the Eastern District of Texas.

     The government, not surprisingly, argues that the language of

former Rule 41 refers to the federal district in which the property

or person is located.       We agree with the government's position.

The current version of Rule 41 provides:

          (a) Authority to Issue Warrant.    ...a search warrant
     authorized by this rule may be issued (1) by a federal
     magistrate, or a state court of record within the federal
     district, for a search of property or for a person...

There could not be a more plain statement of the state court's

authority under the current version of Rule 41.                 Were the current

rule applicable, this matter would be open and shut.                      We must,

however,    look   beyond   this   current      version    to    illustrate      the

conclusion we reach regarding former Rule 41.

       The notes of the Advisory Committee on Rules regarding the

adoption    of   the   current   version   of    Rule     41    suggest   that    it

represents a clarification of the former rather than a change in

the rule.    The notes provide:

     Te [90 aedet [o Rl 4] i itne t mk cer ta jde o sae cut o rcr wti a fdrl
      h 19] mnmn t ue 1 s nedd o ae la ht ugs f tt ors f eod ihn eea
district may issue search warrants for persons or property located
within that district.

                                      7
This passage in the Committee's notes reveals that the amendment is

a   clarification,   not   a   substantive    change   in   the   law.      The

government's conclusion that the proper interpretation of the

former wording of the rule authorized the state judge to issue a

warrant if the property or person sought was located in the same

federal district that the state judge was in is the correct

interpretation.

2. Rule 41 Is Not Confusing

      The second Rule 41 challenge presented by Beaumont and Johnie

presents a different issue entirely.         Unlike their contention that

the language of Rule 41 is uncertain as it relates to a state

judge's authority to issue a warrant, they contend now that the

language of Rule 41 as it relates to the authority of a person to

request a warrant is as plain as day.           The government does not

seriously challenge this literal reading of the rule and we find

ourselves in agreement with Beaumont and Johnie: Rule 41 authorizes

the issuance of a warrant only upon request of a federal law

enforcement officer or an attorney for the government.6                  As the

facts of this case amply demonstrate, however, appellants' argument

that because Smith was not a federal law enforcement officer when

he requested the warrant does not end our inquiry but rather is its

      6
          Although changes to Rule 41 resulting from the adoption
of the 1990 amendments affected the language regarding the class
of persons authorized to request warrants, these changes serve
only to make clear that the requirement that the requesting party
be a federal law enforcement officer (or an attorney for the
government) is still as firm as ever. The Committee notes make
plain that "[t]he amendment is not intended to expand the class
of persons authorized to request a warrant...."

                                     8
starting point.

       At the hearing on the motion to suppress the evidence seized

at the home of Beaumont and Johnie, Smith testified that he had

been sworn in as a federal deputy "[b]ack on May the 12th or

16th[,] [1990]."         He was sworn in as an FBI officer and his office

was to expire on May 31, 1990.7               The difficulty presented by

Smith's testimony is that the warrant was requested on May 8, 1990

and actually issued in the early morning hours of May 9, 1990.

Thus it is clear that Smith was not a federal law enforcement

officer at the time the warrant was requested.8               Nevertheless, we

find       that   the   warrant   was   validly   requested   because   it   was

requested by an attorney for the government in compliance with Rule

41.

       In United States v. Massey, 687 F.2d 1348 (10th Cir. 1982),

Massey argued that a warrant had been issued in violation of Rule

41 because the requesting officer was an agent of the Oklahoma

Narcotics Bureau. 687 F.2d at 1356. Affirming the district court's

       7
          Although the record does not affirmatively so indicate,
it seems apparent to us that Smith was sworn in as a federal
officer for the limited purpose of the investigation of the
current case.
       8
           As we have indicated, Smith was not a federal officer
at the time the warrant was issued despite his beliefs to the
contrary as may be reflected in the testimony presented at the
supression hearing; it appears such testimony was the result of
some confusion on the part of Smith as to the question asked of
him. We additionally find no basis for what might be to some the
logical outcome of this finding, namely that the fact that Smith
was not a federal officer indicates that Smith acted in bad faith
when he requested the warrant. As we discuss infra, the record
is absolutely devoid of any basis from which a determination of
bad faith could be made.

                                          9
denial of Massey's motion to suppress, the Tenth Circuit observed:

            The evidence presented below establishes that
            although the warrants were issued upon the
            affidavit of an agent of the Oklahoma
            Narcotics Bureau, they were requested by an
            assistant   United    States   Attorney       who
            telephoned the state judge in advance and
            accompanied the state agent when the affidavit
            was presented to the judge. This method of
            obtaining a search warrant satisfies the
            requirement of Rule 41(a) that the warrant be
            issued "upon the request of ... an a t t o r n e y
            for the government." See United States v.
            Carra, 604 F.2d 1271, 1273 (10th Cir.), cert.
            denied, 444 U.S. 994, 100 S. Ct. 529, 62
L. Ed. 2d 425 (1979).

Massey, 678 F.2d at 1356 (emphasis added). See United States v.

Ventresca, 380 U.S. 102, 108 (1965) (search warrant should not be

reviewed under hypertechnical standard) (cited in Carra, 604 F.2d

at 1273).

     At the time the agents concluded that a warrant should be

sought,   they    contacted    the   United     States      Attorney's   Office.

Assistant United States Attorney Malcolm Bales (Bales) made the

initial telephone calls to the state judge and accompanied the

state agent, Smith,9 to the home of the state judge.                These facts

are virtually identical to those found in Massey and, adopting its

understanding of what is required to satisfy the strictures of Rule

41(a) as it relates to this issue, we reject Beaumont and Johnie's

contentions that Rule 41 has been violated.              Having addressed the

challenges   to   the   form   of    the    warrant,   we    now   consider   the

allegation that the warrant was substantively deficient.

     9
          Accompanying Smith and Bales to the late-night
rendezvous at the state judge's home were federal agents
Villafranca and Hoffman, both of the DEA.

                                       10
B. Fourth Amendment Compliance

1. Probable Cause

       Beaumont argues the warrant did not recite sufficient probable

cause.      A   warrant   must   be    based   on    probable     cause    to   pass

constitutional muster. The Fourth Amendment plainly requires that

a warrant issue only "upon probable cause, supported by oath or

affirmation..."     U.S.Const.        Amendment     IV.     Our   review    of   an

allegation that probable cause is lacking is limited to an inquiry

of whether the issuing magistrate had a substantial basis for

finding the existence of probable cause. See United States v. Wake,

948 F.2d 1422 (5th Cir. 1991) (quoting Illinois v. Gates, 462 U.S.
213, 238-39, 1428 (1983)).         As we recited in Wake, a substantial

basis for probable cause will be found if,

            given all the circumstances set forth in the
            affidavit before him, including the "veracity"
            and "basis of knowledge" of persons supplying
            hearsay   information,   there   is   a   fair
            probability that contraband or evidence of a
            crime will be found in a particular place.
948 F.2d at 1428 (quoting Gates at 238-39).

       The affidavit presented to the state judge recited that Smith

was experienced in conducting investigations of methamphetamine

laboratories and those who operate them, that Beaumont had been

involved in negotiations for the purchase of precursor chemicals

with    Collins,   that   Gerald      had    informed     Smith   that    Beaumont

manufactured methamphetamine, that Gerald and Brevell drove to

Beaumont's residence following the purchase of precursor chemicals10

       10
          It is true that Gerald and Brevell were seen placing
the containers of precursor chemicals in a mini-warehouse before

                                        11
and that agents had observed methamphetamine being sold from

another residence owned by Beaumont.         The affidavit facially

provides a substantial basis for probable cause permitting the

state judge to determine that "there [was] a fair probability that

contraband or evidence of a crime [would] be found" at Beaumont's

house.   This point of error is without merit.

2. Alleged False Statements in the Affidavit

     Beaumont suggests the affidavit itself is invalid because it

contains an alleged intentional untruth. Specifically, he contends

that because the transcripts of the phone calls with Collins and

Collins' testimony reveal that the individual seeking to purchase

the precursor chemicals identified himself only as "Jim", the

statement in the affidavit that the caller identified himself as

"Jimmy Beaumont" was false.      Our review of the record, however,

indicates that this mistake is of no consequence as ample evidence

exists permitting the inference that "Jim" was in fact "Jimmy

Beaumont". Even were this not the case, we would reject Beaumont's

contention    because   absent     the    statement        regarding     the

Collins/Beaumont   negotiations,   the   affidavit    is    sufficient    to

support a finding of probable cause. See Wake, 948 F.2d at 1429

(quoting Franks v. Delaware, 438 U.S. 154, 171-72 (1978) (where

affidavit sufficient following removal of false statement, finding

venturing to Beaumont's house. However, the record does not
disparage the government's suggestion that chemicals may
nevertheless have been taken to Beaumont's house. While we
refuse to speculate that such was in fact the case, the record
reveals that this theory was implicitly presented to the issuing
state judge and supported by inferences drawn from the affidavit
and statements made by Smith.

                                   12
of probable cause affirmed).

3. Lack of Particularity

     Beaumont finally argues that the warrant lacks the required

specificity    to   meet   the   Fourth   Amendment's    requirement   of

particularity in describing the items to be seized. See U.S.Const.

Amendment IV (warrant must "particularly describ[e] the place to be

searched and the persons or things to be seized).        The test that is

applied requires a court to ask if the description in the warrant

would permit an executing officer to reasonably know what items are

to be seized. See Steele v. United States, 267 U.S. 498, 503-04

(1925) (warrant must allow searcher to reasonably ascertain and

identify thing sought).     The warrant contained only a generalized

statement that "evidence of the commission of a criminal offense as

well as contraband abd [sic] the fruits of crime" were to be

seized.    It was, however, accompanied by Smith's affidavit which

contained a detailed description of the items sought.          The United

States argues that the mere accompaniment of the Smith affidavit is

sufficient to permit this court to find the warrant in compliance

with the requirements of the Fourth Amendment.          We disagree.

     General warrants have long been abhorred in the jurisprudence

of both England and the United States. See generally United States

v. Riley, 906 F.2d 841, 847-50 (2nd Cir. 1990) (Weinstein, District

Judge,    dissenting)   (providing    concise   and   cogent   historical

analysis of abhorrence of general warrants in England and United

States).    "[P]hysical entry of the home is the chief evil against

which the wording of the Fourth Amendment is directed." United

                                     13
States v. Unites States District Court, E.D. Mich., S. Div., 407
U.S. 297, 313 (1972).        In order to have this court uphold the

seizures here, the government invokes the general propositions that

a warrant must be read as a whole and that the particularity

requirement may be satisfied by reference to the affidavit.           These

propositions are no doubt true, yet examination of the cases cited

by the government in their support indicate the propositions do not

apply to the facts of this case.         In United States v. Cook, 657
F.2d 730, 736 (5th Cir. Unit A Sept. 30, 1981), the search warrant

particularly described some evidence but did not so describe other

evidence.     We upheld the partial validity of the warrant because

the warrant had referred to the affidavit and was accompanied by

it. Id.; See United States v. Womack, 509 F.2d 368, 382 (D.C. Cir.

1974)     ("The   warrant   incorporates   by   express   reference    the

underlying affidavit attached thereto which quite specifically

details the records and documents to be obtained in the search.")

(emphasis in parenthetical added). In United States v. Haydel, 649
F.2d 1152 (5th Cir. Unit A July 8, 1981), cert. denied, 455 U.S.
1022 (1982), a warrant was challenged on appeal due to an alleged

generality in the description of the place to be searched. 649 F.2d

at 1156.11    Finding the warrant sufficient, we held:

             If an objective reading of the description
             contained on the face of the warrant did not
             fairly direct attention to the place actually

     11
          We observe that the abhorrence of generality in a
warrant is applicable to descriptions of places as well things to
be searched. See Riley, 906 F.2d at 849 (Weinstein, District
Judge, dissenting) (citing Marron v. United States, 275 U.S. 192,
195-96 (1927)).

                                    14
          searched, we would be compelled to hold the
          search illegal without further discussion. An
          insufficient warrant cannot be cured by the
          most detailed affidavit. If, as is the case
          here, the warrant is ambiguous, but fairly
          directs attention to the place actually
          searched, and, if the affidavit supporting the
          warrant is attached to the warrant when
          issued, the affidavit may be considered to
          clarify an ambiguity on the face of the
          warrant. [citation omitted].    The affidavit
          must be attached to the warrant so that the
          executing officer and the person whose
          premises are to be searched both have the
          information contained in the affidavit in
          addition to what is said on the face of the
          warrant.

Haydel, 649 F.2d at 1157.    Finally, the government misreads the

facts of Andresen v. Maryland, 427 U.S. 463 (1976).   In Andresen,

the Supreme Court reasoned that the inclusion of a generalized

descriptive phrase did not invalidate a seizure where such a phrase

"appears in each warrant at the end of a sentence containing a

lengthy list of specified and particular items to be seized...."
427 U.S. at 480 (emphasis added).

     From the above discussion, it is clear the cases require that

in order for a warrant to meet the particularity requirement of the

Fourth Amendment, the warrant itself must, at a minimum, contain

something more than the absolute generality appearing on the face

of the warrant at issue here. Moreover, although there is arguably

some conflict between Cook and Haydel on this point, we feel the

better rule, in agreement with the District of Colombia Circuit,

see Womack, supra, as well as other circuits,12 is to require that

     12
          See United States v. Johnson, 690 F.2d 60, 64-65 (3rd
Cir. 1982), cert. denied, 459 U.S. 1214 (1983); In re Property
Belonging to Talk of the Town Bookstore, Inc., 644 F.2d 1317,

                                15
the warrant contain, at the very least, a cursory reference to the

affidavit upon which an executing officer may have to rely.               This

requirement is far from burdensome, and in light of the importance

of the protections safeguarded by the Fourth Amendment, we hold

that where a warrant contains only the barest of generalized

statements the particularity requirement is satisfied by reliance

on an affidavit when the affidavit is incorporated by reference

into the warrant.      We do not hold, however, that absent such an

incorporation the warrant must necessarily fail.            Were we to so

rule, we would be creating a technical, bright-line rule of Fourth

Amendment jurisprudence.        This we decline to do.

       In United States v. Leon, 468 U.S. 897 (1984), the Supreme

Court held that where a warrant lacked sufficient probable cause to

satisfy the requirements of the Fourth Amendment, good faith

reliance upon the warrant by the executing officer precludes the

necessity of suppressing the evidence seized pursuant to the

exclusionary rule. 468 U.S. at 922.             The Court noted that "the

officer's reliance on the magistrate's probable-cause determination

and on the technical sufficiency of the warrant he issues must be

objectively reasonable." Id. (citation omitted).           On the same day

that    Leon   was   decided,    the    Court    issued   its   opinion    in

Massachusetts v. Sheppard, 468 U.S. 981 (1984).           In Sheppard, the

respondent argued that a general warrant authorizing a search for

1318-19 (9th Cir. 1981); United States v. Johnson, 541 F.2d 1311,
1315-16 (8th Cir. 1976).

                                       16
"controlled substances"13 violated the particularity requirement of

the Fourth Amendment. 468 U.S. at 987. The warrant was accompanied

by   a detailed   affidavit   indicating   that   items   relating   to a

homicide were to be searched for.14 Id. at 985.             The issuing

magistrate and the executing officers knew the contents of the

affidavit and thus knew what was to be searched for. United States

v. Leon, 468 U.S. 897, 964-65 (Stevens, J. concurring as to

Sheppard and dissenting as to Leon). Relying on its decision in

Leon, the Court reasoned that the only issue before it was "whether

the officers reasonably believed that the search they conducted was

authorized by a valid warrant." Sheppard, 468 U.S. at 988.       Because

none of the parties disputed the belief of the officers that the

warrant was valid, the Court stated "the only question [remaining]

is whether there was an objectively reasonable basis for the

officers' mistaken belief." Id.        Finding the belief that the

warrant was valid to be an objectively reasonable belief, the Court

noted that the affidavit had been approved by the U.S. Attorney,

      13
           The warrant in Sheppard

           directed the officers to "search for any
           controlled substance, article, implement or
           other paraphernalia used in, for, or in
           connection with the unlawful possession or
           use of any controlled substance, and to seize
           and securely keep the same until final
           action...."

Sheppard, 468 U.S. at 986 n.2. This language is essentially as
general as that contained in the warrant before us today.
      14
          The affidavit did include a statement that two bags of
marijuana were to be searched for, but this appears to have been
incidental to the search for evidence of the actual homicide.
Sheppard, 468 U.S. at 985 n.1.

                                  17
the issuing magistrate had made a probable cause determination and

that the magistrate had assured the officers the warrant would be

made valid on its face by the insertion of minor corrections. Id.

at 989      Significantly, the Court observed:

              Indeed, Sheppard admits that if the judge had
              crossed out the reference to controlled
              substances, written "see attached affidavit"
              on the form, and attached the affidavit to the
              warrant, the warrant would have been valid.
              [citations omitted].

Sheppard, 468 U.S. at 990 n.7.

       In the instant case, there was a probable cause determination

made     by   the   state   judge,   the   affidavit   provided   specific

information of the objects of the search, the executing officer was

the affiant,15 the additional officers making the search knew what

was to be searched for, and, finally, the warrant could easily have

been made valid by the insertion of the phrase "see attached

       15
              This factor was also significant to the majority in
Sheppard.      The Court noted:

              Normally, when an officer who has not been
              involved in the application stage receives a
              warrant, he will read it in order to
              determine the outcome of the search. In this
              case, Detective O'Malley, the officer who
              directed the search, knew what items were
              listed in the affidavit presented to the
              judge, and he had good reason to believe the
              warrant authorized the seizure of those
              items. Whether an officer who is less
              familiar with the warrant application or who
              has unalleviated concerns about the proper
              scope of the search would be justified in
              failing to notice a defect like the one in
              the warrant in this case is an issue we need
              not decide.

Sheppard, 468 U.S. at 989 n.6.

                                     18
affidavit."        The Supreme Court's decision in Sheppard, applying

the holding of Leon in the context of a general warrant, leads us

to conclude that, under the facts of this case, the officers good

faith reliance16 upon the warrant was objectively reasonable.                    The

motion to suppress evidence seized pursuant to the warrant and

attached affidavit was properly denied.              Thus endeth the Fourth

Amendment issues.

C. Modification of the Indictment

     Count Two of the superseding indictment originally charged

Beaumont and Johnie with possession of phenylacetic acid and acetic

anhydride.         Prior   to   trial,   over    appellants'     objection,      the

district court granted the government's motion to strike the term

"phenylacetic acid" from Count Two after the government explained

that the forensic analysis of chemicals seized from Beaumont's

house     showed    no   such   chemical.       Appellants      claim   that   this

elimination deprived them of their right to a grand jury.                        The

Supreme Court       has    rejected   the     argument   that    a   defendant    is

deprived of the right to a grand jury if the proof at trial

indicates that the defendant is guilty of a narrower, but included

offense. United States v. Miller, 471 U.S. 130, 134-38 (1985).                   The

Court refused to accept the notion that a deprivation of rights had

occurred simply because a grand jury might not have delivered a

narrower indictment. Id.          We find no error here, where, had the

     16
          We note that here, as in Sheppard, there is no
allegation that the executing officers did not act in good faith.

                                         19
district court refused the government's motion and the jury found

that the appellants were guilty only of the possession of the

acetic anhydride, the appellants would have had no basis for appeal

under Miller.       That is, the actions of the district court only

alleviated the necessity of the appellants' making a motion to

acquit as to the charge of possession of phenylacetic acid.           We

find no error here.

D. Sufficiency of the Evidence

     All appellants challenge the sufficiency of the evidence to

sustain     their    convictions.        We   address   their   arguments

individually, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to

the verdict. United States v. McKnight, 953 F.2d 898, 901 n.3 (5th

Cir. 1992).

1. Beaumont

     Beaumont begins his brief with the assertion that the evidence

was insufficient to convict him.         He fails, however, to make any

argument whatsoever to support this contention.           Failure of an

appellant to properly argue or present issues in an appellate brief

renders those issues abandoned. United States v. Lindell, 881 F.2d
1313, 1325 (5th Cir. 1989), cert. denied, 496 U.S. 926 (1990)

(citing Fed.R.App.P. 28(a)(4)).17

2. Johnie

     17
          Had Beaumont presented an argument regarding the
sufficiency of the evidence against him, we would nevertheless
reject it for our review of the record indicates ample evidence
exists to support his convictions for conspiracy, possession, and
illegal use of a telephone.

                                    20
     Johnie   was   convicted   of   the   conspiracy   offense   and   the

substantive offense of possession.         She suggests that the record

reflects nothing more than that she provided the use of information

contained on her driver's license for identification purposes when

the precursor chemicals were purchased at the chemical supply

store.   We disagree.

     In United States v. Sanchez, 961 F.2d 1169 (5th Cir. 1992) we

observed:

                 To establish guilt of a drug conspiracy,
            it must be proven that an agreement with
            intent   to   [manufacture    methamphetamine]
            existed, that the defendant had knowledge of
            the   agreement,   and  that   the   defendant
            voluntarily participated in the conspiracy.
            United States v. Lewis, 902 F.2d 1176, 1180
            (5th Cir. 1990). An agreement may be inferred
            from a concert of action, participation from a
            "collocation of circumstances," and knowledge
            from surrounding circumstances. United States
            v. Espinoza-Seanez, 862 F.2d 526, 537 (5th
            Cir. 1988). Mere presence at the scene and
            close association with those involved are
            insufficient factors alone; nevertheless, they
            are relevant factors for the jury. United
            States v. Simmons, 918 F.2d 476, 484 (5th Cir.
            1990).

Sanchez, 961 F.2d at 1174 (emphasis in original).

     In Sanchez, we held that the defendant-spouse of a principal

conspirator could be convicted upon evidence that she used a false

name while making airline reservations for her husband and another

coconspirator, discussed the conspiracy with her brother and lived

with a principal of the conspiracy.        Sanchez, 961 F.2d at 1178.    In

the case before us, the record indicates that Johnie repeatedly

supplied false information on the sales invoices regarding the

proper address and proper reasons for purchasing the chemicals.

                                     21
These actions could permit a reasonable jury to infer that Johnie

knew of the conspiracy and, particularly due to the fact that these

actions      were    repeated,     that    she    agreed    to,    and    voluntarily

participated in, the conspiracy.                 Moreover, Johnie lived in the

same home as Beaumont, the principal conspirator, and accompanied

him, together with Gerald and Brevell on occasion, to purchase the

chemicals.         With these facts in the record, we cannot say that

there was insufficient evidence to support the jury's verdict as to

the conspiracy count.

       Johnie also challenges her conviction for the substantive

offense of possession with intent to manufacture methamphetamine.

It   is     well    settled   that   "[a]    conspirator      is    liable    for   the

substantive offenses of his coconspirators while he is a member of

the conspiracy." Sanchez, 961 F.2d at 1176 (citing United States v.

Garcia, 917 F.2d 1370, 1377 (5th Cir. 1990)).                     Any analysis that

turns on the lack of evidence directly implicating Johnie in the

substantive offense of possession is unnecessary in light of the

principal recited above.             The jury was instructed that it could

find      Johnie    guilty    of   the    substantive      offense    based   on    the

coconspirator        liability     theory;       our   inquiry     need   proceed    no

further.18     Johnie's contentions are without merit.

       18
          Lest there be any question regarding the issue, we
observe that the evidence was overwhelming that Beaumont was
guilty of the substantive offense of possession. The house where
the chemicals, glassware and paraphernalia were seized was used
as a residence by Beaumont. There is virtually no question that
he exercised dominion and control over the premises. See Sanchez,
961 F.2d at 11756 (discussing law of possession). Furthermore,
we discern no serious dispute that the items seized were intended
to be used for the manufacture of methamphetamine.

                                            22
3. Gerald

      Gerald suggests the evidence of his participation in the

conspiracy failed to prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Like his brother Beaumont, Gerald fails to show how the evidence

was insufficient, merely making the bland assertion that the

evidence was insufficient.19 See Lindell, supra.          Even were he to

have properly presented this issue, however, we nonetheless affirm

his conviction. The evidence demonstrated that Gerald participated

in purchases of precursor chemicals from the chemical supply store

as well as from DEA and State agents.         Moreover, Gerald negotiated

these deals at length and the negotiations were tape recorded.

These recordings were presented to the jury. Gerald's challenge to

his conviction for conspiracy must fail.

4. Brevell

      Brevell challenges his conviction for conspiracy.            He recites

in   his   brief   both   the   inculpating    and   exculpating    evidence

introduced at trial.        He concludes that, when contrasted, the

exculpating evidence precludes a finding of guilt.           We disagree.

The evidence at trial showed that Brevell participated in the

purchases of chemicals at the chemical store and accompanied Gerald

in the purchases of chemicals from the DEA and State agents.

Additionally, the evidence showed the Brevell participated in the

      19
          It appears Gerald does not challenge the sufficiency of
the evidence as to his conviction for illegal use of the
telephone. We fail to see how he could, given the strength of
the evidence against him on these counts. We note that it is
refreshing to see an appellant and his counsel refraining from
raising meritless issues on appeal.

                                     23
transportation and unloading of the chemicals.                      Moreover, the

evidence demonstrated that the warehouse where the chemicals were

unloaded was in Brevell's name and paid for by Beaumont.                   Finally,

the evidence showed that Brevell inspected glassware for the

manufacture    of    methamphetamine     and       stated,   upon   sniffing   the

residue on the glassware, that he liked the smell of the chemicals.

This evidence was more than sufficient to permit the jury to

convict Brevell of conspiracy.

E. Miscellaneous Allegations of Error

     The appellants contend a variety of legal error occurred in

the admission of certain testimony and evidence.                 We disagree.

1. Coconspirators' Statements

     At trial, Castaneda testified that Brevell had stated Beaumont

was the head of the conspiracy and Smith testified that Gerald also

admitted that Beaumont was the head of the conspiracy.                          The

district court, over the objections of appellants, admitted the

testimony   upon     condition   that    the       government    demonstrate   the

existence     of     a   conspiracy.         See    Fed.R.Evid.      801(d)(2)(E)

(coconspirators' statements not hearsay).                 The district court, at

the close of the government's case-in-chief, determined that the

government had satisfied its threshold burden of demonstrating by

a preponderance of the evidence that a conspiracy existed. See

Bourjaily     v.    United   States,     483 U.S. 171,   175-181    (1987)

(discussing admission of coconspirators' statements under Rule

801(d)(2)(E)); see also United State v. James, 590 F.2d 575, 582-83

                                        24
(5th Cir.), cert. denied, 422 U.S. 917 (1979) (district court may

conditionally admit coconspirators' statements).                    We find no error

in the admission of the statements.

2. Expert Opinion

      The United States presented the testimony of its expert

witness, Dr. Joseph Prall (Dr. Prall).                During direct examination,

Dr. Prall expressed his opinion that the chemicals, glassware and

various paraphernalia seized at Beaumont's home were being used in

a large scale methamphetamine manufacturing operation.                     Appellants

failed    to   object    to   this     testimony.        On     cross-examination,

appellants     inquired    as    to    whether    a    person       who   merely   sold

precursor chemicals and owned glassware was a manufacturer of

methamphetamine.        Without objection, Dr. Prall responded that such

a person was either directly manufacturing methamphetamine or

engaged   in   a    conspiracy    to    manufacture       methamphetamine.           On

redirect-examination, the government asked Dr. Prall what activity

persons were engaged in when such persons sold precursor chemicals,

kept formulas for methamphetamine, and sold precursor chemicals

without keeping records of such sales. Appellants objected to this

line of questioning but the district court permitted Dr. Prall to

answer when the government explained that it was only trying to

follow up on Dr. Prall's opinion given during cross-examination.

Dr.   Prall    testified      that     the    individuals       described     in    the

government's       question   would     be    involved    in    a    methamphetamine

conspiracy.

      Because the term "conspiracy" was first used by Dr. Prall

                                         25
during cross-examination, and because appellants did not then

object to its use, their complaint as to its subsequent use during

redirect-examination will be upheld only if it constitutes plain

error. See United States v. Nixon, 918 F.2d 895, 904-05 (11th Cir.

1990) (failure to object to use of term "conspiracy" by expert

witness when elicited on cross examination rendered complaint about

later     use     of     term     reviewable            under    plain     error    standard).

Moreover, we note Federal Rule of Evidence 704 provides that expert

"testimony      in     the      form   of     an    opinion       or    inference     otherwise

admissible is not objectionable because it embraces an ultimate

issue to be decided by the trier of fact." Fed.R.Evid. 704.                               After

reviewing the transcripts of Dr. Prall's testimony, we feel that in

the context given, the testimony was a factual rather than a legal

conclusion.        See     Nixon, 918 F.2d        at    905     (officer's     use   of

"conspiracy" factual, not legal determination).20

F. The Sentences

     Appellants challenge their sentences based upon alleged error

in the testimony of Dr. Prall as to the amount of methamphetamine

which     could    have      been      produced         and     the    presentence    report's

reliance on that testimony.                   Appellants failed to object to the

testimony when given and failed to object to the presentence report

when presented.            Appellants have preserved nothing for review.

     20
          Appellants additionally contend that the failure of the
government to adequately identify certain glassware introduced at
the trial requires reversal. Our review of the record indicates
that any failure in identification of the glassware went to the
weight of the evidence and not its admissibility. See United
States v. Casto, 889 F.2d 562, 569 (5th Cir. 1989), cert. denied,
110 S. Ct. 1165 (1990).

                                                   26
Furthermore, our review of the law and the record in this case

suggests that even had the issue been preserved for appeal, we

would nevertheless affirm appellants' sentences.

                           CONCLUSION

     We have exhaustively reviewed the record in this case and the

relevant law. Finding no error in the convictions and sentences of

appellants, the district court is in all respects

AFFIRMED.

                               27