Court Opinion

ID: 5376
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-25 05:05:18+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:03:28.918809
License: Public Domain

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

                        FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT

                        _____________________

                                No. 91-2373

                        _____________________

                UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

                                                        Plaintiff-Appellee,

                                  versus

                            MIKE TAGLE RENA and
                              MIKE RENA, JR.,

                                                       Defendants-Appellants.

__________________________________________________________________

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

___________________________________________________________________

                            ( January 12, 1993)

Before KING, JOHNSON and DUHÉ, Circuit Judges.

JOHNSON, Circuit Judge:

     During the trial of defendants Mike Tagle Rena (Rena, Sr.) and

his son Mike Rena, Jr. (Rena, Jr.), the jurors were allowed to

review   transcripts   of    recorded    telephone     conversations   which

included the impressions of transcribers. Both defendants argue

that the district court committed reversible error in allowing the

jurors to see that extraneous material.           Rena, Jr. further claims

that there was insufficient evidence to convict him and in the

alternative,   the   conspiracies       alleged   in   two   counts   of   the

                                     1
indictment were actually one ongoing conspiracy.

                 I.   Facts and Procedural History

     Rena, Sr. and Rena, Jr. were indicted with twelve other

individuals for their involvement in the distribution of marijuana.

The Narcotics Service of the Texas Department of Public Safety

(DPS) obtained authorization to place a wire tap on the home

telephone lines of Rena, Sr. and Rena, Jr. and on the line of Rena

and Sons Paint and Body Shop, an automotive shop owned by Rena, Sr.

The intercepts began on February 19, 1990 and ended on March 17,

1990. Based upon those intercepts and other information, Rena, Sr.

was charged with one count of engaging in a continuing criminal

enterprise, three counts of conspiracy to possess with intent to

distribute marijuana, and three counts of possession with the

intent to distribute marijuana.   Rena, Jr. was charged with three

counts of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana

and two counts of possession with intent to distribute marijuana.

     During the trial, the court allowed the parties to play the

tapes for the jury.    The court also allowed the jury to review

transcripts written by DPS personnel, because a substantial number

of the conversations on the tapes were in Spanish.1    An official

court interpreter had reviewed each of the tapes and transcripts

and had either determined that the transcripts were acceptable or

had corrected any mistakes thereon. The transcripts also contained

     1
        All but one of the jurors understood both English and
Spanish. The court therefore informed the jurors that they were
to determine for themselves the contents of the tapes--that the
transcription was not the evidence, but only the tapes.

                                  2
synopses of the conversations.     These synopses, which were always

on the first page, were written by the transcriber.        Some of the

synopses   and    the    transcripts         contained   parenthetical

interpretations by the transcriber.2 The court informed the jurors

before the first tape was played and before they received the first

transcript that the tapes, not the transcripts, were evidence.3

The court so instructed the jurors at least twelve times throughout

the four day period during which the Government offered the tapes

into evidence.

     The jury found Rena, Sr. guilty of each of the seven counts

and the court sentenced him to imprisonment for two hundred ninety-

three months and a five year term of supervised release.      The court

dismissed the possession charges against Rena, Jr. based upon the

lack of evidence of such possession; however, the jury found him

guilty of the conspiracy counts.       The court sentenced Rena, Jr. to

incarceration for life and a five year term of supervised release

due, in part, to his four previous convictions.

     Both Renas claim that allowing the jurors to review the

transcripts was reversible error; they therefore ask the Court to

reverse and remand for a new trial. Rena, Jr. further claims that

there was insufficient evidence to convict him of any conspiracy.

     2
        For example, the transcriber interpreted "parts" as being
marijuana, "car titles" and "papers" as money, "two for forty-
eight" as two kilos for forty-eight thousand dollars, and "it" as
the load.
     3
        He instructed the jury prior to its receipt of the
transcripts that "[w]hat's in the transcript, although it is in
English, is not the evidence. It is just a translation of the
tape. The tape is the evidence."

                                   3
In the alternative, he argues that two of the conspiracies charged

were only one conspiracy.

                            II.   Discussion

A.   Transcripts

     Whether the jury should have the use of transcripts is a

matter left to the sound discretion of the trial judge.           United

States v. Larson, 722 F.2d 139, 144 (5th Cir. 1983), cert. denied,

466 U.S. 907 (1984);    United States v. Onori, 535 F.2d 938, 947

(5th Cir. 1976). Thus, in the usual case, the Court will not

reverse absent an abuse of discretion.         However, this is not the

usual case, for the Renas failed to preserve any error with respect

to the extraneous comments added in the transcripts.4         The Court

     4
        On the two separate occasions which Rena, Sr.'s attorney
complained of the transcripts, the court responded that the
transcripts were not evidence, that the court would so instruct
the jurors, and that the attorneys would be allowed to point out
any variances to the jury.   Each time, the attorney acquiesced.
Prior to the admission or playing of the tapes the court
responded to Rena, Sr.'s objection:

          THE COURT: I will tell you how we will deal with
     this real simply, all right. . . .
          I will allow you -- and [the jurors] will be told,
     for example, as would regard the transcript, that it is
     not the evidence. But I will permit you to show them
     where there is a variance, if any, and they will be
     reminded that the evidence is the tape, itself.

            MR. R. MARTINEZ:      Very few.

          THE COURT: I will permit you to clarify that. In
     the interest of time, i [sic] have always found, for
     example, in order for the interpreter not to have to go
     through the tape, itself, I permit the jury to look at
     the transcript as translated, if you have no objection,
     and then you can clarify from there.

            MR. R. MARTINEZ:   All right, sir.     That's fine,
     sir.

                                    4
must therefore apply the plain error standard of review.           FED. R.

CRIM. P. 52(b); United States v. Navejar, 963 F.2d 732 (5th Cir.

1992).    Plain error occurs when the error is "so obvious and

substantial that failure to notice and correct it would affect the

fairness, integrity, or public reputation of judicial proceedings."

Id. (quoting United States v. Lopez, 923 F.2d 47, 50 (5th Cir.),

cert. denied, 111 S.Ct. 2032 (1991)).

     In   United   States   v.   Onori,    the   Court   determined    that

transcripts are sometimes useful for helping juries to understand

evidence of taped conversations.          535 F.2d at 947.     The Court

concluded that when parties do not agree upon the accuracy of a

transcript, the trial court may explain to the jury that a dispute

exists about the proper translation and should allow each party to

present evidence of its proffered version.        Id. at 948-49.      Upon a

     Moreover, during the presentation of Rena, Sr.'s case, Mr.
Martinez, himself, offered into evidence a taped conversation and
presented the jurors with a Government transcript which contained
a prejudicial parenthetical impression which interpreted the word
"machine" as narcotics. He did this even though he had prepared
another transcript of the same conversation which did not contain
the extraneous remark.

      In United States v. Larson, although the defense counsel
objected to the use of transcripts prior to the district court's
issuance of a limiting instruction, it did not object after the
instruction. 722 F.2d at 144-45. The Court therefore determined
that it was limited in reviewing for plain error. In this case,
the defense counsel objected prior to the limiting instructions,
but by acquiescing to the Court's decision on how to handle the
transcripts and by offering one of the transcripts into evidence
himself, he, in essence, withdrew his objection and therefore
failed to preserve any error. See JACK B. WEINSTEIN AND MARGARET A.
BERGER, WEINSTEIN'S EVIDENCE § 103[04] (1991) ("An objection
apparently withdrawn by counsel will not preserve an error since
the trial court would have no reason to correct its ruling if it
felt that counsel had acquiesced.").

                                   5
party's          request,   the   court   should     also   provide    limiting

instructions to inform the jury that the transcript is "just

another piece of evidence subject to objections, that it may have

to be evaluated for accuracy, and that the jury need not accept any

proffered transcript as accurate."             Id. at 949.    The Court found

that       the    instructions    provided    in   United   States    v.   Larson

"comported precisely with our admonishment in Onori."5               722 F.2d at

144.       Certainly, the court's instructions to the jury in this case

were just as sufficient.6            However, unlike the transcripts in

       5
        There, the trial court instructed the jurors in the
following manner:

     Now, let me give you some instructions about this
     transcript. Whoever prepared it may have made a
     mistake, they may not have put down on paper what was
     actually on the tape. In other words, the tape is the
     evidence. The transcript is not evidence. It's just a
     summary of what's on that tape; thus, if you hear the
     tape and the transcript doesn't correctly reflect
     what's on the tape, disregard the transcript. The tape
     is the evidence. So, if there's any conflict between
     the tape and the transcript, the tape is what you go
     by, not the transcript. The transcript is merely to
     assist you in following the tape along. They're
     helpful, but it's just an aid and it's not the real
     evidence.
722 F.2d at 144 n.11.
       6
            The Court instructed the jury as follows:

            All this translates to this, okay, that, you see,
       when the tapes are allowed in evidence, that is the
       evidence, the tape. Now, sometimes, and in this
       instance apparently there were some transcripts made of
       what is contained in the tape, the transcript is there
       to help you. It is not the evidence. The evidence is
       the tape.

            Now, another thing that I want to call to your
       attention is the fact that this transcript is going to
       be in the English language because everything that is
       done in court has to be translated to the English

                                          6
Larson and Onori, the transcripts in this case not only contained

alleged variances from the tape, but they also contained the

transcribers' interpretations of some of the words used in the

conversations.     Also sixty of the eighty transcripts contained

short, one-paragraph synopses of the recorded conversations.7

     Some   of   the   interpretations   had   the   potential   of   being

extremely prejudicial,8 and they all could have easily been removed

prior to the jury's review thereof.9           Thus, the court clearly

     language. All right. Now, as you noticed in the
     course of -- everything is translated by a Certified
     Interpreter. You notice that one of the attorneys made
     an objection as to what is contained in the transcript.
     What's in the transcript, although it is in English, is
     not the evidence. It is just a translation of the
     tape. The tape is the evidence.

          I am going to permit counsel to show exactly what
     variances there are, if any, that he contends exists in
     the tape.
     7
        Including those sixty pages of synopses, the transcripts
comprised more than 250 pages. Approximately fifteen of the
synopses contained prejudicial interpretations, and the
transcribers included approximately six one-word interpretations
in the 190 pages of actual transcript. Not all of those
interpretations were prejudicial. For example, the transcriber
determined that the word "slab" was a code word for "boat."
     8
        The transcribers interpreted certain words, such as
"parts," "it," "small amount," "cement," and "machine," as
marijuana or narcotics. They also interpreted the words "car
titles" and "papers" as money. The transcribers explained in the
synopses that "a 7" actually meant 70 or 700 pounds and that "two
for forty-eight" was code for two kilograms for $48,000.
     9
        Because the first page of the first sixty transcripts
only contained synopses, the court could have ordered them
removed. Removal would not have disturbed the translation of the
conversation, for the true transcripts all began on the second
page. The court or the Government seemingly realized this, for
the synopses of the last twenty transcripts were apparently
removed. Further, the Government could have marked out the six
parenthetical interpretations in the text of the transcripts so

                                   7
abused his discretion in allowing the Government to provide such

extraneous    material.          However,       Government    witnesses    provided

basically the same information while testifying.                   Thus, the error,

though obvious, was not substantial. It therefore failed to result

in the manifest injustice which compels reversal under the plain

error standard of review.

             More importantly, the jurors themselves could have broken

the   code    for   the    majority       of     terms    which    were   improperly

interpreted     based     upon    other        evidence    which    the   Government

presented. For example, with respect to the word "part," Rena, Sr.

telephoned an individual, Pop, in Maryland on the morning of March

3, 1990 to inform him that his nephew, Joe, was driving to that

location and that he would have 125 or 126.                After informing Pop of

the price for these items, Pop complained that they were too

expensive.     Fewer than five minutes after calling Pop, Rena, Sr.

talked with another person and informed him that Pop was "crying

because of the prices of the car parts."                  DPS Troopers testified

that on the afternoon of March 3, they stopped Rena, Sr.'s nephew,

Joe Rena, driving north of Houston, with 126 pounds of marijuana.

Based upon this undisputed evidence, a reasonable juror could have

easily determined that a code word for marijuana was "parts."10

that the jury could not read them.
      10
        Many of the other code words could have just as easily
been broken by the jurors without the extraneous interpretations.
The Government seems to have had a strong case against the Renas
with respect to two of the conspiracy charges, yet it risked the
convictions of these defendants by including such prejudicial,
yet unnecessary, material even though it could have elicited
persuasive testimony from credible witnesses with respect to each

                                           8
      Because Government witnesses explained their interpretations

of key words during the trial and because we believe that the

jurors could have determined the meaning of a number of the key

words even without the aid of Government witnesses, we conclude

that submitting the extraneous comments with the transcripts,

though erroneous, did not affect the substantial rights of either

Rena and was therefore harmless error.              See FED. R. CRIM. P. 52(a).

 B.   One or Two Conspiracies?

      Rena, Jr. argues that the conspiracies alleged in Counts 15

and 17 were, in fact, one conspiracy.                   If there is only one

agreement to carry out the overall objective, even though various

parties are engaged in different functions, there is only one

conspiracy.    United States v. Lokey, 945 F.2d 825, 831 (5th Cir.

1991).   However, if there is no overall goal or purpose more than

one conspiracy may exist.           United States v. Perez, 489 F.2d 51, 62

(5th Cir. 1973); cert. denied, 417 U.S. 945 (1974).               This Court has

set out five factors which aid in determining whether there is more

than one agreement:       1)    The time period alleged,            2)   The co-

conspirators involved,         3)     The statutory offenses charged,          4)

the   overt   acts   or   description        of   the   offense   charged   which

indicates the nature and scope of the activity which the Government

alleged was illegal,       and 5)        the location of the events which

allegedly took place.      United States v. Nichols, 741 F.2d 767, 771

(5th Cir. 1984), cert. denied, 469 U.S. 1214 (1985) (quoting United

States v. Marable, 578 F.2d 151, 154-56 (5th Cir. 1991)).

of the translated words.

                                         9
     Evaluating these factors in light of the facts of this case

reveals that counts 15 and 17 involved the same conspiracy.         The

indictments were virtually the same.11    Indeed the only difference

between the charges was the time period. Count 17, while including

the same period alleged in Count 15, merely extended that period by

twelve days.   The indictment alleged and the evidence showed that

basically   the   same   individuals   were   involved   in   the   drug

trafficking. Each count charged the Rena, Jr. with possessing with

intent to distribute 50 kilograms of marijuana, and the evidence

was clear that the hub of the conspiracy was centered in Houston,

more particularly in Rena and Sons Paint and Body Shop and, to some

extent, in Rena, Sr.'s home.    Indeed the evidence was indisputably

clear that there was one agreement among the same individuals to

achieve one overall goal:    to obtain and distribute marijuana.

     11
          Count 15 charged as follows:

     From on or about March 1, 1990, to on or about March 3,
     1990, in the Southern District of Texas and within the
     jurisdiction of the Court, Defendants MIKE TAGLE RENA,
     MIKE RENA, JR., and JOSE LUIS RENA did knowingly and
     intentionally conspire and agree together and with
     other persons known and unknown to the Grand Jurors to
     knowingly and intentionally possess with intent to
     distribute a quantity exceeding 50 kilograms of
     marihuana, a Schedule I controlled substance.

Count 17 charged:

     From on or about March 1, 1990, to on or about March
     15, 1990, in the Southern District of Texas and within
     the jurisdiction of the Court, Defendants MIKE TAGLE
     RENA, MIKE RENA, JR., and JOSE LUIS RENA did knowingly
     and intentionally conspire and agree together and with
     other persons known and unknown to the Grand Jurors to
     knowingly and intentionally possess with intent to
     distribute a quantity exceeding 50 kilograms of
     marihuana, a Schedule I controlled substance.

                                  10
     Based upon the charges in the indictment and the extensive

evidence presented throughout the trial of this case we find as a

matter of law that counts 15 and 17 involved but one conspiracy.

C.   Sufficiency of the Evidence

     Our final task is to determine whether there was sufficient

evidence to convict Rena, Jr. of conspiring to engage in the

trafficking of marijuana.12   Because Rena, Jr. properly moved for

judgment after the close of the Government's evidence and again

after the close of all of the evidence, the proper standard of

review is whether, when viewing the evidence and all of the

inferences which could be reasonably drawn therefrom in a light

most favorable to the verdict any rational trier of fact could have

found each prima facie element of conspiracy beyond a reasonable

doubt.    United States v. Menesses, 962 F.2d 420, 426 (5th Cir.

1992) (citing United States v. Pigrum, 922 F.2d 249, 253 (5th

Cir.), cert. denied, 111 S.Ct. 2063 (1991));      United States v.

Robles-Pantoja, 887 F.2d 1250, 1253 (5th Cir. 1989).   The Court is

to review all of the evidence which supports the Government--

whether direct, circumtantial, or both--as well as the inferences

which a reasonable juror could draw therefrom.   Menesses, 962 F.2d

at 426.   Although a jury may rely on circumstantial evidence in

convicting a defendant, convictions may not rely solely upon

suspicions of guilt.   See United States v. Sacerio, 952 F.2d 860,

     12
        Rena, Jr. argues and the Government concedes that there
is no evidence of his guilt of the conspiracy charged in count
11. Thus, our review is limited to the evidence which supported
the guilty verdict in count 17.

                                   11
864 (5th Cir. 1992).

       The Government was required to prove that Rena, Jr. had

agreed with at least one other person to possess and distribute

more than 50 kilograms of marijuana, that he knew the conspiracy

existed, and that he intentionally participated in the conspiracy.

See Menesses, 962 F.2d at 426.        We find that adequate evidence

existed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Rena, Jr. was

involved in the drug conspiracy.

     Among other things, the Government presented evidence of Rena,

Jr.'s telephone conversations with his father with respect to Joe

Rena's trip up north to deliver 136 pounds of marijuana.    The Renas

had apparently planned to sell the drugs to Pop, who lived in

Maryland.   At 7:35 a.m. on March 3, 1990, Rena, Sr. called Rena,

Jr. to ask if he had talked with Pop.     Rena, Jr. explained that he

had tried to call Pop on the prior evening, but that his efforts

had proven unsuccessful.   Rena, Sr. apprised Rena, Jr. that "Joe's

getting everything ready," and implied that they needed to talk

with Pop soon.   Rena, Jr. responded that he knew that and asked

Rena, Sr. to try.   After Rena, Sr. agreed, Rena, Jr. said, "Call

me, let me know what happens."

     Rena, Sr. called Pop in Maryland fewer than ten minutes later

to tell him that Joe was driving up to Pop's area and would have

with him "125 or 126" which had the good smell.    The same morning,

at 8:11 a.m., Rena, Sr. again called Pop to inform him of the time

that Joe was scheduled to arrive.      Approximately one hour later,

Rena, Sr. called Rena, Jr. to tell him that he had talked with Pop

                                 12
and that there was now no need for Rena, Jr. to call.           Based upon

the interception of these and other calls the DPS dispatched

surveillance teams which watched Joe Rena, stopped him, gained

permission to look into the trunk of his automobile, and found 126

pounds of marijuana which, indeed, had a strong smell.

     Viewing   the   evidence   in   a    light   most   favorable   to   the

Government, a rational trier of fact could have determined beyond

a reasonable doubt that Rena, Jr. knew of the plan for Joe to drive

to Maryland to deliver 126 pounds of marijuana, that Rena, Jr. had

agreed with Rena, Sr. to talk with Pop, and that Rena, Jr.

intentionally participated in the conspiracy by attempting to call

Pop at least one time to inform him of the drugs which Joe was

scheduled to deliver.

     Based upon this and other evidence13 we find that there was

sufficient evidence of Rena, Jr.'s involvement in the marijuana

     13
        The Government also presented evidence of calls from
Rena and Sons Paint and Body Shop on March 11, 1990. During
those conversations Rena, Sr. informed a man who was involved in
their drug ring that Rena, Jr. was calling "over there" "so he
can send him a small part." Fifteen minutes later Rena, Sr. told
another employee to tell a caller bring a slice of the meat to
the body shop. Two minutes later, Rena, Jr. called to tell an
unknown male not to send David if "it's the same s__t." Less
than an hour later, Rena, Sr. informed an individual that the
meat was too expensive and too humid and that it was not the
quality which a third person desired.

     The Government presented testimony of a Sergeant
Investigator who had worked in the Texas Department of Public
Safety Narcotics Service for nine years that he believed that the
"meat" was actually a code word for marijuana, and that in his
opinion, the defendants were discussing marijuana.
     This evidence, when viewed in a light most favorable to the
Government, shows that Rena, Jr. was involved in the attempted
acquisition of marijuana, and we believe that a rational trier of
fact could have so found.

                                     13
conspiracy alleged in Count 17 of the indictment.

                         III.   Conclusion

     This Court has previously stated that transcripts of recorded

conversations are admissible.    Even so, in the usual case, this

Court would be constrained to reverse a conviction which is based

upon evidence like that found here, but this is not the usual case.

Thus, we affirm the conviction of Rena, Sr. on all counts, affirm

the conviction of Rena, Jr. on count 17 and reverse his convictions

on counts 11 and 15, and remand.

                                 14