Court Opinion

ID: 811126
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2012-11-01 16:54:17+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:00:40.295163
License: Public Domain

NOT PRECEDENTIAL

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT

                          ________

                         No. 11-3693
                         _________

              UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

                              v.

                     RAYMOND JONES,
                                 Appellant

                          ________

        On Appeal from the United States District Court
             for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
                  (D.C. No. 1-10-cr-00181-002)
        District Judge: Honorable William W. Caldwell

                           _______

          Submitted Under Third Circuit LAR 34.1(a)
                      October 31, 2012

    Before: SLOVITER, AMBRO, and BARRY, Circuit Judges

                  (Filed: November 1, 2012)
                           ______

                          OPINION
                           ______
SLOVITER, Circuit Judge.

       Raymond Jones appeals from his convictions in the District Court for distribution

and possession with intent to distribute at least five grams of cocaine base, use of a

communication facility to facilitate drug trafficking, and conspiracy to distribute and

possess with intent to distribute at least five grams of cocaine base. Jones argues that the

District Court erred by denying his motion to suppress and by denying his motion to

dismiss for vindictive prosecution. We will affirm.1

                                             I.

                                       Background

       Agent Kierzkowski of the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) was

investigating several individuals for crack cocaine distribution in Chambersburg,

Pennsylvania. During the course of this investigation, he interviewed a confidential

informant (“the informant”) who had purchased crack cocaine from Jonathan Moore at

least twice in May of 2010. Agent Kierzkowski learned that Moore had been traveling to

Harrisburg to meet with a supply source for crack cocaine. The informant explained that

a man named Dre drove Moore in a green-colored Chrysler to pick up crack cocaine from

the source, who drove a cream-colored Toyota. The informant also told Agent

Kierzkowski the day, time, and approximate location where he could find Moore to

       1
         The District Court had jurisdiction under 18 U.S.C. § 3231, and this court has
jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291.
                                              2
follow him to Harrisburg, where Moore would be purchasing crack cocaine from this

source.

       Based on that information, Agent Kierzkowski was able to locate Moore and

establish a surveillance operation, which followed Moore as he rode in a green Chrysler

driven by Andre McCallop through Chambersburg and into Harrisburg. During this

operation, Agent Kierzkowski worked with Detective Todd Johnson of the Dauphin

County Drug Task Force (“the Task Force”) and Trooper Tony Todaro of the

Pennsylvania State Police Interdiction Unit.

       In Harrisburg, the green Chrysler parked and Moore got out of the vehicle. A

cream-colored Toyota driven by Jones and containing one passenger parked nearby.

Moore got into the Toyota, the Toyota circled the block, and Moore then exited. Based

on their training and experience, Agent Kierzkowski and Detective Johnson believed they

had witnessed a drug transaction. Moore got back into the Chrysler and both cars

departed. Agent Kierzkowski maintained surveillance of the Chrysler and instructed the

Task Force to maintain surveillance on the Toyota, which it did in collaboration with

Harrisburg police. Based on their observations, the law enforcement officers decided to

pull over the Toyota so that the officers could learn the identity of the individuals in the

vehicle.

       Detective Johnson was a few blocks away when the Harrisburg police stopped

Jones’ vehicle. The police learned that there were arrest warrants for both individuals, so

Detective Johnson instructed the officers to arrest them. The officers searched the
                                               3
individuals and put them in the back of the police van, and Detective Johnson drove up to

the scene. After seeing what he suspected to be marijuana on the floor of the Toyota, he

called for a K-9 to come to the scene. After the dog alerted to the vehicle, Detective

Johnson impounded the car and applied for a search warrant. During the search of the

vehicle, Detective Johnson found $262 in U.S. currency, $150 of which was made up of

bills with serial numbers that matched bills that had been provided to the informant for a

controlled purchase of drugs from Moore.

       Jones was indicted on one count of manufacturing, distributing, and possessing

with the intent to manufacture and distribute crack cocaine. He filed a motion to suppress

the evidence discovered as a result of the stop, which was denied based on the District

Court’s holding that the officers had probable cause to stop the vehicle. The Government

filed a superseding indictment, charging Jones with one count of distribution and

possession with intent to distribute at least twenty-eight grams of cocaine base, use of a

communication facility to facilitate drug trafficking, and conspiracy to distribute and

possess with intent to distribute at least twenty-eight grams of cocaine base. Despite the

fact that he was represented by counsel, Jones filed a pro se motion to dismiss for

vindictive prosecution, which was never addressed by the District Court. Jones later filed

a motion to proceed pro se, which he withdrew in court prior to trial. Jones was

convicted on all three counts, but the jury found that the weight of the substance was less

than twenty-eight grams.

                                             4
                                             II.

                                        Discussion

       Reviewing the District Court’s factual findings for clear error and its legal

determinations de novo, United States v. Johnson, 592 F.3d 442, 447 (3d Cir. 2010), we

agree with the denial of Jones’ motion to suppress because the stop of Jones’ car was

supported by probable cause. Much of the information provided to Agent Kierzkowski

by the informant was verified throughout the course of the proceeding, and the officers

personally observed what they believed to be a drug transaction. Based on these facts, it

was reasonable for the officers to believe that an offense had been committed by the

individuals in the vehicle. See Rogers v. Powell, 120 F.3d 446, 453 (3d Cir. 1997)

(“[P]robable cause to arrest exists when the facts and circumstances within the arresting

officer’s knowledge are sufficient in themselves to warrant a reasonable person to believe

that an offense has been or is being committed by the person to be arrested.”) (alteration

in original, internal quotation marks and citation omitted). Even if the informant’s tip

and officers’ corroborating observations only amounted to reasonable suspicion, that was

a sufficient basis to stop the car; the subsequent events – the warrants, suspected

marijuana and K-9 alert – constituted independent probable cause for the seizure and

search.

       We also hold that Jones’ argument regarding his motion to dismiss for vindictive

prosecution fails. Not only was the District Court entitled to disregard Jones’ pro se

motion when Jones had affirmed his desire to be represented by his trial counsel, see
                                             5
United States v. Vampire Nation, 451 F.3d 189, 206 n.17 (3d Cir. 2006), but the

arguments contained within the motion are without merit. Cf. United States v. Esposito,

968 F.2d 300, 306-07 (3d Cir. 1992) (“Where a prosecutor’s conduct is equally

attributable to legitimate reasons, a defendant must show actual vindictiveness [or] a

presumption [of vindictiveness] will not apply.”).

                                           III.

                                       Conclusion

       For the foregoing reasons, we will affirm the judgment of the District Court.

                                             6