Court Opinion

ID: 3151136
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-30 21:01:14.901458+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:38:34.679394
License: Public Domain

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
                           FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

           v.                                             Criminal No. 12-125-20 (CKK)
 ALEJANDRO CHAPA,

    Defendant.

                                 MEMORANDUM OPINION
                                    (October 30, 2015)

       Presently before the Court is Defendant Alejandro Chapa’s [286] Motion to Compel

Additional Discovery and Chapa’s [314] Renewed Motion to Compel Discovery. Chapa requests

that this Court compel the Government to produce certain evidence that is related to the

investigation of FBI Special Agent Matthew Lowry and/or to the instant action. Upon a searching

review of the parties’ submissions,1 the relevant authorities, and the record as a whole, the Court

shall grant Chapa’s request for discovery only as to certain information related to the 13 seized

packages, 12 of which later tested positive for heroin and 1 of which tested positive for a heroin

derivative. Accordingly, the Court shall GRANT IN PART and DENY IN PART Chapa’s [286]

Motion to Compel Additional Discovery and GRANT IN PART and DENY IN PART Chapa’s

[314] Renewed Motion to Compel Discovery for the reasons described herein.

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         While the Court renders its decision today on the record as a whole, its consideration has
focused on the following documents: Def.’s Corr.’d & Sub.’d Resp. to Notice of Filing & Mot. to
Compel Add’l Discovery (“Def.’s Mot.”), ECF No [286]; Govt.’s Resp. to Def.’s Mot. to Compel
Add’l Discovery (“Govt.’s Resp. to Def.’s Mot.”), ECF No. [295]; Def.’s Reply to Govt.’s Resp.
to Def.’s Mot. to Compel Add’l Discovery (“Def.’s Reply to Govt.’s Resp.”), ECF No. [296];
Def.’s Renewed Mot. to Compel Discovery (“Def.’s Renewed Mot.”), ECF No. [314]; Govt.’s
Opp’n to Def.’s Mot to Compel Add’l Discovery & Renewed Mot. to Compel Discovery (“Govt.’s
Opp’n”), ECF No. [319]; Def.’s Reply to Govt.’s Opp’n to Def.’s Renewed Mot. to Compel
Discovery (“Def.’s Reply to Govt.’s Opp’n”), ECF No. [328].
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                                      I. BACKGROUND

       On May 31, 2012, a federal grand jury indicted Chapa and 19 other codefendants in

connection with an alleged conspiracy to distribute cocaine. Indictment (May 31, 2012), ECF No.

[25]. Pursuant to the indictment, Chapa was charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess

with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and 28 grams or more of cocaine base

(21 U.S.C. § 846). On January 22, 2013, Chapa pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute

and possession with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and one kilogram or

more of heroin (21 U.S.C. §§ 846 & 841(a)(1) & (b)(1)(A)). On June 5, 2014, the Court sentenced

Chapa to a term of imprisonment of 60 months. Chapa did not appeal his sentence and conviction,

and currently is serving the term of imprisonment.

       On November 25, 2014, the Government filed a Notice, indicating that the investigation

resulting in Chapa’s indictment and subsequent conviction was conducted by members of the

Transnational Organized Crime Squad of the Washington Field Office of the FBI, who were

assisted on at least one occasion by Special Agent Matthew Lowry, a member of the Cross Border

Task Force of the Washington Field Office of the FBI. Govt.’s Notice of Filing ¶ 3, ECF No.

[282]. The Government explained that an investigation had been initiated regarding allegations

that Special Agent Lowry tampered with evidence, including narcotics evidence, and mishandled

firearms seized during investigations. Id. ¶ 4. The Notice indicated that while the investigation

related to Special Agent Lowry was in its early stages, at that time the Government believed that

any misconduct by Special Agent Lowry would have no impact on this action because of Lowry’s

limited role in the lengthy investigation. Id. ¶ 5. The Government also submitted to the Court and

to Chapa through counsel a letter with attachments concerning the nature of Special Agent Lowry’s

alleged misconduct. Id. ¶ 6.

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       On December 5, 2014, Chapa filed a Response to Notice of Filing and Motion to Compel

Additional Discovery. Specifically, Chapa sought information related to Special Agent Lowry’s

role in the instant action, “including everything he signed, witnessed, planned, or participated in,”

as well as “[a]ll related documents, including chain of custody on every drug to which he had

access . . . along with the 302 reports.” Resp. to Notice for Filing & Mot. to Compel Add’l

Discovery ¶ 5, ECF No. [286]. On December 16, 2014, after the Court entered a Protective Order,

the Government provided to counsel a second letter and 18 attachments related to the Lowry

investigation. See Notice of Mat. Provided to Def. Counsel, ECF No. [294]. On December 19,

2014, the Government filed a Response to Chapa’s Motion to Compel, requesting that the Court

deem the motion moot in light of the fact that the Government provided additional materials to

defense counsel and based on anticipated future productions pursuant to the Protective Order. See

Govt.’s Resp. to Def.’s Mot., ECF No. [295]. On December 23, 2014, Chapa filed a Reply

indicating that the request was not moot because the Government had not yet produced documents

specifically related to the instant action. Def.’s Reply to Govt.’s Resp. ¶ 3, ECF No. [296]. Rather,

Chapa requested that the Court hold his motion to compel in abeyance until Chapa provided the

Government with a list of requested items. Id. ¶ 5.

       Chapa subsequently filed a [314] Renewed Motion to Compel Discovery, requesting that

the Court order the Government to provide certain discovery as requested by Chapa and indicating

that the Government had stopped producing additional discovery after Special Agent Lowry

entered a guilty plea. In support of his motion, Chapa included two lists provided to the

Government and one e-mail requesting discovery information. See Def.’s Renewed Mot., Ex. A,

ECF No. [314-1]; id., Ex. B, ECF No. [314-2]. The Government opposes Chapa’s request for

discovery.

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                                     II. LEGAL STANDARD

       The parties agree that the Rules Governing Section 2255 Proceedings are applicable to the

instant motion. 2 See Govt.’s Opp’n at 5-6; Def.’s Reply to Govt.’s Opp’n at 2. Pursuant to Rule

6, “[a] party requesting discovery must provide reasons for the request . . . [and] [t]he request . . .

must specify any requested documents.” Rules Governing Section 2255 Proceedings for the U.S.

District Courts, Rule 6(b). Upon reviewing a discovery request, “[a] judge may, for good cause,

authorize a party to conduct discovery under the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure or Civil

Procedure, or in accordance with the practices and principles of law.” Id. at 6(a) (emphasis added).

Good cause exists “‘where specific allegations before the court show reason to believe that the

petitioner may, if the facts are fully developed, be able to demonstrate that he is . . . entitled to

relief . . . .’” Bracy v. Gramley, 520 U.S. 899, 908-09 (1997) (quoting Harris v. Nelson, 394 U.S.
286, 300 (1969)). Upon such a showing, “‘it is the duty of the courts to provide the necessary

facilities and procedures for an adequate inquiry.’” Id. at 909. However, “the scope and extent of

such discovery is a matter confided to the discretion of the District Court.” Id.

                                        III. DISCUSSION

       The Court discerns from the parties’ briefing that Chapa seeks discovery related to: (1) 13

seized packages in this case; and (2) money recovered in the case as well as documentation related

to investigations into “missing money,” presumably as part of the investigation into Special Agent

Lowry’s conduct. Chapa indicated that he provided “three specific lists of requested discovery,”

Def.’s Renewed Mot. at 5, filed alongside his Renewed Motion to Compel Discovery, id., Ex. A-

       2
          Chapa indicates that while it is unknown at this time whether he will raise a collateral
attack to his sentence pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255, he agrees that he must demonstrate “good
cause” and state with specificity why he requires the requested discovery. Def.’s Reply to Govt.’s
Opp’n at 2, n.2.
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B. Specifically, these lists appear to request certain photographs and documentation related to 13

seized packages, which later tested positive as heroin or a heroin derivative and formed the basis

for the charges to which Chapa pled guilty. Moreover, Chapa also indicated in his briefing that he

seeks photographs, police reports, and all documentation dealing with money recovered from any

source in this case and related to investigations dealing with missing money. Def.’s Renewed Mot.

at 4-5. However, the discovery requests related to recovered money were not set forth in the lists

of discovery requests included as exhibits by Chapa, and were only raised in his briefing.

       Upon review of the lists provided by Chapa and the parties’ briefing, it is not entirely clear

to the Court either the precise scope of Chapa’s request and/or the extent to which some or all of

the information requested already was provided to Chapa prior to entering into his plea agreement

or during the subsequent investigation into Special Agent Lowry’s conduct. See Def.’s Renewed

Mot. at 1 (“Although the government has produced a large number of documents as part of the

Lowry investigation, including a very recent package related to ‘missing’ money, and some of the

requested documents, it now has refused to provide a number of specific discovery materials

pertaining to this case which the defendant has now requested.”); Id. at 4 (“Although some

requested items were provided before the government’s position changed, it is very unclear at this

point whether the sought items are missing, never existed or are being held back.”). Indeed, the

Government contends that some of the information Chapa seeks “was previously provided or was

available to defendant before he entered his guilty plea.” Govt.’s Opp’n at 1. However, Chapa

asserts that the lists of requests were made after “[a] careful review of the initial discovery discs.”

Def.’s Reply to Govt.’s Opp’n at 1.

       While there appears to be some disagreement between the parties as to whether some of

the requested discovery already has been produced, the Court shall nevertheless discuss Chapa’s

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two broad areas of discovery requests relating to the 13 seized packages and the recovered money.

In light of Chapa’s discovery request, the Court shall first briefly address Special Agent Lowry’s

role in the investigation in the instant action. Special Agent Lowry entered guilty pleas to 64

counts related to his misconduct on March 31, 2015. However, none of those 64 counts related to

the investigation of or evidence in the instant action. Govt.’s Opp’n at 3 n.1. The Government

contends, and Chapa does not dispute, that:

       Lowry was not the case agent for this investigation and his participation in this case
       was both limited and minor. FBI Special Agents Timothy Ervin, Steve
       Weatherhead and Paul West were the lead investigators. At the conclusion of this
       nine-month long investigation involving several Title III wiretaps, hundreds of
       hours of surveillance, traffic stops and other investigation techniques, Lowry
       merely accompanied six other FBI agents on the execution of a search warrant at
       the home of co-conspirator Jay Isaacs. In addition to assisting with the search,
       Lowry is listed as responsible for photographs and sketches during that search. No
       evidence gathered during that search, however, resulted in charges against the
       defendant or any co-defendant in this case.

Govt.’s Opp’n at 3. However, Chapa’s argument appears to center around Special Agent Lowry’s

access to confiscated evidence. Indeed, Chapa contends that the Government has acknowledged

that Special Agent Lowry had unfettered access to various evidence vaults containing drugs from

2008 until October 2014. Def.’s Renewed Mot. at 3. Moreover, Chapa contends that “Lowry is

unable to pinpoint the source(s) of all of his drug thefts.” Id. at 4. In this instant action, Chapa

argues that he and his co-defendants understood that they were transporting cocaine, and not

heroin, and that a field test or tests were positive for cocaine. Id. Laboratory results later confirmed

that the packages did not contain cocaine as Chapa expected, but rather 12 of the 13 seized

packages contained heroin and the remaining package contained a heroin derivative. Id. As a

result, Chapa argues, “It is unclear whether any brick was tampered with, as had been Lowry’s

practice of taking pieces (or possibly a brick) and substituting filler.” Id.

       The Government opposes the request for additional discovery, indicating that “[a]ll

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information concerning Agent Lowry’s role in this investigation has been provided to the defense.”

Govt.’s Opp’n at 9. Moreover, the Government argues that Chapa cites to “no evidence to support

even a reasonable inference that any of Lowry’s actions affected the defendant’s case.” Id. at 8.

Rather, the Government asserts that despite its endeavors to uncover each instance of misconduct

on the part of Special Agent Lowry, no misconduct related to the instant action has been uncovered.

Id. at 10. With respect to the 13 seized packages, the Government argues that Chapa has failed to

establish good cause to warrant further discovery in this matter. The Government asserts that there

is no “mystery” surrounding the nature of the recovered drugs because the evidence, including

wiretap interceptions, supports Chapa’s conviction. Moreover, the Government rejects Chapa’s

contention that the seized drugs were tampered with by Special Agent Lowry. Specifically, the

Government argues that the 13 kilograms of narcotics at issue that were seized from a Dodge

Durango on May 23, 2012, support Chapa’s conviction. The Government acknowledges that while

the narcotics field-tested positive for cocaine, testing at the DEA laboratory revealed the substance

to be heroin or a heroin derivative. Id. Moreover, the Government indicates in a footnote that

Chapa’s argument that the Special Agent Lowry may have had some motivation to tamper with

these seized narcotics is illogical. As the Government argues “[p]resumably, Special Agent Lowry

would have had no motive to convert or tamper with narcotics suspected to be cocaine – his drug

of choice was heroin.” Id. at 7 n.2.

       The Court agrees that Chapa’s theory at this point in time that Special Agent Lowry may

have tampered with the seized narcotics in this case is attenuated. However, as Chapa notes in his

reply brief, he “is merely exploring at this juncture whether there is a basis to assert an attack.”

Def.’s Reply to Govt.’s Opp’n at 2 n.2. The Court finds that the based on the evidence before it,

Chapa has demonstrated good cause to allow limited discovery of certain evidence related to the

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13 seized packages in order for Chapa to determine if there is additional support for Chapa’s

theory. Indeed, as the Government has argued, the materials sought by Chapa with respect the 13

seized packages were discoverable prior to Chapa’s guilty plea and Chapa has pointed to specific

facts in this case that support his contention that he should be permitted to conduct a further, limited

investigation. Specifically, in an exercise of its discretion, the Court shall require the Government

to provide Chapa with all photos of the 13 seized packages, any documentation related to the chain

of custody for the 13 seized packages from the time that the packages were confiscated through

the time that they were tested in the laboratory, and DEA reports regarding the condition of the 13

seized packages when they arrived for testing. The Court finds that the scope of additional

discovery is sufficient to allow Chapa to determine whether there is any support for his theory and

any reasonable grounds for seeking relief. As a practical matter, the Court notes that it may be

beneficial for the parties to meet to identify what materials have already been provided to Chapa

and what materials do not exist, either because the Government never had them or because they

have not been retained by the Government following Chapa’s conviction. All other materials

identified should be provided to Chapa’s counsel.

        Chapa also seeks information regarding money recovered in this case as well as

documentation related to investigations, presumably related to Special Agent Lowry’s conduct,

into “missing money.” Chapa simply indicates that “there are allegations in other cases where

Agent Lowry worked [sic] of missing money.” Def.’s Renewed Mot. at 4. However, Chapa

provides no specific argument as to why additional discovery regarding recovered money in this

case or supplemental information about Special Agent Lowry’s conduct with respect to “missing

money” would be warranted in this instance. Instead, Chapa simply notes that it was alleged that

money was missing in other cases. Without any argument related to the facts of this case, this

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Court cannot find that Chapa has set forth specific allegations to show reason to believe Chapa

may, if the facts are fully developed, be able to demonstrate that he is entitled to relief. As such,

the Court holds that Chapa is not entitled to discovery beyond what the Court has identified above

because Chapa was not demonstrated good cause to support such finding.

                                       IV. CONCLUSION

       For the foregoing reasons, the Court GRANTS IN PART and DENIES IN PART Chapa’s

[286] Motion to Compel Additional Discovery and GRANTS IN PART and DENIES IN PART

Chapa’s [314] Renewed Motion to Compel Discovery. For good cause shown, the Court finds

that Chapa is entitled to discovery related to the 13 seized packages, which later tested positive for

heroin or a heroin derivative. Specifically, the Government shall provide Chapa with all photos

of the 13 seized packages, any documentation related to the chain of custody for the 13 seized

packages from the time that the packages were confiscated through the time that they were tested

in the laboratory, and DEA reports regarding the condition of the 13 seized packages when they

arrived for testing. Furthermore, the Court finds that Chapa has not demonstrated good cause to

entitle him to additional discovery beyond that at this time, including discovery related to money

recovered in the case as well as documentation related to investigations, presumably related to

Special Agent Lowry’s conduct, into “missing money.”

       An appropriate Order accompanies this Memorandum Opinion.

                                                          /s/
                                                      COLLEEN KOLLAR-KOTELLY
                                                      UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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