Court Opinion

ID: 2668192
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-04-04 14:54:24.983148+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:32:23.093862
License: Public Domain

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

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UNITED STATES 0F AMERICA, )
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v ) CRIMINAL NO. 07-278-05 (RJL)

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OSCAR HURTADO CAMPAZ, )
, F¢LED

Defendant. g ApR 1 5 2009
NANCY MAYER WHITI|NGTON, CLERK
U.S. D|STR|CT COURT

MEMORANDUM & ORDER

 

Oscar Hurtado Campaz has been charged with conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or
more of cocaine in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 959 and 960. Now before the Court is the
government’s oral motion for pre-trial detention. This Court conducted a hearing on the matter
on April 15, 2009. Upon consideration of the oral motion, the defendant’s opposition, and the
arguments and proffer of evidence introduced in the hearing, the Court finds that no condition or
combination of conditions will reasonably assure the appearance of the defendant or the safety of
the community if the defendant were to be released pending trial. See 18 U.S.C. § 3l42(e).
Accordingly, the government’s motion is GRANTED and the Court ORDERS that the defendant
be detained without bond pending trial.

I. THE GOVERNMENT’S PROFFER

At the April l5, 2009 hearing, the government made the following factual proffer: Oscar

Hurtado Campaz was involved in a multi-defendant drug conspiracy in which he transported

cocaine from Colombia to other Latin American countries that served as a base for transportation

into the United States. Specif`ically, Hurtado Campaz was a captain of one of the boats that
transported the cocaine from Colombia to other countries. By utilizing a wiretap, the
government obtained phone calls in which Hurtado Campaz is heard discussing the conspiracy in
coded language. The government also seized approximately 12 tons of cocaine that were part of
the conspiracy. The government has also proffered that Hurtado Campaz has no ties to the
United States and poses a flight risk. Finally, the government noted that Campaz is charged with
an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of ten years or more.
II. DISCUSSION

A. Legal Framew0rk

The Bail Reform Act, 18 U.S.C. § 3141 et seq., dictates that a defendant may be detained
pending trial where the government carries its burden of establishing "that no condition or
combination of conditions will reasonably assure the appearance of the person as required and
the safety of any other person and the community." ld. at § 3 l42(e),(f). The government first
must establish one of the predicates: (1) that, beyond a preponderance of the evidence, defendant
poses a risk of flight, United States v. Xulam, 84 F.3d 441, 443 (D.C. Cir. 1996); United States v.
Simpkins, 826 f.2d 94, 96 (D.C. Cir. 1987); or (2) that, by clear and convincing evidence,
defendant has been shown to pose a risk to the safety of any person or the community. 18 U.S.C.
§ 3142(f). The court must then determine that the same evidence leads to the conclusion that no
condition or conditions of release will reasonably protect against the risk that has been found.
The court should consider the nature and circumstances of the offense charged, the weight of the
evidence, the history and characteristics of the person, and the nature and seriousness of the
danger to the community if the person were released. 18 U.S.C. § 3142(g)(l)-(4).

B. Flight Risk and Danger to the Community

The Court finds that the government has carried its burden of establishing, by a
preponderance of evidence, that the defendant is a risk of flight. The defendant has no ties to the
United States and therefore if the defendant were to be released the Court could not be
reasonably assured that the defendant would appear in court as scheduled.

Furtherrnore, the government has shown by clear and convincing evidence that Hurtado
Campaz is a danger to the community. The nature of the alleged crime is serious and carries a
maximum term of imprisonment of ten years or more. The grand jury has returned an indictment
charging the defendant with conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. A grand
jury indictment must be taken "fair upon its face" and provides probable cause to believe the
defendant actually committed the acts constituting the offense. United States v. Mosuro, 648 F.
Supp. 316, 318 (D.D.C. 1986).

The Court has also considered the defendant’s history and characteristics. The defendant
has no prior criminal history, but has no ties to the United States.

The Court has also considered the weight of the evidence and concludes that the
government’s evidence is strong. The government has phone conversations that indicate that the
defendant was part of the charged conspiracy and has also proffered that it has seized cocaine
that was part of the conspiracy.

The record does not reflect that Hurtado Campaz has a history of drug or alcohol abuse,
has a criminal record, or was on probation at the time of the offense.

III. CONCLUSION AND ORDER
After consideration of the proffered evidence and the factors set forth in 18 U.S.C. §

3142(g), the Court finds that pretrial detention of Hurtado Campaz is appropriate in this case

because defendant’s release, under any conditions, would pose an unreasonable danger to the
community and risk of flight. The offense is serious, Hurtado Campaz has extensive foreign ties
with whom he has previously conspired, and the government’s proffered evidence is strong.
Accordingly, it is hereby

ORDERED that the defendant continue to be detained without bond pending trial; it is
further

ORDERED that defendant shall be afforded reasonable opportunity for private

consultation with counsel.

SO ORDERED.
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Chief Judge Royce C. Lamberth Date