UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff - Appellee, v. ALEXANDER CAMPBELL, a/k/a Munch, Defendant - Appellant; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff - Appellee, v. ANTONIO SHROPSHIRE, a/k/a Brill, a/k/a B, a/k/a Tony, Defendant - Appellant; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff - Appellee, v. GLEN KYLE WELLS, a/k/a Lou, a/k/a Kyle, Defendant - Appellant; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff - Appellee, v. ANTOINE WASHINGTON, a/k/a Twan, Defendant - Appellant.
Nos. 18-4130, 18-4135, 18-4148, 18-4249
United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
June 24, 2020
Before KEENAN, FLOYD, and RICHARDSON, Circuit Judges.
PUBLISHED. Appeals from the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, at Baltimore. Catherine C. Blake, District Judge. (1:16-cr-00051-CCB-2; 1:16-cr-00051-CCB-3; 1:16-cr-00051-CCB-5; 1:16-cr-00051-CCB-1)
Argued: October 31, 2019
Decided: June 24, 2020
Affirmed by published opinion. Judge Richardson wrote the opinion, in which Judge Keenan and Judge Floyd joined.
ARGUED: David W. Fischer, Sr., LAW OFFICES OF FISCHER & PUTZI, PA, Glen Burnie, Maryland; Richard S. Stolker, UPTOWN LAW LLC, Rockville, Maryland; Jonathan Alan Gladstone, Annapolis, Maryland; Megan Elizabeth Coleman, MARCUSBONSIB, LLC, Greenbelt, Maryland, for Appellants. Leo Joseph Wise, OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY, Baltimore, Maryland, for Appellee. ON BRIEF: Robert K. Hur, United States Attorney, Derek E. Hines, Assistant United States Attorney, OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY, Baltimore, Maryland, for Appellee.
A jury convicted Defendants Alexander Campbell, Antonio Shropshire, Glen Kyle Wells, and Antoine Washington of participating in a heroin-distribution conspiracy and related substantive-drug-distribution offenses. Among the Defendants with substantive charges, Washington was convicted of distributing heroin that resulted in the death of a young woman. The Defendants each argue that the district court erred in a host of ways. But finding no error, we affirm.
I. Factual background
On December 28, 2011, a nineteen-year-old woman, J.L., died from a heroin overdose. Throughout the day before, J.L. and her acquaintance, Kenneth Diggins, injected themselves with the drug. At some point, Diggins passed out. When he regained consciousness around 4 a.m., he noticed the color had drained from J.L.“s face. Although Diggins called 911, she was beyond saving.
J.L. and Diggins had bought their heroin from Antoine Washington. This was not Washington“s first time selling heroin—nor was it his last. After J.L.“s death, Diggins continued to buy heroin, through a friend of his, from Washington. After a few
Washington“s dealings with J.L. and Diggins were only a small part of a much larger drug business. Alongside Alexander Campbell, Antonio Shropshire, Glen Kyle Wells, and others, Washington sold heroin in and around Baltimore, from at least 2010 until 2016, when law enforcement broke up the operation. The Defendants worked together to sell heroin, sharing phones, sources, and customers.
Maryland and federal law enforcement jointly exposed the Defendants” heroin ring and obtained a multi-count federal indictment. During a three-week trial, the Defendants” customers testified about their purchases, the government played recorded calls arranging drug deals and discussing the Defendants” business, and an undercover officer described a controlled buy. The jury also learned that the heroin ring was aided by a now-former Baltimore City Police Officer, Momodu Gondo. Having already pleaded guilty to participating in the drug conspiracy, Gondo testified that he abused his office to help his co-conspirators evade the police. He also described a home-invasion robbery of another drug dealer that he committed at Washington“s request. Gondo carried out this robbery alongside Wells and another former police officer, Jemell Rayam (who also testified). They stole money, jewelry, and heroin—most of which Wells sold—and split the spoils with Washington.
After hearing this evidence (and much more), the jury convicted the Defendants. The district court sentenced Washington to 264 months” imprisonment, Shropshire to 300 months” imprisonment, and both Campbell and Wells to 188 months” imprisonment.
II. Analysis
The Defendants individually raise a total of six challenges to their convictions. We reject each and affirm.
A. Expert medical testimony
Washington argues the district court erred by admitting expert testimony on J.L.“s cause of death over his objection. According to Washington, Dr. Southall“s statements were inadmissible because they were testimony about an “ultimate issue“—the cause of J.L.“s death—and were not helpful to the jury. See
To begin with, we note that expert testimony addressing an ultimate issue is no longer categorically inadmissible. Although the common law barred such testimony, ”
To analyze Washington“s objection, we start with the text of
(a) the expert“s scientific, technical, or other specialized knowledge will help the trier of fact to understand the evidence or to determine a fact in issue;
(b) the testimony is based on sufficient facts or data;
(c) the testimony is the product of reliable principles and methods; and
(d) the expert has reliably applied the principles and methods to the facts of the case.
Referring to subsection (a), our Court has explained that whether testimony “assist[s] the trier of fact” is the “touchstone” of
Washington argues that, because Dr. Southall testified about the “but-for cause” of death using the same but-for language as the jury instructions, Dr. Southall“s opinion was an unhelpful legal conclusion. And we have recognized that “[e]xpert testimony that merely states a legal conclusion is less likely to assist the jury in its determination.” Barile, 286 F.3d at 760; see also United States v. McIver, 470 F.3d 550, 562 (4th Cir. 2006) (noting that opinion testimony that states a legal standard or draws a legal conclusion is “generally inadmissible“). But this guidance on whether a legal conclusion is “likely to assist” is necessarily general: “The line between a permissible opinion on an ultimate issue and an impermissible legal conclusion is not always easy to discern.” McIver, 470 F.3d at 562. And drawing that line requires a case-specific inquiry of the charges, the testimony, and the context in which it was made.
In appropriate circumstances, an expert may offer an opinion that applies the facts to a legal standard. And applying medical expertise to form an opinion on the cause of death is often the type of specialized knowledge that can help a jury. See, e.g., United States v. Chikvashvili, 859 F.3d 285, 292–94 (4th Cir. 2017) (affirming the admission of a doctor“s “expert opinion on causation” of death); United States v. Alvarado, 816 F.3d 242, 246 (4th Cir. 2016) (affirming the district court“s admission of an expert witness” testimony that “without the heroin, [Thomas] doesn“t die“); United States v. Krieger, 628 F.3d 857, 870-71 (7th Cir. 2010) (affirming “death results” conviction based on expert testimony identifying which drug, out of multiple, was the but-for cause of death); see also In re Lipitor (Atorvastatin Calcium) Marketing, Sales Practices & Products Liability Litigation (No II) MDL 2502, 892 F.3d 624, 646-47 (4th Cir. 2018) (discussing the frequent need for expert testimony to establish that a drug was the cause of death). Indeed, medical testimony about drug toxicity in the body and a cause of death as determined during an autopsy are generally well beyond the jury“s common knowledge.
As a result, Washington argues that Dr. Southall“s testimony was impermissible because she embraced the legal term of art “but-for.” Indeed, difficult questions often emerge when the expert“s opinion relies on terms with “separate, distinct and specialized meaning in the law different from that present in the vernacular.” Barile, 286 F.3d at 760 (cleaned up); see also United States v. Offill, 666 F.3d 168, 175 (4th Cir. 2011) (recognizing that expert testimony giving a legal conclusion was properly admitted given the technical legal issues involved with federal securities laws).
But we need not address those questions here because, contrary to Washington“s assertion, Dr. Southall“s opinion that heroin caused J.L.“s death employed commonly used vernacular. See J.A. 1038 (testifying that “[t]he cause of death was heroin intoxication” and answering “Yes” in response to counsel“s question “[B]ut for the heroin J.L took, would she have lived?“). As the Supreme Court has explained, the “but-for requirement is part of the common understanding of cause.” Burrage v. United States, 571 U.S. 204, 211 (2014). That phrase, like “results from,” is a common way to express “that one event is the outcome or consequence of another.” Id. at 212. To illustrate the point, the Supreme Court turned to America“s pastime: If a team wins 1-0 after a batter hits a home run, then “every person competent in the English language and familiar with the American pastime would agree that the victory resulted from the home run. ... [I]t is natural to say that one event is the outcome or consequence of another when the former would not have occurred but for the latter.” Id. at 211-12.
The commonly understood meaning of “but for” and “results from” do not diverge from their legal meaning. So we have no trouble finding that the jury would understand those terms and that the expert could apply the facts to that understanding. The district judge thus acted well within its discretion in permitting the doctor to testify that “[t]he cause of death was heroin intoxication” and that “but for the heroin J.L took [she would] have lived.” J.A. 1038.
B. Jury instructions
Washington also challenges the jury instructions that described the government“s burden of proof for the offense of distributing heroin resulting in death. As with the district court“s evidentiary rulings, we review the district court“s decision to reject a proposed jury instruction for abuse of discretion. United States v. Sonmez, 777 F.3d 684, 688 (4th Cir. 2015). In this circumstance, we will find an abuse of discretion only if the proffered instruction was:
(1) A correct statement of the law;
(2) Not substantially covered by the instructions given by the district court; and
(3) Involved some point so important that the failure to give the instruction seriously impaired the defendant“s defense.
United States v. Hager, 721 F.3d 167, 184 (4th Cir. 2013). And even if these factors are satisfied, we will not find reversible error unless the defendant can show that the entire record shows prejudice. Id.
Washington claims his proposed instructions are required by the Supreme Court“s decision in Burrage. Not so. Though Burrage held that but-for causation was generally required to prove that death resulted, the Supreme Court acknowledged that but-for causation might not be required in the special circumstance where evidence establishes that multiple sufficient causes independently, but concurrently, caused death. 571 U.S. at 214. To illustrate, the Court described a victim who was simultaneously stabbed and shot by different assailants. Id. at 215. In that situation, the conduct of neither the stabber nor the shooter was the but-for cause of the victim“s death. Id. Even so, the stabber would generally be liable for homicide. Id. Although the Supreme Court determined that this special circumstance did not apply in Burrage“s case, it made clear that the special circumstance would permit a jury to find causation when two sufficient causes independently and concurrently caused death. Id. at 214–15.
Washington“s first two proposed instructions seek to turn this special rule on its head. For example, his second proposed instruction suggests that, where two sufficient causes independently and concurrently cause death, a jury could not find causation is established: “It is the government“s burden to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that there were not other concurring sufficient causes.” J.A. 1505. But this misreads Burrage. The special rule identified by Burrage would only lessen the government“s burden, permitting a finding of causation absent but-for cause where multiple, independent causes concurrently cause death. See Burrage, 571 U.S. at 218–19. Yet the government here did not seek such an instruction nor did the jury instructions give the government the benefit of this special rule. Compare id. at 211 (explaining that but-for causation is established “if the predicate act combines with other factors to produce the result, so long as the other factors alone would not have done so—if, so to speak, it was the straw that broke the camel“s back“), with J.A. 1550 (“The Government is not required to prove that the drugs distributed by the defendant to J.L. did not combine with other factors to produce death so long as the other factors alone would not have done so.“) (emphasis added).
The district court“s instructions made clear that the government had to prove that “but for the use of the drugs that the defendant distributed, J.L. would not have died.” J.A. 1550. To the extent that Washington sought to reiterate that the heroin must be the but-for cause in his somewhat confusing proposed instructions, the district court“s instructions more than adequately addressed that central idea. See United States v. Savage, 885 F.3d 212, 223 (4th Cir. 2018) (finding no abuse of discretion where the instructions given “substantially covered [the defendant“s] requested
C. The home-invasion robbery
We turn next to Wells“s claim that the district court should have excluded evidence of a home-invasion robbery. We also review that ruling for an abuse of discretion. United States v. Basham, 561 F.3d 302, 325–26 (4th Cir. 2009).2
Wells argues that evidence of the home-invasion robbery was impermissible propensity evidence. We disagree.
The robbery here was committed in furtherance of the charged conspiracy, so evidence of that robbery was not limited by
In response, Wells contends that the home invasion was an entirely separate conspiracy. He characterizes the robbery as a “freelance” operation whose target objective was to steal cash, not drugs. Appellants” Br. 67. But the robbery of a drug dealer by members of an active drug conspiracy—who then sell the stolen heroin and split the proceeds—is evidence of the charged drug conspiracy. Cf. United States v. Kennedy, 32 F.3d 876, 884 (4th Cir. 1994) (holding that a multiple conspiracy instruction is not required unless the evidence shows that the defendants were involved only in “separate conspiracies unrelated to the overall conspiracy charged in the indictment“) (internal quotations and citation omitted). And this 2015 robbery occurred during the charged drug conspiracy. See Cooper, 482 F.3d at 663 (citing Kennedy, 32 F.3d at 885).
Because evidence of the robbery was evidence of the drug conspiracy, it does not fall within the scope of
Another Defendant, Shropshire, challenges the district court“s denial of his motion to sever his trial from Washington“s. Shropshire contends that, since Washington was the only Defendant charged with distribution of heroin resulting in death, Shropshire should have been tried separately because evidence about J.L.“s death infected the jury“s determination of his guilt.
Whether defendants are properly joined under
Under
Even so,
Shropshire claims that the emotionally charged nature of Washington“s heroin distribution that led to J.L.“s death rendered the jury unable to compartmentalize that offense and Shropshire“s own drug charges. The evidence showed that Shopshire and Washington conspired with others to distribute heroin from 2010 through 2017. And the indictment charged that one overt act of the conspiracy was Washington“s heroin distribution in December 2011 that caused J.L.“s death. Along with conspiracy, the indictment charged Washington individually with the substantive offense of distributing heroin resulting in death.4
We find the district court acted well within its discretion in denying the motion for a severance. The district court found that much of the evidence would be admissible in separate trials, “greatly diminish[ing]” any prejudice. J.A. 102 (citing United States v. Cole, 857 F.2d 971, 974 (4th Cir. 1988)). Additional mitigating factors were readily apparent from the record: the evidence at trial surrounding J.L.“s death only mentioned Washington, and each Defendant engaged in the same general conduct—distributing heroin—though Washington“s distribution to J.L. led to more severe consequences. And any concerns of prejudicial spillover were also mitigated by the district court“s explicit instruction that the jury must consider each Defendant and each count separately, while also emphasizing that it would be improper to permit the jury“s feelings about the nature of the crimes to interfere with the decision-making process. See Zafiro v. United States, 506 U.S. 534, 539 (1993) (“[L]ess drastic measures [than severance], such as limiting instructions, often will suffice to cure any risk of prejudice.“); see also Blair, 661 F.3d at 769-70 (noting that cautionary language “substantially mitigated ... any possible spillover of prejudicial evidence“) (internal quotations and citation omitted).
E. Ineffective assistance of counsel
Shropshire also seeks to raise an ineffective-assistance-of-counsel claim. He contends that his counsel failed to protect his Sixth Amendment rights after documents were allegedly taken during a search of his jail cell. As Shropshire concedes in his brief, however, “[t]he matter of the removed documents remained unresolved and was never again discussed, evaluated[,] or questioned during the trial. . . [T]he issue never was considered, much less resolved, by the trial court.” Appellants” Br. 79–80. Since this record fails to “conclusively” show ineffective assistance, we decline to address it. United States v. Faulls, 821 F.3d 502, 507 (4th Cir. 2016); see also United States v. King, 119 F.3d 290, 295 (4th Cir. 1997).
F. Mug shots
Lastly, another Defendant, Campbell, contends that the district court abused its discretion in denying his motion for a mistrial after mug shots were displayed
During trial, Campbell“s counsel suggested through questioning that a witness misidentified Campbell “as a black male with short dreads.” J.A. 485. Campbell“s counsel then pressed the witness to confirm that the witness had not encountered Campbell with short dreads. On redirect, the government tried to show arrest photos from during the conspiracy that showed Campbell with dreadlocks. See United States v. Johnson, 495 F.2d 378, 384 (4th Cir. 1974). After the page was displayed for no more than three or four seconds, Campbell“s counsel objected, and the exhibit was taken down. At sidebar, the district court agreed to exclude the photographs but refused to grant a mistrial because the images were not displayed long enough for anyone to draw any prejudicial inference about Campbell. The district court then instructed the jury to “completely disregard” the images. J.A. 547.
Given the limited time the photographs were displayed and the steps taken by the district court, we find that the court acted within its discretion in denying the motion for a mistrial after mitigating any risk of prejudice with a cautionary instruction.
* * *
Despite the many claims of error, we find that the district court admirably handled this case. For the reasons given above, the judgment of the district court is
AFFIRMED.