Vigo appeals his jury trial conviction for violations of 26 U.S.C.A. § 4704(a) and 21 U.S.C.A. § 174. We have considered each of the four points raised as error, and feel that only the question relating to the sufficiehcy of the search warrant affidavit merits extended discussion. For reasons that follow we affirm.
I. The Sufficiency of the Affidavit
The appellant contends that probable cause was lacking in the affidavit presented to the U.S. Commissioner. He relies primarily upon the recent decision of Spinelli v. United States,
In
Spinelli
the affidavit merely recited that a “reliable informant” informed the F.B.I. that the defendant was carrying out proscribed bookmaking activity. No basis was set forth in the affidavit in support of the conclusion of reliability of the informer. The Court re-emphasized the position taken in Aquilar v. Texas,
“The affiant in this instance has been provided with information from an informant who has proven to be reliable in the past on several occasions in his utilization as an informant for the Federal Bureau of Narcotics.” (Emphasis added)
This factual statement of past reliability provides sufficient basis for the magistrate to independently gauge the reliability of the informer. In this respect the affidavit meets the requirements of Aquilar and Spinelli, cited supra.
Aside from the issue of reliability of the informant in this case, it is significant that several of the transactions recited in the affidavit were carried out under surveillance by the Federal Bureau of Narcotics. The middleman, Bus-tamente, was observed going to the premises described in the affidavit after negotiations with the informant. On two occasions Bustamente proceeded immediately to the described premises after receiving requests for narcotics from the informer. Each time he was observed entering and then leaving 10-20 minutes later. On one occasion he returned immediately and advised the informer of the quality of the narcotics available from his connection and advised him that the connection had just received a supply of heroin that was being “cut up”.
Other surveillance of the premises indicated that similar short visits were made by “known narcotic traffickers” or “well known narcotic traffickers”. While the Court in Spinelli discredited a similar recital as being a “flat statement” or “simple assertion of police suspicion” we believe that in specifically naming these individuals the affidavit adds some information upon which the magistrate can independently evaluate the statements. The affidavit also refers to the appellant. Vigo, as being on record as a narcotic trafficker. This characterization by itself might also be viewed as mere suspicion, but here the basis of the statement is also set forth. The affidavit states that the Bureau of Narcotics had a record on Vigo with information dating back to 1962.
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We do not find that the observations and surveillance of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics standing alone has furnished sufficient information for the issuance of the warrant; See Eaton v. United States, 5 Cir., 1968,
II. The Warrant Was Duly Executed
The search warrant in this cause was a “daytime warrant,” that is to say that its validity required it be served in the daytime. Counsel for the appellant, relying on the authority of United States v. Merritt,
The trial judge considered all of the testimony on this issue after the close of the government’s case and denied the proffer made by the appellant. Implicit in his denial of the proffer is the finding that the warrant was served after the time of the official sunrise. His factual determination of this issue is not subject to change by this Court in the absence of a showing that such a finding is clearly erroneous or an obvious mistake. Furthermore, we need not rest our decision solely on this ground. It is well settled in this Circuit that in respect to search warrants the term “daytime” is not limited strictly to the time between sunrise and sunset. Sasser v. United States,
It appears that counsel and the lower court were primarily concerned with the time of “actual or official sunrise” in the case sub judice. For this reason there is little evidence on the point of whether or not the warrant was executed in the “daytime” as is defined by the above cases. There is testimony that, at the time of the arrival at the house, it was not dark 1 . The warrant stands cloaked with a presumption of validity both in the court below and on this appeal. The appellant had the burden of proof in challenging the validity of its execution or service. In discharging this burden much effort was expended in argument to the effect that the warrant was served prior to the time of official sunrise. Even assuming such to be true, such evidence alone falls short of the mark. In the absence of any evidence offered in connection with the requirements of the cases previously cited, there was no error in refusing the admission into evidence of the Weather Bureau data.
*694 III. Scope of the Government’s Cross Examination and Closing Argument.
In reviewing the transcript of the proceedings we do not find the remarks of the prosecutor to be of such a nature as to warrant reversal. Wide discretion is allowed in cases where the accused takes the stand. In such cases he is treated like any other witness for the purposes of cross examination. Furthermore, the examination here was directly related to the offense charged. The statements made in closing argument regarding narcotics offenders generally were clearly allowable in rebuttal to the appellant’s statements that brought attention to his physical infirmity and the generosity and affection of his father. There was no abuse of discretion in allowing such questioning and argument.
The judgment of the District Court is affirmed.
Notes
. Transcript of Proceedings, page 96.