United States v. Henry FreemanUnited States v. Henry Freeman
PAMELA L. COLON, ESQ., Christiansted, USVI, Counsel for Appellant Gelean Mark.
NELSON L. JONES, ESQ., DELIA L. SMITH, ESQ., Office of United States Attorney, St. Thomas, USVI, Counsel for Appellee.
FISHER, COWEN and NYGAARD, Circuit Judges.
OPINION OF THE COURT
(August 18, 2014)
FISHER, Circuit Judge
Henry Freeman and Gelean Mark appeal from their individual judgments of conviction and sentence entered by the District Court of the Virgin Islands for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance. We will resolve these unconsolidated appeals together because they arise from a common factual background and were tried together before the same District Court. Each defendant alleges a series of legal and procedural errors on the part of the District Court during trial and at sentencing. We will affirm as to Freeman, but we will vacate and remand for resentencing as to Mark.
I. BACKGROUND
A. Factual History
On December 19, 2006, Freeman and Mark were charged by a federal grand jury in a fourteen-count indictment1 for their part in a conspiracy to import substantial quantities of cocaine throughout the United States via commercial aircraft at the Cyril E. King Airport located in St. Thomas, United States Virgin Islands. Count I of the indictment charged both Freeman and Mark with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, in violation of
[D]id knowingly and intentionally, combine, conspire . . . and agree together . . . to knowingly and intentionally possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, namely five (5) kilograms or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine, . . . in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(A)(ii)(II).
Freeman App. at 24. Count II charged Mark, along with two others, with conspiracy to import cocaine, in violation of
B. Procedural History
(1) The Trial
Freeman’s and Mark’s trial commenced on September 5, 2007. The government
Glenson Isaac, a fellow co-conspirator and a cooperating witness for the government, testified against both Mark and Freeman. He testified that after Turnbull’s arrest, he sold drugs under Mark, with Freeman acting as the middle person, and that he used Mark’s route going through Charlotte, North Carolina, to transport the drugs from St. Thomas. Isaac testified that Mark arranged for the trafficking of multi-kilogram loads of cocaine from St. Thomas to North Carolina with him on numerous occasions and that Freeman advised him as to whom the courier would be in a number of those deliveries. He also testified that he met with both Mark and Freeman in St. Thomas to discuss and plan ways to transport cocaine from the Virgin Islands to North Carolina and, finally, presented an organizational chart of the drug organization, identifying Mark as a key supplier of cocaine.
Following the testimony of the government’s witnesses, defense counsel was afforded an opportunity to cross-examine each of the government’s witnesses. At the close of the government’s case, the District Court dismissed Counts III through XIII against both Freeman and Mark, pursuant to
(2) The Jury Instructions
Both Freeman and Mark presented their proposed jury instructions to the District Court, which included an instruction that the government must prove the existence of “five or more kilograms of cocaine” as an essential element of Count I. The District Court rejected this request, instead instructing the jury, along with all of the other elements of conspiracy, that they need only find that the conspiracy involved a “measurable amount of the controlled substance alleged in the indictment.” Freeman and Mark also objected to the court’s “measurable amount of cocaine” instruction, but their objection was overruled.
After five days of deliberation, the jury returned guilty verdicts for both Mark and Freeman as to Count I, but failed to reach a decision as to Mark’s charges in Counts II and XIV. Following the guilty verdict on Count I, the District Court submitted to the jury the following in the form of a post-verdict question: “[a]s to Count 1, conspiracy with intent to distribute a controlled substance, do you find that five kilograms or more was involved[?]” After a period of deliberation, the jury failed to arrive at a unanimous decision. Mark’s retrial on Counts II and XIV was scheduled for a later date.2
Freeman’s sentencing hearing was held on April 15, 2009. Prior to sentencing, the United States Probation Office prepared a presentence investigation report (“PSR“), which categorized Freeman’s base offense level at 12 because “the jury did not find an amount of controlled substances attributable to [him].” The PSR then increased his base offense level by four levels, pursuant to
Freeman’s PSR was amended twice by the Probation Office between the date of the initial PSR and the sentencing hearing. During that interim period, Freeman raised a number of objections to his base offense level and his role in the offense. The District Court held a hearing on October 2, 2008 to allow the parties to set forth their arguments regarding those objections. At the conclusion of the hearing, the District Court found that there was sufficient evidence presented at trial to support a finding that Freeman was “a manager and a supervisor” in the conspiracy. See Transcript of Proceedings at 26-28, United States v. Freeman, No. 3:06-cr-00080-CVG-RM (D.V.I. Jan. 29, 2009), ECF No. 724. The Court then found, based upon a preponderance of the evidence, that Freeman “conspire[d] with intent to distribute . . . at least 50 kilograms of cocaine.” Id. at 28-30.
The PSR was thereafter amended to reflect the District Court’s finding that Freeman had conspired to distribute a minimum of fifty kilograms of cocaine. His base offense level was set to 36, and then increased by three levels for his role as an organizer of criminal activity involving five or more participants. Following these adjustments, the PSR recommended a base offense level of 39 and a criminal history category of I, resulting in a guidelines range of 262 to 327 months of imprisonment.
At the sentencing hearing, Freeman again raised several objections to the final PSR. Specifically, he objected to the District Court’s findings of fact regarding the quantity of cocaine attributable to him and the resulting sentencing guideline range given the jury’s failure to make any actual findings as to the quantity of cocaine involved in the conspiracy. The government argued that the Court should find that 89.5 kilograms of cocaine were attributable to Freeman and that, instead of a three-level increase for his role as an organizer in the conspiracy, a two-level increase (to 38) should be imposed, providing for a sentence range of 235 to 293 months’ imprisonment. Given the statutory maximum sentence of 20 years applicable to the offense, however, the government asked the Court to impose a sentence between 188 and 240 months’ imprisonment. After hearing argument from both parties, the Court sentenced Freeman to 188 months’ imprisonment.
(4) Mark’s Sentencing Hearing
Mark’s sentencing hearing was held on October 19, 2010. His initial PSR, like Freeman’s, categorized his base offense
The Probation Office amended Mark’s PSR following its receipt of reports from an investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration. Those reports detailed Mark’s involvement with various amounts of cocaine during the conspiracy and attributed to him a total of 96.5 kilograms of cocaine. Following the inclusion of that information into the PSR, Mark was assigned a new base offense level of 36. The PSR then increased his base offense level by four levels, pursuant to
Mark raised his objections to the amended PSR at his sentencing hearing. He specifically objected to the quantity of cocaine attributed to him in the PSR, given the jury’s inability to reach a conclusion regarding a specific quantity of cocaine, and the increase in his base offense level for his role in the conspiracy. After the Court heard argument from both parties, the Court found that Mark was responsible for 15 to 50 kilograms of cocaine, which lowered his base offense level to 34 instead of 36, and that there was sufficient evidence in the record to warrant a three-level adjustment for his role in the conspiracy. The District Court then added three levels to his adjusted base offense level of 34, arriving at an adjusted offense level of 37, and concluded that Mark’s new guidelines range was 210 to 262 months in prison. The Court then sentenced Mark to a term of 210 months’ imprisonment.
This appeal followed.3
III. DISCUSSION
Because Mark and Freeman both challenge the District Court’s jury instructions regarding Count 1 of the indictment, we will address that aspect of the two appeals together in Part III.A. We will address Mark’s and Freeman’s challenges to their sentencing decisions in Part III.B. The remainder of the issues raised in Freeman’s appeal will then be addressed in Part III.C and the remainder of the issues raised in Mark’s appeal will be addressed in Part III.D.
A. Jury Instructions
Freeman and Mark first argue that the District Court erred when it instructed the jury on the elements of drug conspiracy. They specifically argue that, in order for a conviction to be obtained against them on Count I, the government had to prove the existence of “5 kilograms or more of cocaine” as charged in the indictment.
Our review of a trial court’s jury instructions, regarding both phrasing and omissions, is for abuse of discretion. United States v. Bobb, 471 F.3d 491, 499 (3d Cir. 2006). “In reviewing a refusal to give a requested jury instruction,” see id., we evaluate “whether the proffered instruction was legally correct, whether or not it was substantially covered by other
The statutory provision under which Freeman and Mark were charged in the indictment,
In order to sustain its burden of proof for the crime of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance . . ., the government must prove the following essential elements beyond a reasonable doubt:
First, that no later than 1999, and continuing until October 2005, a conspiracy, agreement or understanding to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, as described in the indictment, was formed, reached, or entered into by two or more persons;
And second, that at some time during the existence or life of the conspiracy, agreement, or understanding, the defendant knew the pur- pose of the agreement, and with that knowledge then deliberately joined the conspiracy, agreement, or understanding.
. . .
The evidence received in this case need not prove the actual amount of the controlled substance alleged in the indictment.
The government must prove beyond a reasonable doubt, however, that a measurable amount of the controlled substance alleged in the relevant count of the indictment that you are considering was, in fact, involved.
Transcript of Proceedings at 24, 34, United States v. Mark, No. 3:06-cr-00080-CVG-RM (D.V.I. Mar. 18, 2008), ECF No. 641.
Freeman’s and Mark’s indictment did not just charge the base offense, however, it specified a particular drug type and amount, namely, “five (5) kilograms or more of cocaine,” in violation of
It is clear, here, that the District Court did not instruct the jury as to the fourth element — the existence of “five kilograms or more.” However, this point does not prove fatal to the jury charge.
In the instant case, without the essential element of “five kilograms or more,” the District Court merely instructed the jury on the base offense, as described above. It follows, therefore, that in order to resolve the jury instruction issue raised by Freeman and Mark, we must determine whether the base offense,
We have addressed this exact question before. In Lacy, we were tasked with determining, among other things, whether the district court properly charged the defendant with, and whether the jury properly convicted him of, two separate lesser included offenses. 446 F.3d at 455. There, the defendant was charged with possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of a substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine base, or crack cocaine, in violation of
It is also clear that the second offense of which Lacy was convicted — which he does not challenge on appeal — is a lesser included offense of the charged offense.
Possession with intent to distribute an unspecified quantity of cocaine base requires proof of a ‘subset’ of the facts that must be proved to sustain a conviction for possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of cocaine base — everything except for the drug amount.
Id. at 455 (emphasis added). Lacy thus makes clear that
On a final note, Freeman and Mark argue that the District Court’s lesser included offense instruction (omitting the specified amount of cocaine) was improper in the instant case because there was no evidence to justify it. They argue that all of the evidence presented at trial consisted of testimony that they were involved with shipments of cocaine in excess of five kilograms and that there was never any dispute that the cocaine quantities at issue involved less than five kilograms. They claim that these facts demonstrate that a jury could not rationally find them guilty of the lesser offense and acquit them of the greater: We disagree. On the facts of this case, wherein multiple defendants participated at varying levels in a grand scheme involving the importation of cocaine, a jury could rationally conclude that the conspiracy involved the amounts of cocaine each witness testified to, but not attribute a specific amount (beyond a reasonable doubt) to a particular defendant. Furthermore, as Freeman and Mark acknowledge, the government’s witnesses testified to varying amounts of cocaine, or a “measurable amount,” which demonstrates that the District Court’s lesser included offense instruction was indeed supported by the evidence. We will reject Freeman’s and Mark’s argument in this regard.
The District Court, therefore, properly charged the jury on possession with intent to distribute a “measurable amount” of cocaine as a lesser included offense of possession with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. Freeman’s and Mark’s convictions will remain undisturbed. Government of Virgin Islands v. Aquino, 378 F.2d 540, 554 (3d Cir. 1967) (“[T]here may be a conviction of a crime which is necessarily included within the higher offense charged.“).
B. Sentencing Errors
We now turn to Mark’s and Freeman’s allegations of error at their individual sentencing hearings. Freeman and Mark both argue that their sentences should be reversed because they were imposed with judicial factfinding as to drug quantities, using a preponderance of the evidence standard, in violation of Alleyne v. United States, 133 S. Ct. 2151 (2013).4 Both also challenge the adequacy of the District Court’s factfinding regarding their drug quantity determinations. Mark also argues separately that the District Court erred at his sentencing hearing by: (1) failing to find a specific amount of cocaine attributable to him in the conspiracy; (2) failing to state a factual basis for imposing aggravating role enhancements; (3) failing to address his request for a downward departure based upon his allegations of serial prosecution;
We review a district court’s sentencing decision for an abuse of discretion, which proceeds in two stages of analysis. United States v. Tomko, 562 F.3d 558, 567 (3d Cir. 2009) (en banc). We first review for procedural error, ensuring that the district court: (1) correctly calculated the defendant’s advisory Guidelines range; (2) appropriately considered any motions for a departure under the Guidelines; and (3) gave meaningful consideration to the sentencing factors set forth in
(1) Alleyne Error
Freeman and Mark both argue that the District Court violated their Sixth Amendment rights by finding facts that increased the amount of cocaine attributable to each of them for purposes of their Guidelines calculations. They base their argument on Alleyne, where the Supreme Court held that “any fact that increases the mandatory minimum is an ‘element’ that must be submitted to the jury” and found beyond a reasonable doubt. 133 S. Ct. at 2155. Freeman and Mark contend that, because the quantities found by the District Court, by only a preponderance of the evidence, “exposed” them to a statutory minimum sentence of ten years’ incarceration, see
While the Supreme Court made clear that any fact that increases a defendant’s statutory minimum sentence must be found by a jury beyond a reasonable doubt, this rule does not foreclose a district court’s ability to engage in some judicial factfinding. See Alleyne, 133 S. Ct. at 2158. Indeed, the Supreme Court made this point perfectly clear in its decision. See id. at 2163 (“Our ruling today does not mean that any fact that influences judicial discretion must be found by a jury. We have long recognized that broad sentencing discretion, informed by judicial factfinding, does not violate the Sixth Amendment.“); see also id. at 2170 (“‘Nothing in this history suggests that it is impermissible for judges to exercise discretion — taking into consideration various factors relating both to offense and offender — in imposing a judgment within the range prescribed by statute.‘” (emphasis omitted) (quoting Apprendi, 530 U.S. at 481)).
In that regard, a number of courts, including our own, have agreed that “factual findings made for purposes of applying the Guidelines, which influence the sentencing judge’s discretion in imposing an advisory Guidelines sentence and do not result in imposition of a mandatory minimum sentence, do not violate the rule in Alleyne.” United States v. Ramírez-Negrón, 751 F.3d 42, 48 (1st Cir. 2014) (collecting cases); see also United States v. Smith, 751 F.3d 107, 117 (3d Cir. 2014) (”Alleyne did not curtail a sentencing court’s ability to find facts relevant in selecting a sentence
The statutory sentencing range supported by the jury’s verdict as to both Freeman and Mark ranged from a period of no incarceration to a maximum of 20 years’ incarceration. See
We note further that there is no indication in the record that the District Court believed that its sentencing discretion was confined to a higher statutory minimum given its drug quantity findings. Freeman and Mark’s alleged “exposure” to a sentencing range with a low end of ten years of incarceration bears little on our inquiry into what the District Court actually relied upon in imposing their respective sentences. See Ramírez-Negrón, 751 F.3d at 51 (“The fact that [a defendant’s] sentence falls above [a mandatory minimum] is insufficient to establish that the mandatory minimum governed or that an Alleyne error occurred.“). With that said, our review of both sentencing transcripts reveals no reliance by the District Court on any sentencing minimum other than that prescribed by
(2) The District Court’s Findings of Fact
Along with their claims of error under Alleyne, Freeman and Mark also challenge the adequacy of the District Court’s factual findings regarding the
The
other evidence, or the opportunity for cross-examination.” See United States v. Smith, 674 F.3d 722, 732 (7th Cir. 2012) (internal quotation marks and citations omitted).
We follow a number of other circuits in applying this standard. See, e.g., United States v. Simmons, 964 F.2d 763 (8th Cir. 1992) (vacating defendant’s sentence because the drug quantity finding was based on testimony of a drug addict with impaired memory); United States v. Shacklett, 921 F.2d 580 (5th Cir. 1991) (vacating sentence because district court relied solely on probation’s officer’s conclusory statement as to drug quantity involved); United States v. Cammisano, 917 F.2d 1057 (8th Cir. 1990) (vacating sentence because uncorroborated testimony of FBI agents that defendant was member of organized crime was not sufficiently reliable); United States v. Robison, 904 F.2d 365 (6th Cir. 1990) (vacating sentence because drug quantity estimates provided by witness who was heavy drug user lacked sufficient indicia of reliability)). In doing so, we apply this standard rigorously. Miele, 989 F.2d at 664.
We address Freeman’s and Mark’s arguments of error with respect to the District Court’s factual findings separately.
a. Freeman
In support of his argument for resentencing, Freeman analogizes his case to Miele, a case in which a defendant’s sentence was vacated and the case remanded for resentencing based upon the district court’s failure to meet the Guidelines’ sufficient indicia of reliability standard. 989 F.2d at 660. There, the defendant was indicted for conspiracy to distribute cocaine, in violation of
On appeal, the defendant argued that the district court’s drug quantity finding was not supported by a preponderance of the evidence and, thus, his base offense level was calculated incorrectly. Id. We agreed, noting “the numerous inconsistencies in the record, the fact that the source of most of the critical evidence was an addict-informant with an impaired memory, and the lack of any findings by the district court other than asingle conclusory finding as to drug quantity.” Id. at 660. We also noted that there was no indication
Freeman argues that, similar to Miele, the District Court failed to provide an explanation as to why Isaac’s testimony was sufficient for the quantity finding. Freeman points out that he made the court aware of all the evidence that he believed diminished Isaac as a reliable witness, including his contention that Isaac’s testimony failed to establish: (1) that drug proceeds should have been forfeited; (2) that five kilograms or more of cocaine was involved in the conspiracy; and (3) the amount of cocaine attributable to Freeman in his individual capacity. Freeman’s arguments are unavailing. Our review of the record reveals that the District Court provided ample explanation at Freeman’s sentencing hearing as to the basis upon which it relied in attributing at least 50 kilograms of cocaine to Freeman and that it was justified in doing so:
The testimony, again, of Mr. Isaac ... indicates that there were a number of deliveries in which Mr. Isaac was involved in, which he testified that Mr. Mark and Mr. Freeman were involved, and those deliveries certainly exceeded 50 kilograms of cocaine. . .. [T]he Court agrees with the defense that the jury could not agree on an amount ... But for Guideline purposes, the Court has to determine something that the jury doesn’t, and that is determine whether there is a preponderance of the evidence, not beyond a reasonable doubt. . . Looking at all the evidence, and indeed looking at the evidence presented by Mr. Isaac, and the corroboration offered by the couriers, who indeed corroborated significant portions of his testimony, they certainly testified that they did many of the things that he testified about. So the Court finds that there is a preponderance of the evidence to make the finding that [Freeman] ... did, in fact, possess with intent to — or conspire with intent to distribute between — at least 50 kilograms of cocaine.
Transcript of Proceedings at 28-30, United States v. Mark, No. 3:06-cr-00080-CVG-RM (D.V.I. Feb. 18, 2010), ECF No. 724.
The District Court correctly observed that it was required to adhere to a preponderance of the evidence standard in making itsdetermination, and then assessed all of the evidence presented while applying that standard. In doing so, it addressed the testimony of both Isaac and other drug couriers. While the District Court does appear to rely heavily on Isaac’s testimony, it supports this reliance by noting that his testimony was corroborated significantly by other drug couriers. See Smith, 674 F.3d at 732 (noting that indicia of reliability may come from both corroboration and consistency with other evidence). Even without corroboration, we find no error in the District Court’s reliance on Isaac’s testimony. See Gibbs, 190 F.3d at 204 (recognizing that courts have estimated drug quantities based on testimony by a co-defendant (citing United States v. Maggard, 156 F.3d 843, 848 (8th Cir. 1998))). Unlike the witness in Miele, Isaac was not an addict-informant, nor did he present himself in any other way that would require additional caution in relying on his testimony. In light of the record before us, we cannot say that the District Court committed clear error in relying on Isaac’s testimony to determine a specific quantity of cocaine for purposes of imposing sentence. We will, therefore, affirm the District Court’s determination of the quantity
b. Mark
The record is not as clear in Mark’s case. At his October 2010 sentencing hearing, Mark raised several objections to his amended PSR. As relevant to the instant appeal, Mark objected to the quantity of cocaine attributed to him and the resulting sentencing Guidelines range, given the jury’s inability to make a specific determination as to the amount of cocaine involved in the conspiracy. After the District Court heardargument from both parties regarding Mark’s role in the conspiracy and specific instances of trial testimony related to drug quantity, it stated:
[T]he Court finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the appropriate level should be 15 to 50 kilograms. That’s based on the information adduced at trial, which would put it at a base offense level of 34, instead of 36.... [T]he Court is mindful of relevant conduct and what it can consider, and there is an abundance of evidence that the Court cannot ignore.
Transcript of Proceedings at 48, United States v. Mark, No. 3:06-cr-00080-CVG-RM (D.V.I. Mar. 25, 2011), ECF No. 1308. Aside from these conclusory statements, the District Court offered no other explanation as to the basis for its findings.
We have previously noted that “if a defendant disputes a fact included in the presentence investigation report, the sentencing court must either resolve that dispute or state that it will not rely on the disputed fact.” Miele, 989 F.2d at 665; see also
Given our conclusion that Mark’s case should be remanded for resentencing, we need not address his remaining sentencing arguments on appeal. See United States v. Merced, 603 F.3d 203, 214 (3d Cir. 2010) (“If the district court commits procedural error, our preferred course is to remand the case for re-sentencing, without going any further.”). Mark will have the opportunity to reassert his arguments before the District Court at resentencing, at which time the District Court must adequately explain its decision accepting or rejecting his arguments in accordance with its duties under United States v. Gunter, 462 F.3d 237 (3d Cir. 2006).
(3) Substantive Reasonableness
Freeman disputes only the District Court’s factual findings at his sentencing hearing and the record is lacking in any other procedural errors. We, therefore, conclude that the District Court’s sentencing decision was procedurally reasonable. Because the District Court’s sentencing decision passes the first stage of review, we must now turn to the substantive reasonableness of the decision. Levinson, 543 F.3d at 195.
Here, the District Court found, by a preponderance of the evidence, that Freeman was responsible for at least fifty kilograms of cocaine. Freeman’s base offense level was changed to 36 to reflect those findings. Following an increase of two points, to 38, for his role as an organizer in the conspiracy, and with a criminal history category of I, Freeman’s resulting Guidelines range was changed to 235 to 293 months’ imprisonment. Given the statutory maximum of 20 years for Freeman’s conviction, the government requested, and the Court applied, a Guidelines range of only 188 to 240 months’ imprisonment. The Court then sentenced Freeman to 188 months’ imprisonment.
Because there is no procedural error, and the District Court imposed a within-Guidelines sentence, we may presume the substantive reasonableness of its decision. See Gall v. United States, 552 U.S. 38, 51, 128 S. Ct. 586, 169 L. Ed. 2d 445 (2007) (“If the sentence is within the Guidelines range, the appellate court may . . . apply a presumption of reasonableness.”). We can ascertain no abuse of discretion in the Guidelines-range sentence imposed here and we certainly cannot say that “no reasonable sentencing court would have imposed the same sentence on [Freeman] for the reasons the [D]istrict [C]ourt provided.” See Tomko, 562 F.3d at 568. We therefore reject Freeman’s challenge to the substantive reasonableness of his sentence.
C. Freeman’s Remaining Arguments
Freeman’s remaining challenges are based upon: (1) an alleged violation of his Sixth Amendment right of confrontation; and (2) an alleged violation of his Sixth Amendment right to present a defense. Both challenges stem from allegations that the District Court imposed excessive limitations on Freeman’s cross-examination of Isaac, a witness Freeman describes as critical to his conviction. According to Freeman, had the District Court allowed him to pursue his chosen line of questioning, he would have demonstrated that Isaac was a biased, corrupt, and unreliable witness, and that Isaac’s participation in the scheme and transportation of money to the Virgin Islands
We review a district court’s limitation on cross-examination for an abuse of discretion. United States v. Lore, 430 F.3d 190, 208 (3d Cir. 2005). We will generally not disturb a district court’s discretion in this regard “unless no reasonable person would adopt [its] view.” United States v. John-Baptiste, 747 F.3d 186, 211, 60 V.I. 904 (3d Cir. 2014) (quoting Ansell v. Green Acres Contracting Co., 347 F.3d 515, 519 (3d Cir. 2003)). If we determine that there was an abuse of discretion, we then review the error to see if it was harmless. United States v. Casoni, 950 F.2d 893, 902 (3d Cir. 1991).
(1) Sixth Amendment Right of Confrontation
The Sixth Amendment “guarantees the right of an accused in a criminal prosecution ‘to be confronted with the witnesses against him.’” Davis v. Alaska, 415 U.S. 308, 315, 94 S. Ct. 1105, 39 L. Ed. 2d 347 (1974). “The main and essential purpose of confrontation is to secure for the opponent the opportunity of cross-examination.” Id. at 315-16; see also Chambers v. Mississippi, 410 U.S. 284, 295, 93 S. Ct. 1038, 35 L. Ed. 2d 297 (1973) (observing that the right of cross-examination is implicit in the constitutional right of confrontation). This affords an opponent the opportunity to test the believability and truthfulness of a witness’s testimony through the “direct and personal putting of questions and obtaining [of] immediate answers.” Davis, 415 U.S. at 316. Impeachment strategies have included the introduction of evidence of a prior criminal conviction of the witness or exposing a witness’s motivation for testifying, “directed toward revealing possible biases,prejudices, or ulterior motives . . . as they may relate directly to issues or personalities in the case at hand.” Id.
The use of such strategies is always subject “to the broad discretion of a trial judge to preclude repetitive and unduly harassing interrogation.” Id.; see also Wright v. Vaughn, 473 F.3d 85, 93 (3d Cir. 2006). We have established a two-part test to determine whether a judge’s limitation on cross-examination violates the Confrontation Clause:
First, we must determine whether that ruling inhibited [a defendant’s] effective exercise of her right to inquire into [the] witness’s “motivation in testifying”; and second, if the District Court’s ruling did significantly inhibit [the defendant’s] exercise of that right, whether the constraints it imposed on the scope of [the] cross-examination fell within those “reasonable limits” which a trial court, in due exercise of its discretion, has authority to establish.
United States v. Silveus, 542 F.3d 993, 1006, 50 V.I. 1101 (3d Cir. 2008) (quoting United States v. Chandler, 326 F.3d 210, 219 (3d Cir. 2003)).
In the instant case, Freeman’s counsel attempted to elicit the names of other individuals Isaac had previously sold drugs for, including individuals not involved in the instant conspiracy. In doing so, Freeman’s counsel asked: “Other than Mr. Springette, other than Elton Turnbull, other than any of the defendants in this courtroom, were you selling cocaine for anyone else in the entire universe?” See Transcript of Proceedings at 310, United States v. Mark, No. 3:06-cr-00080-CVG-RM (D.V.I. Mar. 25, 2011), ECF No. 590. The government objected to that line of questioning and the District Court sustained that objection, ruling that such questioning violated Rule 608 of the Federal
Based upon our review of the record, we think it clear that Freeman’s Sixth Amendment right of confrontation was not violated here. Given counsel’s attempt at eliciting information based upon the witness’s knowledge “in the universe,” we cannot conclude that the District Court abused its discretion in limiting that overly broad line of questioning. More importantly, the District Court did not entirely foreclose counsel’s ability to cross-examine Isaac. It merely explained the basis upon which it sustained objections related to the specific line of questioning and warned counsel to be mindful of the Federal Rules. The record demonstrates that all defense counsel, including Freeman’s counsel both before and after the instant objections, had ample opportunity to cross-examine Isaac. We conclude that there was no abuse of discretion here and will, therefore, reject Freeman’s argument that he was not afforded his Sixth Amendment right of confrontation.8
(2) Sixth Amendment Right to Present a Defense
Freeman’s second claim alleging violation of his Sixth Amendment right to present a defense is based upon the same facts set forth in his confrontation claim. The Supreme Court has observed that “[a] person’s right to ... be heard in his defense — a right to his day in court — are basic in our system of jurisprudence.” Washington v. Texas, 388 U.S. 14, 18, 87 S. Ct. 1920, 18 L. Ed. 2d 1019 (1967) (citation and internal quotation marks omitted). “The right to offer the testimony of witnesses, and to compel their attendance, if necessary, is in plain terms the right to present a defense, the right to present the defendant’s versionof the facts as well as the prosecution’s to the jury so it may decide where the truth lies.” Id. at 19. As we concluded above, Freeman had ample opportunity to, and did, present his defense. Freeman’s claim, therefore, fails for the same reasons his confrontation claim failed. Freeman’s Sixth
D. Mark’s Remaining Arguments
Mark’s remaining challenges are based upon: (1) an alleged variance between his indictment and the evidence presented at trial; and (2) alleged Brady9 violations. We will address each of Mark’s arguments in turn.
(1) Variance
Mark argues that his indictment alleged a single conspiracy beginning in 1999 and running through October 2005 between himself and his co-defendants, but that the government’s evidence at trial proved multiple separate conspiracies between different individuals and failed to establish his involvement in 1999 and 2000. Mark claims that these variances prejudiced his right “not to be tried en masse for the conglomeration of distinct and separate offenses committed by others.” See Kotteakos v. United States, 328 U.S. 750, 775, 66 S. Ct. 1239, 90 L. Ed. 1557 (1946). Based upon those allegations, Mark argues that the District Court should have granted his Rule 29 motion for a judgment of acquittal on Count I.
“A Rule 29 motion for judgment of acquittal obliges a district court to ‘review the record in the light more favorable to the prosecution to determine whether any rational trier of fact could have found proof of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt based on the available evidence.’” Bobb, 471 F.3d at 494 (quoting United States v. Smith, 294 F.3d 473, 476 (3d Cir. 2002)). We review de novo an appeal of a district court’s ruling on a “Rule 29 motion and independently appl[y] the same standard as the District Court.” Id.
“The issue of whether a single conspiracy or multiple conspiracies exist is a fact question to be decided by a jury.” Id. (citing United States v. Perez, 280 F.3d 318, 344 (3d Cir. 2002)). “Where a single conspiracy is alleged in the indictment, there is a variance if the evidence at trial proves only the existence of multiple conspiracies.” Id.
“Although its objectives may be numerous and diverse, a single conspiracy exists if there is one overall agreement among the parties to carry out those objectives.” Id. at 494-95 (citing Braverman v. United States, 317 U.S. 49, 53-54, 63 S. Ct. 99, 87 L. Ed. 23 (1942)). Bearing that in mind, “a single conspiracy is proved when there is ‘evidence of a large general scheme, and of aid given by some conspirators to others in aid of that scheme.’” Id. at 494 (quoting United States v. Reyes, 930 F.2d 310, 312-13 (3d Cir. 1991)). “A single drug conspiracy ‘may involve numerous suppliers and distributors operating under the aegis of a common core group.’” Id. (quoting United States v. Quintero, 38 F.3d 1317, 1337 (3d Cir. 1994)). Regardless of the circumstances, “the Government must demonstrate that the defendant ‘knew that he was part of a larger drug operation.’” Id. (quoting Quintero, 38 F.3d at 1337).
The aforementioned principles find their roots in the notion that all defendants have a substantial right “not to be tried en masse for the conglomeration of distinct and separate offenses committed by others . . . .” Kotteakos, 328 U.S. at 775. This notion was set forth in Kotteakos, a multi-defendant conspiracy case, wherein the Supreme Court examined
On the defendants’ appeal to the Supreme Court, the government conceded the existence of variance, but claimed that the defendants’ rights were not prejudiced. Id. at 767. The Supreme Court disagreed and reversed, noting first that the defendants faced a prejudicial burden in preparing for trial as they were forced to prepare defenses to numerous separate schemes to which they had no connection. Id. at 766-67. The Supreme Court then noted that the trial court also gave the jury misleading instructions, which confused the proof necessary to establish each defendant’s participation in the single conspiracy. Id. at 767. Thisaccumulation of errors, the Supreme Court concluded, was highly prejudicial to the defendants’ individual cases and likely “had [a] substantial and injurious effect or influence on determining the jury’s verdict.” Id. at 776.
We faced a similar issue in United States v. Camiel, 689 F.2d 31 (3d Cir. 1982). In that case, the defendants were charged with participating in a single political patronage scheme, designed to defraud the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania through the use of the United States mails. Id. At the close of the case, the trial judge entered a judgment of acquittal in favor of the defendants, concluding that there was a variance between the offenses charged in the indictment and the proof offered at trial. Id. at 33. We affirmed the judgment directing a verdict of acquittal because the government presented its evidence in a confusing manner that complicated the jury’s task of determining the guilt of each individual defendant. Id. at 38 (emphasis added). We concluded that the variance was prejudicial because “the volume and manner of presentation of the evidence created the likelihood of spillover — i.e., that the jury might have been unable to separate offenders and offenses and easily could have transferred the guilt from one alleged co-schemer to another.” Id.
Mark argues that his case is similar to both Camiel and Kotteakos. He contends that the government’s evidence established separate and distinct conspiracies as follows: (1) Springette’s organizational conspiracy from the 1980’s until 1999, when he was arrested; (2) Turnbull’s organizational conspiracy while Springette was in jail; (3) Springette’s organizational conspiracy after his escape from jail in 2001 until his capture in 2002; (4) Isaac’s organizational conspiracy in North Carolina until his arrest in 1999; (5) Isaac’s organizational conspiracy after his release from prison in 2003; (6) Swan’s organizational conspiracy in Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York; (7) a conspiracy involving an individual named Meleek Sylvester and the Sun Shine Air offices at the airport in St. Thomas; and (8) a conspiracy-related contact at the airport in St. Thomas that pre-dated Mark’s involvement with Springette and Turnbull. He argues that the government deliberately exposed the jury to all of
We disagree. The government presented evidence which, construed in its favor, demonstrated Mark’s involvement and leadership role in a single, although extremely complex, drug trafficking conspiracy.The evidence to which Mark points, combined with the overwhelming testimony against him, illustrates the connection between the different members of the conspiracy, the different locations involved, the objective of the conspiracy, and Mark’s connection to all of it. Contrary to Mark’s assertions, the government’s evidence permitted a reasonable inference that each act or transaction that occurred during the drug trafficking scheme was in support of the ultimate goal of the drug trafficking organization — to import large quantities of drugs into the United States. See Bobb, 471 F.3d at 494 (noting that the government “may bear [its] burden entirely through circumstantial evidence.” (citation omitted)).
Mark’s claim regarding the discrepancy in the start date of his involvement with the conspiracy fails as well. He alleges that Turnbull could not testify with certainty whether Mark’s involvement with the organization began in 1999 or 2000. However, the record demonstrates that Turnbull testified to two different encounters between himself and Mark, at least one of which was in 1999. The first encounter concerned an exchange of approximately $40,000-$50,000 and the second related to discussions of drug-trafficking routes. In that regard, Mark claims that the government failed to prove that the money that was exchanged between himself and Turnbull was related to the drug conspiracy charged or that he even knew what the money was for. We reject that argument as well, because a jury could reasonably infer that the conduct at issue was both related to drugs and in furtherance of the conspiracy charged, especially given the rest of the evidence and testimony presented at trial. See, e.g., United States v. Claxton, 685 F.3d 300, 311 n.17, 57 V.I. 821 (3d Cir. 2012) (“Our task ... is simply to determine whether the jury could have rationally concluded that [a defendant] knowingly participated in the drug conspiracy . . . .”). Given Turnbull’s testimony, there was no discrepancy between the start time of the conspiracy as charged and the evidence presented at trial. Mark’s variance argument fails.
(2) Brady Violations
Mark’s second argument, regarding Brady violations, sets forth that three years after his conviction, during the 2010 trial of several of his co-defendants and after all of the remaining counts against him had been dismissed, he became aware of numerous letters written by key witnesses who testified against him at his 2007 trial. Mark specifically points to: (1) letters by and between Springette and Turnbull to Federal Agents andAttorneys (the “Turnbull and Springette Letters”); and (2) letters by and between Turnbull and Isaac (the “Isaac Letters”). Mark alleges that the Turnbull and Springette Letters discuss the expectations and agreements between the government and the witnesses, and detail the consideration they would receive in exchange for their testimony and cooperation. The content of those letters, according to Mark, contradicts the witnesses’ trial testimony. The Isaac Letters to which Mark refers concern testimony by Turnbull wherein he admitted that he communicated with Isaac about putting a case together against someone. Mark contends that those letters were never produced to any defense counsel.
Brady provides that “the suppression by the prosecution of evidence favorable to an accused, upon request by the defense, violates due process where the evidence is material either to guilt or to punishment, irrespective of the good faith or bad faith of the prosecution.” 373 U.S. 83, 87, 83 S. Ct. 1194, 10 L. Ed. 2d 215 (1963). A valid Brady claim, therefore, consists of three elements: (1) “the prosecution must suppress or withhold evidence, (2) which is favorable, and (3) material to the defense.” United States v. Perdomo, 929 F.2d 967, 970 (3d Cir. 1991) (citing Moore v. Illinois, 408 U.S. 786, 794-95, 92 S. Ct. 2562, 33 L. Ed. 2d 706 (1972)). Once these elements have been met, a new trial is justified. Brady, 373 U.S. at 87.
That same rule applies where, as in the instant case, witness testimony is at issue. See id. at 154. “[W]hen the ‘reliability of a given witness may
well be determinative of guilt or innocence,’ nondisclosure of evidence affecting credibility” will provide the requisite justification for a new trial. Id. (quoting Napue v. Illinois, 360 U.S. 264, 269, 79 S. Ct. 1173, 3 L. Ed. 2d 1217 (1959)). The Supreme Court has cautioned, however, that “[w]e do not . . . automatically require a new trial whenever ‘a combing of the prosecutors’ files after the trial has disclosed evidence possibly useful to the defense but not likely to have changed the verdict.’” Id. at 154 (quoting United States v. Keogh, 391 F.2d 138, 148 (2d Cir. 1968)). A new trial is warranted only where “the false testimony could ... in any reasonable likelihood have affected the judgment of the jury . . . .” Id. (quoting Napue, 360 U.S. at 271).
Applying the aforementioned principles to the instant case, we conclude that Mark’s claim regarding the Turnbull and Springette Letters fails at the first prong of the Brady analysis. The Court has reviewed the letters at issue in the record11 of one of his co-defendants, and it is
Mark’s Brady claim regarding the Isaac Letters fails on the first prong of the analysis as well. The record demonstrates that Mark’s counsel was both in possession of, and had knowledge of, the Isaac Letters in 2007, see Transcript of Proceedings at 158-68, United States v. Mark, No. 3:06-cr-00080-CVG-RM (D.V.I. Jan. 17, 2008), ECF No. 593, the same letters that he claims that he never received and did not become
aware of until after his co-defendants’ trial in 2010.12 In that portion of the 2007 transcript, Attorney Colon, Mark’s counsel at trial, cross-examined Turnbull regarding certain communications between himself and Isaac:
Ms. Colon: . . . Sir, isn’t it also true that not only did Glenson Isaac send you letters, but that you sent Glenson Isaac letters, after your arrest?
Turnbull: That is correct.
Ms. Colon: And, in fact, you communicated with Glenson on a number of occasions, correct — . . . by writing?
Turnbull: On only two, maybe three occasion [sic].
* * *
Ms. Colon: And, in fact, didn’t you also advise Mr. Isaac that you needed some assistance so you could put together a case against [someone] . . . Somebody you called Mob?
Turnbull: Okay. That’s correct.
Id. at 158-161. Those questions were clearly in reference to the Isaac Letters. The government then objected to the defense’s failure to give the letters to the government:
Counsel for Government: I learned Friday, the Friday before trial, I talked to this witness for an hour. He told me that he had given some letters to Mr. Isaac, which he knew had been given to the defense. I’ve asked for those letters repeatedly. We have never got them. She has them and is reading from them. . . . And I have a right to see the documents, if she’s going to continue cross examination, at least for the purposes of redirect.
Id. at 162. In response to the government’s objection, Attorney Colon confirmed her possession of the letters, responding: “[T]his is not my case-in-chief, and I have not decided whether or not I’m going to use these letters in my case-in-chief. It depends on what this witness testifies to on cross-examination. There may not be any need to use those letters in my case-in-chief.” Id. at 163 (emphasis added).
Based upon the record before us, it appears that Mark’s counsel, but not the government, possessed the Isaac letters. This severely undercuts Mark’s contention that the government suppressed or withheld evidence in violation of Brady. In
IV. CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, we will affirm the District Court’s judgments of conviction and sentence as to Freeman. We will affirm the District Court’s judgment of conviction as to Mark, but will vacate the judgment of sentence and remand for resentencing for further development of the record.