Case Information
*1 Before TJOFLAT, EDMONDSON and ANDERSON, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:
Yаnny Aguila-Urbay appeals his conviction and sentence for conspiracy to *2 possess stolen firearms and silencers, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(j), to possess machine guns, in violation 18 U.S.C. § 922(o), and to transport, ship, and receive any explosive materials, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 842(a)(3)(A), all in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371. He presents four issues on appeal. [1]
I.
Aguila-Urbay argues that the district court erred in admitting evidence of his involvement in illicit activities other than the offense charged and that the evidence shоuld have been excluded under Fed.R.Evid. 404(b). He asserts that the evidence of his involvement in illicit activities was not inextricably intertwined with the evidence presented at trial because the evidence was not vital to the government’s case against him. He contends that the evidence referencing his involvement in illicit activities should have been excluded under Fed.R.Evid. 403 because its probative value was substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice. Finally, Aguila-Urbay argues that the court аllowed the admission of multiple hearsay statements without allowing him an opportunity to cross-examine the declarant, in violation of his Sixth Amendment right to confrontation. Specifically, those statements concerned how an undercover officer learned that Aguila-Urbay would be interested in certain types of weapons. Aguila-Urbay *3 concludes that, based on the admission of improper evidence at trial, his conviction should be reversed.
We review evidentiary rulings for an abuse of discretion.
United States v.
Mateos
,
Extrinsic evidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts is inherently prejudicial to the defendant and may cause the jury to “convict the defendant not for the offense chаrged but for the extrinsic offense.” United States v. Baker , 432 F.3d 1189, 1205 (11th Cir. 2005) (quotation omitted). Thus, under Fed.R.Evid. 404(b), “[e]vidence of a crime, wrong, or other act is not admissible to prove a person’s character in order to show that on a particular occasion the person acted in *4 accordance with the character.” Fed.R.Evid. 404(b)(1). We use a three-part test to determine whether other bad acts are admissible under Rule 404(b):
First, the evidence must be relevant to an issue other than the defendant’s character; Sеcond, the act must be established by sufficient proof to permit a jury finding that the defendant committed the extrinsic act; Third, the probative value of the evidence must not be substantially outweighed by its undue prejudice . . . .
United States v. McNair
,
Intrinsic evidence, or evidence that is “not extrinsic,” is not covered by Rule
404(b).
United States v. Ellisor
,
Intrinsic evidence is still subject to Rule 403 balancing.
United States v.
Utter
,
In addition to certain evidence not being admissible under Rule 404(b), the
Confrontation Clause of the Sixth Amendment prohibits the admission of certain
forms of hearsay, specifically testimonial, out of court statements, unless the
declarant is unavailable and the defendant had a previous opportunity to
cross-examine the declarant.
United States v. Jiminez
,
We have long recognized that:
[s]tatements by out of court witnesses to law enforcement officials may be admitted аs non-hearsay if they are relevant to explain the course of the officials’ subsequent investigative actions, and the probative value of the evidence’s non-hearsay purpose is not substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice caused by the impermissible hearsay use of the statement.
Id.
at 1288 (quotation omitted). Further, “[i]f the significance of an offered
statement lies solely in the fact that it was made, no issue is raised as to the truth
of anything asserted, and the statement is nоt hearsay.”
United States v. Mateos
,
First, the district court did not abuse its discretion in admitting evidence at trial referencing Aguila-Urbay’s involvement in illicit activity other than the charged offense because the references were inextricably intertwined with the evidence regarding the charged offense. It was necessary for the jury to understand how witness and undercover officer Perez met Aguila-Urbay, and it was part of the chain of events leading to the discussions about weapons.
Further, the references should not have been excluded under Rule 403. Aguila-Urbay’s defense was that he only discussed the weapons transaction, but that he never took any action relating to the discussions. A large portion of the evidence that the Government presented at trial was in the form of tape recordings of conversations that Aguila-Urbay had with Perez and co-defendant Hamayel. The jury could use those transcripts and recording to evaluate the truth of Aguila- Urbay’s defense. Moreover, the district court’s instructions regarding the proper use of the evidence cured any prejudice resulting to Aguila-Urbay. Thus, the probative value of the evidence outweighed any prejudice effect the evidence would have on the jury.
Next, the government witness’s responses to the government’s questions as
to where he got information regarding Aguila-Urbay were not hearsay and,
therefore, were not violative of the Confrontation Clause.
Jiminez
,
II.
Aguila-Urbay argues that the evidence presented at trial was insufficient to support his conviction under 18 U.S.C. § 371. He contends that there was no evidence presented that a meeting of the minds or an agreement to commit a crime ever occurred, in part, because his co-conspirator told an undercover officer that he wanted Aguila-Urbay taken out of the venture. Further, Aguila-Urbay argues that there were no steps taken in furtherance of the alleged conspiracy, and no evidence was presented that he was actually pursuing the deal.
We review whether evidence presented at trial was sufficient to convict a
defendant
de novo
.
United States v. Faust
,
To sustain a conviction under 18 U.S.C. § 371, the government must prove
*9
“(1) that an agreement existed between two or more persons to commit a crime;
(2) that the defendant knowingly and voluntarily joined or participated in the
conspiracy; and (3) a conspirator performed an overt act in furtherance of the
agreement.”
United States v. Ndiaye
,
“The knowledge requirement is satisfied when the Government shows a defendant’s awareness of the essential nature of the conspiracy.” Ndiaye , 434 F.3d at 1294. Further, the government does not need to prove that the defendants accomplished the purpose of the conspiracy. United States v. Campa , 529 F.3d *10 980, 1002 (11th Cir. 2008). “The overt act requirement in the conspiracy statute can be satisfied much more easily. Indeed, the act can be innocent in nature, provided it furthers the purpose of the conspiracy.” Id. (quotation omitted).
It is unlawful under 18 U.S.C. § 922(j) for an individual to possess a stolen
firearm, which was part of interstate commerce, where the individual knew or had
reason to know that the firearm was stolen.
See
18 U.S.C. § 922(j);
United States
v. Smith
,
There was sufficient evidence presented to show that Aguila-Urbay agreed to commit an offense that would violate 18 U.S.C. § 922(j), 18 U.S.C. § 922(o), and 18 U.S.C. § 842(a)(3) if the offense were completed. Based on the testimony at trial of Perez, the evidence showed Aguila-Urbay took part in negotiations for a weapons transaction that would involve firearms, silencers, machine guns, and explosives. Further, Perez’s extensive testimony showеd that Aguila-Urbay had knowledge of the conspiracy and voluntarily joined the conspiracy. Perez’s testimony that he had discussions with Aguila-Urbay about the quantities and *11 prices of the weapons and that Aguila-Urbay met with the ultimate buyers of the weapons showed that Aguila-Urbay performed overt acts in furtherance of the agreement. Finally, even after Aguila-Urbay’s co-conspirator told Perez that he no longer wanted Aguila-Urbay involved in the weapons transaction, evidence showеd that Aguila-Urbay continued to participate in the conspiracy and volunteered to transport the weapons. Thus, there was sufficient evidence to support Aguila-Urbay’s conviction under 18 U.S.C. § 371.
III.
Aguila-Urbay argues that the district court committed reversible error when it failed to grant his motions for an evidentiary hearing on his motions for disclosure of exculpatory evidence and to suppress his post-arrest statement that were made after the government disclosed two Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) reports concluding that the FBI was ending its terrorism investigation against Aguila-Urbay. Aguila-Urbay made these motions at the eve of trial, immediately after the government disclosed the FBI reports, and the district court denied these motions as untimely. In his request for exculpatory materials, Aguila-Urbay requested a hearing to inquire into the basis of the FBI reports. With respect to his motion to suppress his post-arrest statement, Aguila-Urbay argues that, had he received the FBI reports in a timely mаnner, he would have *12 filed a timely motion to suppress regarding the issue of the FBI’s potential motivation to secure his confession. Because of the court’s refusal to hold a full hearing on his motions, Aguila-Urbay contends that he was deprived of an opportunity to explore the implications of the FBI reports fully and to react to the reports.
Brady Violations
We review
de novo
alleged
Brady
violations.
United States v. Jones
, 601
F.3d 1247, 1266 (11th Cir. 2010). A
Brady
violation of a defendant’s due process
rights occurs where the prosecution suppresses material evidence favоrable to the
defendant.
Brady v. Maryland
,
The typical
Brady
claim involves “the discovery,
after
trial of information
which had been known to the prosecution but unknown to the defense.”
United
States v. Kubiak
,
The government is not required to disclose the contents of files or submit
them for
in camera
review simply based on the defendant’s unsupported
contention that they might contain information of significance to his case.
United
States v. Arias-Izquierdo
,
Suppression of Post-Arrest Statements
We apply a mixed standard of review to the denial of a suppression motion,
*14
reviewing the district court’s findings of fact for clear error and its application of
the law to those facts
de novo
.
United States v. Farley
,
A district court’s denial of a motion as untimely is reviewed for an abuse of
discretion.
United States v. Snipes
,
Defendants are not entitled to an evidentiary hearing based on a “promise”
to prove at the hearing that which they did not specifically allege in their motion to
suppress.
Cooper
,
[w]here a defendant in a motion to suppress fails to allege facts that if proved would require the grant of relief, the law does not require that the district court hold a hearing independent of the trial to receive evidence on any issue necessary to the determination of the motion.
Id. “A motion to suppress must in every critical respect be sufficiently definite, specific, detailed, and nonconjectural to enable the court to conclude that a substantial claim is presented. A court need not act upon general or conclusory assertions.” Id. at 1284 (quotation and ellipses omitted).
Although the Fifth Amendment’s privilege against self-incrimination is
fully applicable during a custodial interrogation, а suspect may still waive his right
*16
to remain silent after being properly advised of it if he does so “voluntarily,
knowingly and intelligently.”
Farley
,
Aguila-Urbay’s motion to suppress his post-arrest statement was untimely
filed, and he failed to show good cause for excusing his untimely motion. Despite
Aguila-Urbay’s assertion that the government’s disclosure of two FBI reports
*17
constitute
Brady
materials and that the reports supported his motion to suppress
his post-arrest statements, the FBI repоrts do not bear on the voluntariness of
Aguila-Urbay’s post-arrest statements because there is no connection between the
FBI reports and Aguila-Urbay’s post-arrest statements based on the plain language
of the reports. To the extent that Aguila-Urbay argues that the district court erred
by not holding an evidentiary hearing with respect to his motion for
Brady
materials, the district court did not abuse its discretion in its decision not to hold
an evidentiary hearing. The reports, based on their plain language were not
favorable to the defense of this case and were not
Brady
materials. The district
court did not have to investigate the reports further at an evidentiary hearing or
even order discovery based on Aguila-Urbay’s “mere speculation” that the
government possessed exculpatory materials.
Arias-Izquierdo
,
IV.
Aguila-Urbay argues that the district court misapplied the 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) sentencing factors when it sentenced him to 60 months’ imprisonment, which constituted both the applicable guideline range and the statutory maximum sentence allowed for the offense. Aguila-Urbay asserts that his co-conspirator was sentenced to 48 months’ imprisonment, despite his co-conspirator’s larger role in the conspiracy. Aguila-Urbay contends that the only reason for the difference in *18 sentences was the fact that his co-conspirator spared the government the need to go to trial, which Aguila-Urbay argues is not a legitimate consideration under the sentencing factors of 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a).
We genеrally review the reasonableness of a sentence under a deferential
abuse of discretion standard of review.
Gall v. United States
,
The district court must impose a sentence “sufficient, but not greater than necessary to comply with the purposes” listed in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a)(2), including *19 the need to reflect the seriousness of the offense, promote respect for the law, provide just punishment for the offense, deter criminal conduct, and protect the public from the defendant’s future criminal conduct. See 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a)(2). In imposing a particular sentence, the court must also consider the nature and circumstances of the offense, the history and characteristics of the defendant, the kinds of sentences available, the applicable guideline range, the pertinent policy statements of the Sentencing Commission, the need to avoid unwarranted sentencing disparities, and the need to provide restitution to victims. Id.
§ 3553(a)(1), (3)-(7).
We undertake a two-part inquiry in evaluating a sentence’s reasonableness.
First, we ensure that the district court committed no significant procedural error,
such as improperly calculating the guideline range, treating the Guidelines as
mandatory, failing to consider § 3553(a) factors, selecting a sentence based on
clearly erroneous factors, or failing to explain adequately thе chosen sentence.
United States v. Gonzales
,
Although one of the 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) factors focuses on the need to
avoid unwarranted sentencing disparities, a defendant may not rely on another co-
conspirators’ sentence to show unwarranted disparities unless the defendant has
first shown that he is similarly situated.
McNair
,
The district court stated that the difference between Aguila-Urbay’s sentence and his co-conspirator’s sentence of 48 months’ imprisonment was based on the fact that his co-conspirator pled guilty and accepted responsibility for his offense. Thus, Aguilа-Urbay failed to show that he was similarly situated to his co-conspirator and failed to show that there was an unwarranted sentencing *21 disparity between his sentence and his co-conspirator’s sentence. Because the district court did not abuse its discretion in its consideration of the 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) factors, Aguila-Urbay failed to show that his sentence was unreasonable, and we affirm Aguila-Urbay’s sentence.
Conclusion
Based upon the foregoing and our review of the record and the parties’ briefs, we affirm Aguila-Urbay’s conviction and sentence.
AFFIRMED.
Notes
[1] Aguila-Urbay’s motion for leave to file a reply brief out of time is GRANTED.
