Harry Morris Sherman v. United States

241 F.2d 329
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
DecidedMarch 8, 1957
Docket14977_1
StatusPublished
Cited by34 cases

This text of 241 F.2d 329 (Harry Morris Sherman v. United States) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Harry Morris Sherman v. United States, 241 F.2d 329 (9th Cir. 1957).

Opinion

ROSS, District Judge.

Appellant, Harry M. Sherman, was tried and convicted in the District Court of the Southern District of California, Central Division, on an indictment charging three violations of 21 U.S.C.A. § 174 (narcotics). He appeals from these convictions. I

A brief summary of !the factual background is necessary an¡d the evidence is briefly summarized as follows: The defendant, Sherman, once a known dealer in narcotics, and prior to his arrest in connection with the instant offenses a suspect, was convicted, on three counts of violation of the narcotic laws. At the time our story begins, around April 1, 1953, Sherman was operating a barber shop in Los Angeles. One Fred Door, a special employee and informant, prior to April 1, 1953, had informed the narcotic agents that Sherman was in the narcotic traffic. On the basis of this background and information the narcotic agents on April 1, 1953, began an investigation that ultimately led to the arrest of Sherman, his indictment, and his conviction on the three counts.

On April 1, 1953, a government agent, Ralph M. Farias, known as Eddie, was introduced to Sherman at his barber shop by a special employee, one Fred Door. Sherman, of j course, had no knowledge of Door’s employment by the Narcotic Service. At jthe time of this first meeting Shermap and Door reminisced about old times in New York, and discussed mutual acquaintances there in the narcotic racket. The testimony of the agent Farias was that on this first visit “Sherrpan at that time stated he was in the narcotic traffic * * * that he wa& willing to take anyone to New York tp establish a connection. * * * That if I was interested he would take us to New York for the purpose of purchasing in kilo lots * * * that is, in pos sible 16 ounces or 32 ounces of heroin approximately $300 or $400.”

With this auspicious beginning Agent Farias, with other confederates and shills, began to occasionally drop around *331 to Sherman’s barber shop. Between April, 1953, and July, 1954, the date of Sherman’s arrest, from ten to fifteen contacts had been made between the agent Farias and Sherman. During the investigation Farias was called out of town on another job and the Sherman matter languished for a month or so. The threads of the investigation were picked up again on July 9, 1954, and events began to move.

On that date Agent Farias called at Sherman’s new shop, at which time Sherman told the Agent that he could get two ounces of virgin heroin for him. Without going into details Sherman, at the Agent’s request, gave him a sample to test prior to the purchase of the two ounces.

This sample was the basis of Count One of the indictment, which alleged that “on or about July 9, 1954, Harry Morris Sherman and one Annabella Ellison, after importation, did knowingly and unlawfully receive, conceal, and facilitate the transportation of a certain narcotic drug, namely: approximately 6 grains of heroin * * * ”

On July 10, 1954, Farias contacted Sherman, advised him the sample was approved, and that he was ready to pay for and take delivery of the two ounces of heroin bargained for at $600. The money and the heroin then changed hands. This was the basis of the second count of the indictment charging a sale.

The agent then began to dicker with Sherman for a second purchase of from 16 to 32 ounces at from $400 to $600 per ounce. The routine of the first sale was followed. Farias requested and was given a sample, then offered to purchase 16 ounces. This sale “hung fire” because the agent insisted on delivery before he paid over. Sherman demurred. At this point the agents decided to, and did, arrest Sherman and Ellison. The delivery of the second sample was the offense charged in the third count of the indictment.

Sherman’s appeal was in propria persona, and no specification of errors appears in the record. In his brief we find the following headings and we take it that these he intended as his specification of errors:

(A) “The defense of entrapment comes in under a plea of not guilty.”

(B) “Decoys are not permissible to ensnare the innocent.”

(C) “There is no federal statute authorizing consecutive sentences.”

(D) “The jury was influenced by the prosecuting attorney.”

(E) Trial on counts charging same offense. Double jeopardy.

(F) “Due process denial of counsel time to confer * * * The assistance of counsel means effective assistance.”

(G) “Rule 44 Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure [18 U.S.C.A.] provides: Right of Defendant to Counsel.”

(H) “Enacted: Amendment of Section 174, Title 21. Since 1951 is an unconstitutional error due to the fact double jeopardy is involved its making the Federal law retroactive.”

(I) “Mandatory — Enactment of Boggs Law * * * Boggs Act is definitely unconstitutional.”

Where we have used Sherman’s exact wording same are indicated by quotes, where we assumed his meaning quotes omitted.

Fortunately, during the course of the appeal, Sherman obtained counsel and on October 2, 1956, appellant’s supplemental brief was filed, citing the points on appeal as follows:

I. The appellant was illegally sentenced in the above entitled case. The appellant could not be sentenced to more than one period of either five years or ten years under Section 2557(b) (1) of the Internal Revenue Code, 21 U.S.C.A. § 174, 26 U.S.C. § 2557(b) (1), Public Laws 225, 82 Congress, First Session.

II. The court could not split the offense into three offenses, only one offense was committed.

III. The defendant was denied due process of law guaranteed by the Fifth and Sixth Amendments to the Constitu *332 .tion of the United States in that he was denied the effective aid of counsel of his choice.

The government, of course, takes the position that appellant was properly and lawfully tried and sentenced, and that there is no merit in any of the points raised.

Before proceeding to a discussion of the law points involved it may be pointed out that following the argument on appeal, at which time there was considerable discussion of the Boggs Act, the government filed a supplemental brief followed by a second supplemental brief on behalf of appellant.

It is noted that appellant’s counsel makes no mention of entrapment in his brief (first supplemental), nor is it included in his three points on appeal.

Appellant devoted considerable of his original brief to the subject of entrapment. He begins: “I was lured by a Federal agent.” The question presented here is whether the agents overstepped themselves in their efforts to secure sufficient evidence against Sherman to indict and then convict him. It is common knowledge that in crime detection working under cover is an accepted procedure, and, in some instances almost the only way in which law enforcement officers can proceed. The suppression of the narcotic trade is a familiar field for the use of this sort of investigative procedure.

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Bluebook (online)
241 F.2d 329, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/harry-morris-sherman-v-united-states-ca9-1957.