United States v. Adler

605 F. Supp. 2d 829, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 32583, 2009 WL 877523
CourtDistrict Court, W.D. Texas
DecidedMarch 5, 2009
Docket1:04-cr-00266
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 605 F. Supp. 2d 829 (United States v. Adler) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Adler, 605 F. Supp. 2d 829, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 32583, 2009 WL 877523 (W.D. Tex. 2009).

Opinion

ORDER ON PRETRIAL MOTIONS

LEE YEAKEL, District Judge.

Before the Court are Defendant Richard J. Adler’s Motion to Dismiss the Indictment Based on an Improper Extradition filed January 16, 2009 (Clerk’s Document 66), Defendant Richard J. Adler’s' Motion to Suppress Evidence Obtained from Illegal Search of Defendant Adler’s Residence filed January 16, 2009 (Clerk’s Document 68), Government’s Response to Defendant’s Motion to Suppress Evidence Obtained from Spain Pursuant to a Treaty Process and Motion to Dismiss the Indictment Alleging an Improper Extradition filed January 27, 2009 (Clerk’s Document 74), Defendant Richard J. Adler’s Reply in Support of his Motion to Dismiss the Indictment Based on an Improper Extradition filed February 9, 2008 (Clerk’s Document 78), Defendant Richard J. Adler’s Reply to Government’s Response to Defendant’s Motion to Suppress Evidence Obtained from Illegal Search of Adler’s Residence filed February 12, 2008 (Clerk’s Document 80), Government’s Supplemental Submission of Evidence Relating to Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss the Indictment Alleging an Improper Extradition filed February 26, 2009 (Clerk’s Document 94), Defendant Richard J. Adler’s Motion to Dismiss Counts One, Two, and Four of the Indictment filed January 16, 2009 (Clerk’s Document 67), 1 Government’s Response to Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss Counts One, Two, and Four of the Indictment filed January 27, 2009 (Clerk’s Document 73), Defendant Richard J. Adler’s Reply to the Government’s Response to Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss Counts One, Two, and Four of the Indictment filed February 19, 2009 (Clerk’s Document 82), Defendant Richard J. Adler’s Motion for Bill of Particulars filed January 16, 2009 (Clerk’s Document 63), Defendant Richard J. Adler’s Motion to Strike Surplusage from the Indictment filed January 16, 2009 (Clerk’s Document 64), Government’s Response to Defendant’s Motion for a Bill of Particulars [] and Motion to Strike Surplusage from the Indictment filed January 27, 2009 (Clerk’s Document 75), and Adler’s Reply to Government’s Response *832 to Defendant’s [] Motion for a Bill of Particulars, and Motion to Strike Surplus-age from the Indictment filed February 9, 2009 (Clerk’s Document 77).

On February 20, 2009, the Court conducted a hearing in this cause and heard oral argument on Adler’s motion to dismiss the indictment based on an improper extradition, motion to suppress, and motion to dismiss Counts One and Two of the indictment. The remaining motions were submitted on the pleadings. After considering the motions, responses, replies, attached exhibits, evidence admitted at the hearing, arguments of counsel, and the applicable law, the Court will deny the motions.

Defendant Richard J. Adler is now charged in a three-count indictment. Count Two charges Adler with knowingly distributing human growth hormone for unauthorized use on or about December 23, 1999. See 18 U.S.C. § 2; 21 U.S.C. § 333(e). Count Three charges Adler with introducing into interstate commerce misbranded human growth hormone. See 18 U.S.C. § 2; 21 U.S.C. §§ 331(a); 333(a)(2); 352(a), (f)(1). Count One charges Adler with conspiracy to commit such acts. See 18 U.S.C. § 371.

By his motion to dismiss the indictment, Adler seeks dismissal of all charges against him. He argues this Court lacks personal jurisdiction over him because his extradition from Spain violated the duality requirement of the extradition treaty between the United States and Spain. By his motion to suppress, Adler seeks to suppress evidence seized at his residence in Mallorca, Spain, on October 11, 2001, and all derivative evidence. By his motion to dismiss Counts One and Two of the indictment, Adler argues that the Court should dismiss such counts because they fail to charge a crime or state facts sufficient to constitute an offense against the United States.

Motion to Dismiss the Indictment Based on an Improper Extradition

Adler argues that, under the doctrine of dual criminality, an accused person can only be extradited if the conduct of which he is accused is criminal under the law of both signatories to the extradition treaty. Adler argues the Government has not shown that the acts of which he is accused are criminal under Spanish law; he was therefore improperly extradited, and this Court should dismiss all counts of the indictment. The Government responds that Adler lacks standing to contest his extradition in this Court, because any decision on extradition is determined by the requesting country. The Government also cites to the Spanish extradition orders that conclude that the charged offenses are criminal under Spanish law.

A person may only be extradited from one country to another if the charged offense is criminal in both the requesting and surrendering country. Collins v. Loisel, 259 U.S. 309, 310, 42 S.Ct. 469, 66 L.Ed. 956 (1922); Bernstein v. Gross, 58 F.2d 154, 155 (5th Cir.1932). Neither the name of the offense nor its elements need correspond between the countries; it is sufficient that the conduct is criminal in both. Collins, 259 U.S. at 312, 42 S.Ct. 469. The duality requirement is built into the Treaty on Extradition Between the United States and Spain: “[pjersons shall be delivered up according to the provisions of this Treaty for any of the following offenses provided that these offenses are punishable by the laws of both Contracting Parties by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year ... [including] any offense against the laws relating to ... chemicals or substances injurious to health.” U.S.Spain, art. II, May 29, 1970, 22 U.S.T. 737, 738-39.

*833 The Fifth Circuit has declined to determine whether an individual has standing to contest his extradition. Instead, it has assumed standing, considered extradition challenges on the merits, and found extraditions proper. United States v. Kaufman, 858 F.2d 994, 1007, 1009 n. 5 (5th Cir.1988) (“we find it unnecessary to address the government’s contention that [defendants] lack standing to raise the alleged treaty violation as a bar to personal jurisdiction .... ”); see also United States v. LeBaron, 156 F.3d 621, 627 (5th Cir.1998); 2 This Court will do the same.

The surrendering country determines whether an offense is extraditable. See Johnson v. Browne,

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Bluebook (online)
605 F. Supp. 2d 829, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 32583, 2009 WL 877523, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-adler-txwd-2009.