United States v. Andre Badley

CourtCourt of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
DecidedDecember 12, 2023
Docket22-3789
StatusUnpublished

This text of United States v. Andre Badley (United States v. Andre Badley) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Andre Badley, (6th Cir. 2023).

Opinion

NOT RECOMMENDED FOR PUBLICATION File Name: 23a0516n.06

Case No. 22-3789

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE SIXTH CIRCUIT

FILED Dec 12, 2023 ) UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, KELLY L. STEPHENS, Clerk ) Plaintiff-Appellee, ) ) ON APPEAL FROM THE v. ) UNITED STATES DISTRICT ) COURT FOR THE NORTHERN ANDRE BADLEY, ) DISTRICT OF OHIO Defendant-Appellant. ) ) OPINION

Before: BOGGS, READLER, and DAVIS, Circuit Judges.

STEPHANIE D. DAVIS, Circuit Judge. In March 2021, members of the Shaker Heights

Police Department (“SHPD”) executed a search warrant at the home of Defendant, Andre Badley.

Officers obtained the warrant after taking a series of investigative steps that culminated in a

controlled purchase of crack cocaine (“crack”) by a confidential informant (“CI”) from Badley

about two days before the warrant was issued. While searching Badley’s home, officers seized

various quantities of controlled substances, drug paraphernalia, cash, firearms, and ammunition.

Based on the crack Badley had sold to the CI and the evidence uncovered through the search

warrant, the government obtained an indictment from a grand jury. Badley was tried and convicted

on four counts of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, in violation of

21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(B), and (b)(1)(C), and one count of being a felon in possession of

firearms and ammunition, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1), 924(a)(2). No. 22-3789, United States v. Badley

Prior to his conviction, Badley filed a motion to suppress the evidence collected during the

search of his home, or alternatively, for a hearing pursuant to Franks v. Delaware, 438 U.S. 154

(1978) (“Franks hearing”). Badley argued that, despite the issuance of the search warrant by a

neutral judicial officer, the police lacked probable cause to search his home because the affidavit

supporting the warrant did not establish a nexus between his home and drug-trafficking activities.

As for his request for a Franks hearing, he contended that the affidavit contained false information

that undermined the integrity of the search. He now appeals the district court’s denial of his motion

to suppress, largely reprising these same arguments. He also appeals the district court’s imposition

of a 51-month sentence for a supervised released violation, to be served consecutive to his 188-

month sentence for the 2021 offenses. In that regard, he argues that his supervised release term

for a prior offense, committed in 1995, expired long before he committed the 2021 offense because

the district court reduced his 1995 sentence to time served. Because the affidavit supporting the

search warrant for Badley’s home amply supported a finding of probable cause and, contrary to

Badley’s contention, he remained on supervised release when he committed the instant offenses,

we affirm.

I.

Factual Background. In 1995, Badley was charged with possession with intent to distribute

more than 50 grams of cocaine base (“crack”) and possession with intent to distribute more than

50 grams of powder cocaine, both in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1). Because of the drug

quantities involved and Badley’s record of prior felony drug offenses, the government filed an

information for enhanced statutory penalties if he was convicted. The case proceeded to trial and

Badley was convicted on both counts. The district court sentenced him to the applicable enhanced

statutory penalty: a mandatory term of life in prison. After enactment of the First Step Act in 2018

-2- No. 22-3789, United States v. Badley

(“the Act”), which, among other things, reduced the sentence-length disparity between crack and

powder cocaine convictions and changed the manner in which prior felony drug convictions

triggered sentencing enhancements, Badley filed a motion asking the district court to reduce his

life sentence, as permitted by the Act. Under the Act, Badley’s convictions would have required

a 10-year mandatory minimum sentence rather than a mandatory life term. On resentencing in

February 2019, the court sentenced Badley to time served and ordered his immediate release since

he had already served approximately 24 years in prison. The district court also imposed an eight-

year term of supervised release.

Approximately two years later, a CI met with Detective Chris Spinos of the SHPD in

Shaker Heights, Ohio, and advised him that Badley was selling crack in the area. The informant

also identified (1) the general area where Badley lived—Garfield Heights, Maple Heights, and

Bedford; (2) two cars that Badley drove—a black Chevrolet Trailblazer and a black BMW; and

(3) Badley’s girlfriend’s nickname—“Ash.” According to Detective Spinos, this CI had provided

information against the CI’s own penal interest; information the CI offered had been investigated

and deemed credible; and Detective Spinos considered the CI to be trustworthy and reliable.

Indeed, vehicle registration records confirmed that Badley owned one of the vehicles the CI had

accurately identified. Business records also showed that, within the last year, Badley had

registered a limited liability company (“LLC”) at an apartment in Bedford, Ohio.

Officers went to that location, which was in a large apartment complex at 646 Turney Road.

They saw Badley’s car and a second car that matched the description the CI had given. With the

assistance of a postal inspector, officers verified that Badley received packages at a particular unit

in the apartment complex. They also learned that a woman named Ashley Thorpe received

-3- No. 22-3789, United States v. Badley

packages at the same apartment unit. The first name “Ashley” was consistent with the nickname

“Ash” that the CI had provided officers.

On March 1, 2021, the CI made a controlled purchase of crack from Badley under the

supervision of officers from the SHPD. Detective Spinos searched the CI for drugs, money, and

contraband before providing him with cash containing recorded serial numbers to make the

purchase from Badley. The CI also wore a “body wire” through which the CI could relay

conversations to Detective Spinos. Shortly after the CI placed a monitored phone call to Badley

to set up the transaction, another detective stationed in the parking lot outside of Badley’s

apartment building watched Badley exit the front door of his apartment building and enter the

black BMW the CI had previously identified. According to the search-warrant affidavit, Badley’s

vehicle “was monitored by members of your Affiant’s squad until the time it arrived and [met]

with the CI.” (R. 25-1, PageID 199). Once Badley arrived at the location for the controlled buy,

he exchanged crack for cash.

Within 48 hours of the controlled buy, Detective Spinos requested a state search warrant

for Badley’s apartment. In support of the warrant, Detective Spinos submitted an affidavit

detailing the above facts to a Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas judge. Detective Spinos

also provided information about his professional law-enforcement background and explained that,

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Franks v. Delaware
438 U.S. 154 (Supreme Court, 1978)
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