United States v. Barajas

710 F.3d 1102, 2013 WL 781789, 2013 U.S. App. LEXIS 4475
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
DecidedMarch 4, 2013
Docket12-3003
StatusPublished
Cited by22 cases

This text of 710 F.3d 1102 (United States v. Barajas) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Tenth 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. Barajas, 710 F.3d 1102, 2013 WL 781789, 2013 U.S. App. LEXIS 4475 (10th Cir. 2013).

Opinion

PAUL KELLY, JR., Circuit Judge.

Defendant-Appellant Samuel Barajas was convicted in a jury trial of conspiracy to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine, 21 U.S.C. §§ 846 and 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(B)(viii) (Count 1); aiding and abetting possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(B)(viii) (Count 2); and using a communication facility, a cellular telephone, in committing, causing, and facilitating the conspiracy, 21 U.S.C. § 843(b) (Count 3). Mr. Barajas was sentenced to life in prison on Counts 1 and 2 and four years on Count 3, to run concurrently, and to five years’ supervised release on Counts 1 and 2, and one year on Count 3, again to run concurrently. On appeal, he challenges the denial of his motion to suppress all evidence obtained from the wiretap surveillance and GPS pinging of certain cell phones. Exercising jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291, we affirm.

Background

This case arises from a DEA investigation into a San Diego County based drug trafficking organization, involved in the importation, transportation, and distribution of large quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine from Mexico throughout the United States. Ill R. 32-33. As part of its investigation, DEA agents engaged in wiretap surveillance and GPS pinging 1 of *1105 cell phones used by members of the organization, including Mr. Barajas.

In March 2009, agents learned from a confidential source that Jesus Dominguez, a leader of the organization, was importing 30 to 40 pounds of methamphetamine and 20 kilograms of cocaine into the United States each week. Id. at 34. Agents began an investigation into Mr. Dominguez, using traditional investigative techniques at first. Id. at 37. However, agents soon decided that a wiretap of Mr. Dominguez’s phone, referred to as Target Telephone (TT) No. 1, was necessary to further the investigation. Id. at 37-38. On May 14, 2009, agents submitted a wiretap application, which included a 30-page affidavit of Special Agent Brent Ashton and proposed wiretap order, to San Diego County Superior Court, seeking authorization under California Penal Code Section 629.52, the California equivalent to the federal wiretap statute. Id. at 27-65. The affidavit set forth Agent Ashton’s training and experience in law enforcement and narcotics investigations, along with the facts establishing probable cause and necessity. Id. at 27-56. The affidavit indicated that agents had used telephone tolls, physical surveillance, and a confidential source, but that these techniques, among other measures, were or would be inadequate. Id. After reviewing the application, the judge granted the order. Id. at 57-65.

Through the wiretap of TT No. 1, agents learned of Mr. Barajas, identified then as “Sammy last name unknown.” II R. 89. After hearing repeated references to “Sammy,” agents sought a wiretap on his phone, TT No. 24. Id. On February 9, 2010, a judge approved the wiretap application, which included a proposed order and 153-page affidavit of Agent Ashton. III R. 190-348. As before, the affidavit set forth Agent Ashton’s training and experience, along with the facts establishing probable cause and necessity. Id.

With respect to probable cause, the affidavit detailed Mr. Barajas’s role in the conspiracy. Id. at 226. The affidavit listed intercepted conversations — e.g., May 22, 2009, when Mr. Barajas told Mr. Dominguez that he would take “tickets” to the man, id. at 227; December 7, 2009, when Mr. Dominguez told Mr. Barajas that “the girl” would be bringing the “lawsuits,” id. at 295; and January 29, 2010, when Mr. Barajas told Mr. Dominguez to tell “the girl” to leave for Kansas City, id. at 312. The affidavit included Agent Ashton’s interpretation of these conversations, and in particular, his belief that the conversation from January 29 detailed a plan to send a courier to Kansas City. Id. at 228, 287-88, 312-33. As for necessity, once again, the affidavit listed the techniques agents had used and those that were or would be unhelpful. Id. at 317-44.

By affidavit, the agents sought “authorization for the interception of wire, electronic pager and electronic cellular telephone communications to and from” TT No. 24. Id. at 223. The affidavit did not request GPS data. However, the proposed order that the judge ultimately approved included an authorization for GPS data. Id. at 194-96. Paragraph 13(i), for example, ordered cell phone providers to “provide any and all ... (GPS) tracking and/or pinging data during the progress of a call, on an ongoing and/or real time basis.” Id. at 196.

Through wiretap surveillance and GPS pinging of TT No. 24, agents were able to frustrate the organization’s attempt to send a courier to Kansas City. Id. at 466. With the help of Kansas police, agents seized $69,800 from the courier’s vehicle and 1.68 kilograms of methamphetamine from a residence in Kansas. Id. However, agents soon suspected that Mr. Barajas was using another phone, TT No. 26. II R. 93. Accordingly, on February 25, 2010, *1106 agents obtained a wiretap order for TT No. 26, attaching a proposed order and 161-page affidavit to the application. III R. 349-518. This affidavit listed newly intercepted conversations, including a conversation about the recent seizure in Kansas. Id. at 465-66. Once again, the affidavit did not request GPS data, but the wiretap order authorized pinging. Id. at 351, 516.

On March 31, 2010, agents pinged TT No. 26, which showed the phone was located within a 5-meter radius of 4597 Pacific Rivera Way in San Diego, California. II R. 272. On April 2, 2010, agents set up visual surveillance and observed a Toyota Camry entering the address. Id. at 282, 285. Agents followed the Camry to a body shop, where they placed a call to TT No. 26. Id. at 286-87. Mr. Barajas, the driver, did not pick up the phone, but later returned the call to the agents. Id. at 287. Until this point, agents did not know that “Sammy,” the user of TT No. 26, was Mr. Barajas. Id. at 288.

On April 28, 2010, agents pinged TT No. 26, which revealed the phone was located within 11 meters of the same San Diego address. Id. at 347. One day later, agents pinged the phone and learned that it was located near a 24-Hour Fitness health club. Id.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
710 F.3d 1102, 2013 WL 781789, 2013 U.S. App. LEXIS 4475, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-barajas-ca10-2013.