United States v. Edelin

128 F. Supp. 2d 23, 56 Fed. R. Serv. 3d 521, 2001 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 649, 2001 WL 65580
District Court, District of Columbia·Decided January 23, 2001·No. CRIM. 98-264 RCL·Published·Cited by 29 cases

Opinion

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

LAMBERTH, District Judge.

Upon consideration of the various motions filed by the defendants and the government, the Court will deny the defendants’ requests for additional discovery and grant the government’s requests for an anonymous jury, a delay in the production of witness names, and the ability to recall witnesses during its case-in-chief. Before addressing each of the motions individually, the Court will analyze the dangerousness of the defendants and their willingness to interfere with the judicial process. These are crucial elements for determining what information should be disclosed and when it should be provided to the defendants.

I. Background

The charges in this case stem from an alleged large drug conspiracy in the District of Columbia. The violence associated with this alleged conspiracy is remarkable. The conspirators allegedly committed fourteen murders and multiple counts of assault with intent to murder.

The six defendants, 1 scheduled to be tried beginning on March 26, 2001, are charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, fifty grams or more of cocaine base, and one kilogram or more of heroin, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846; continuing criminal enterprise, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 848(a) and (b); conspiracy to participate in a racketeer influenced corrupt organization, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d); armed robbery, in violation of 22 D.C.Code §§ 2901 & 3202; assault with intent to murder while armed, in violation of 22 D.C.Code §§ 503 & 3202; first degree murder while armed, in violation of 22 D.C.Code §§ 2401 & 3202; continuing criminal enterprise murder, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 848(e)(1)(A); violent crime in aid of racketeering activity, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1959; illegal use of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1); assault with a dangerous weapon, in violation of 22 D.C.Code § 502; possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, in violation of 22 D.C.Code § 3204(b); money laundering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1957; distribution of five grams or more of cocaine base, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(l)(B)(iii); distribution of fifty grams or more of cocaine base, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(l)(A)(iii); possession with intent to distribute cocaine base, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C); possession with intent to distribute fifty grams or more of cocaine base, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(l)(A)(iii); possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of cocaine base, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(l)(B)(iii); possession with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(l)(A)(i); possession with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(l)(A)(ii); aiding and abetting, in violation of 22 D.C.Code § 105; and aiding and abetting, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2. One of the defendants, Tommy Edelin, faces the *29 death penalty. The government has decided not to seek the death penalty against the other five defendants, although they are accused of crimes that could lead to death penalty prosecution. These five defendants face the possibility of life in prison without parole.

II. Finding of Dangerousness/Willingness to Interfere with the Judicial Process

Defendant Tommy Edelin and other defendants in this case have made requests for further discovery from the government. The government has responded before this Court that all discovery requests for information that does not threaten the safety of witnesses or informants have been complied with. The government further proffered that attorneys for the government have gone beyond the requirements of Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure Rule 16 and Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83, 83 S.Ct. 1194, 10 L.Ed.2d 215 (1963). The government has provided extensive discovery related to this case, along with descriptions of some of the evidence and how the government plans to use that evidence at trial. The government has already provided a wide variety of discovery materials, including its theory of liability, the factual scenario for each alleged murder, and a list of relevant aggravating and mitigating factors.

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United States v. Edelin, 128 F. Supp. 2d 23, 56 Fed. R. Serv. 3d 521, 2001 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 649, 2001 WL 65580 (D.D.C. 2001).

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