United States v. Fantin

130 F. Supp. 2d 385, 2000 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 19298, 2000 WL 33126505
CourtDistrict Court, W.D. New York
DecidedNovember 15, 2000
DocketNo. 97-CR-0233A
StatusPublished

This text of 130 F. Supp. 2d 385 (United States v. Fantin) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Fantin, 130 F. Supp. 2d 385, 2000 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 19298, 2000 WL 33126505 (W.D.N.Y. 2000).

Opinion

ORDER

ARCARA, District Judge.

This case was referred to Magistrate Judge Leslie G. Foschio pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1), on March 30, 1998. On February 22, 2000, defendant filed a motion to dismiss the indictment and to suppress evidence, or in the alternative, for an evidentiary hearing. On June 19, 2000, Magistrate Judge Foschio filed a Report and Recommendation, recommending that defendant’s motion be denied. Defendant filed objections to the Magistrate Judge’s Report and Recommendation on July 19, 2000, and the government filed a response thereto1'on August 8, 2000. Defendant filed a Supplemental Memorandum in support of his objections on October 13, 2000, and the government filed an affidavit in response thereto on October 18, 2000. Oral argument on the objections was held on October 18, 2000.

Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1), this Court must make a de novo determination of those portions of the Report and Recommendation to which objections have been made. Upon a de novo review of the Report and Recommendation, and after reviewing the submissions and hearing argument from the parties, the Court adopts the proposed findings of the Report and Recommendation. The Court finds unpersuasive defendant’s argument that he should be afforded an evidentiary hearing. Defendant basically seeks such a hearing on two issues: (1) on the extent of defendant’s contacts with this Country for purposes of asserting the protections of the Fourth Amendment; and (2) on whether Canadian authorities were acting as agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) when they conducted the disputed searches. With regard to the first issue, an evidentiary hearing is not needed as this information is already in defendant’s possession. The defendant should obviously be fully aware of his own contacts with the United States and has presented evidence in that regard. The Magistrate found, and this Court agrees, that under the test in United States v. Verdugo-Urquidez, 494 U.S. 259, 110 S.Ct. 1056, 108 L.Ed.2d 222 (1990), defendant’s contacts with the United States were insufficient for purposes of allowing him to invoke the protections of the Fourth Amendment. Because the Fourth Amendment does not apply to the disputed searches in this case, the Court need not reach the issue of whether Canadian authorities were acting as agents of the FBI at the time of those searches. Even if the Court were to reach that issue, however, defendant still would not be entitled to an evidentiary hearing based on the facts and circumstances present here. Although there was contact between the FBI and Canadian authorities prior to the disputed searches, defendant has come forth with no evidence indicating that the Canadian authorities were somehow being controlled or manipulated by the FBI. There is not even a threshold [387]*387showing to that effect. In fact, all the evidence in the record indicates that the Canadian investigation of defendant was commenced independently prior to any involvement by the FBI. An evidentiary hearing at this point would simply be a fishing expedition.

Accordingly, for the reasons set forth in Magistrate Judge Foschio’s Report and Recommendation and herein, defendant’s motion to dismiss and to suppress evidence, or alternatively, for an evidentiary hearing is denied. The Clerk of Court shall mail a copy of this Order to counsel for all parties in this case. All counsel shall appear before the Court on November 17, 2000 at 9:00 a.m. for a meeting to set a trial date.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION

FOSCHIO, United States Magistrate Judge.

JURISDICTION

This matter was referred to the undersigned for all pretrial matters by order of Hon. Richard J. Arcara, dated March 30, 1998. It is presently before the court on Defendant’s Omnibus Motion to dismiss the Indictment and to suppress evidence filed February 22, 2000 (Doc. # 156).

BACKGROUND and FACTS

Defendant is charged, along with 21 others, in a single count indictment, alleging a conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud, 18 U.S.C. §§ 1341; 1343, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371. Specifically, Defendant and his co-conspirators are alleged to have engaged in fraudulent sales of investments in germanium and indium,1 metals used in various industrial applications. The 154 page indictment charges the conspiracy succeeded in effecting sales of these metals at inflated prices to victims residing within the United States through various telemarketing companies and by using mail drops located in the United States, Canada, the Bahamas and the Dutch Antilles during the period 1990 to 1993. Indictment, Introduction ¶ ¶ 1-5; 16. Defendant Fantin, along with Defendants Banks, Bidloff, and Dick are described as owners of two of the telemarketing companies, Eurocan Metals Group and Columbia Metals Group, located in Toronto, Ontario, used by the conspiracy to carry out its fraudulent designs. Indictment Count I, ¶ ¶ 1(a), (b); 8. In addition, Fantin is alleged to have operated, along with two other co-defendants and two unindicted persons, the Sandstone Group, a telemarketing company controlled by the conspiracy and located in the Bahamas. Indictment Count I, ¶ ¶ 1(d); 15. The Indictment also states that Fantin used two Toronto based companies, Danstef Investments and Short Arm Investments to receive funds from the alleged fraudulent telemarketing sales of investments in germanium and indium. Indictment Count I, ¶ 4. As a result of its operations, the conspiracy succeeded in defrauding persons within the United States of more than $10 million (U.S.).

The alleged fraudulent misrepresentations used by the conspiracy to defraud its victims consisted of falsehoods regarding the existence of an active speculators’ market for germanium and indium, that the metals had a value significantly greater than was true at the time, that prices for the metals would experience imminent and significant increases resulting from government stockpiling and technology advances, that the sales companies making the representations agreed to buy back the customer’s purchase at the customer’s option, and that the salesman calling the customer was not making any commission on the initial sale. Indictment Count I, [388]*388¶ 16(A), (B), (C), (D), (E), (F). Additionally, as a means to lull customers into believing the conspiracy’s sales claims were legitimate, quantities of the metals were shipped to customers or stored in rented space within this district although such metals were relatively worthless. Indictment Count I, ¶ 22. Customers were also advised that the Tannen Trading Company, located in the Dutch Antilles, would assume customer assistance functions as a means of preventing detection of the fraud. Id., ¶ 27. The Sandstone Group was used as a means to fraudulently obtain additional investments from the customers. Indictment Count I, ¶29.

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Bluebook (online)
130 F. Supp. 2d 385, 2000 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 19298, 2000 WL 33126505, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-fantin-nywd-2000.