United States v. Ferrer-Martell

218 F. Supp. 3d 143, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 156381, 2016 WL 6236602
CourtDistrict Court, D. Puerto Rico
DecidedOctober 25, 2016
DocketCrim No. 16-0009 (GAG)
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 218 F. Supp. 3d 143 (United States v. Ferrer-Martell) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Puerto Rico primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Ferrer-Martell, 218 F. Supp. 3d 143, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 156381, 2016 WL 6236602 (prd 2016).

Opinion

ORDER

GUSTAVO A. GELPI, United States District Judge

Magistrate Judge Bruce J. McGiverin’s Report and Recommendation (Docket No. 60) is hereby ADOPTED in its entirety. The undersigned, in a de novo manner, has carefully reviewed the same, as well as the suppression hearing transcript (Docket No. 65), the Government’s Objection to the Report and Recommendation (Docket No. 67) and Defendant’s Response thereto (Docket No. 71). In doing so, I uphold Judge McGiverin’s credibility findings, as well as his ultimate conclusion that “under the preponderance of the evidence that [officer] Burgos knowingly and intentionally stated falsely (or at the very least, stated with reckless disregard for the truth) that he received a report from an anonymous tipster.” (Report and Recommendation, Docket No. 60 at 14.) More so, I further uphold Judge McGiverin’s conclusion that “after excising the tainted evidence, the [search] warrant does not have an independent basis for probable cause and so the evidence discovered inside [defendant’s] residence should be suppressed.” (Id. at 17.) Because I am affirming Judge McGiverin’s factual determinations and conclusions of law, a new evidentiary hearing is unwarranted.

A final and necessary word. This ruling should in no way be interpreted to suggest that the U.S. Attorney’s Office is doing a poor job in its firearms and narcotics initiatives. To the contrary. However, a successful prosecution depends not only on the excellent work of the Assistant U.S. Attorney, but also on that of the agent. Inasmuch as federal prosecutions increasingly rely on the actions of local law enforcement personnel, there is thus every more reason to require said officials to act in utmost accordance with federal constitutional standards. This requires the police officer at all times to provide truthful testimony, as well as observe the very mandates of the Fourth Amendment. There is simply no other route.

SO ORDERED.

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION

BRUCE J. McGIVERIN, United States Magistrate Judge

During the early morning hours of October 30, 2015, agents with the San Juan Municipal Police (“SJMP”) scaled an iron gate in front of the residence of Jose E. [146]*146Ferrer-Martell (“Ferrer”). The agents then manually opened that gate and tranquilly circled the residence’s premises with their flashlights drawn and weapons holstered—all without a warrant. A few hours later, one of the agents requested and received a search warrant from a Puerto Rico state court based largely on what they discovered while in Ferrer’s yard. The warrant was executed that same day, and contraband was found inside the residence. Ferrer was later indicted for possession with intent to distribute marijuana in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), and possession of a fireai’m in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A). Docket No. 1. Ferrer moved to suppress the evidence discovered at his residence, Docket No. 32, and the government opposed. Docket No. 36. This matter was referred to me for a report and recommendation, Docket No. 49, and an evidentiary hearing was held on July 20,2016. Docket No. 57.

For the reasons set forth below, the motion to suppress should be GRANTED.

BACKGROUND

At the evidentiary hearing, SJMP Agent Luis Burgos-Nieves (“Burgos”), who prepared a sworn statement in support of the search warrant, was called to testify as to the events on October 29 and 30, 2015. Testimony was also heard from Anthony Toro-Zambrana (“Toro”), an investigator hired by the Federal Public Defender’s Office. Ferrer’s residence was equipped with indoor and outdoor security cameras, and Toro highlighted various parts of the surveillance videos to discredit the narrative Burgos provided in his sworn statement.

Before delving into Burgos’s sworn statement, the hearing testimony, and the evidence, a word about the land’s layout is in order: Ferrer’s residence is located on Simon Madera Avenue (“Simon Madera”), specifically, between the streets “Julio An-dino” and “Aristides Chavier.” Def.’s Ex. D. Simon Madera is a two-way street that permits a driver to travel north or south. Id. Julio Andino intersects Simon Madera south of Ferrer’s residence, and only permits a driver to travel west from this intersection. Id. Aristides Chavier intersects Simon Madera north of Ferrer’s residence, and also only permits a driver to travel west from this intersection. Id. A Shell Gas Station is located on the corner of Julio Andino and Simon Madera, and a bar named “Al Paso Senior” is between that Shell Gas Station and Ferrer’s residence. Both the Shell Gas Station and the bar are located south of Ferrer’s residence.

Burgos’s Sworn Statement

Burgos swore that on October 29, 2015, he began his shift at 7:00 p.m., was under the supervision of Sergeant Morales, and planned to “make incursions into the housing projects in the San Juan area, particularly Monte Hatillo and Berwind.” Defl’s Ex. A at 1. On that day, Burgos was traveling in a “marked patrol car” with “Agent Ramos,” who was sitting in the vehicle’s “front passenger” seat. Id. Both agents were identified as police officers by their police uniforms. Id. At about 1:30 a.m. on October 30, they “were headed to make an incursion into the Ramos Antoni-ni Housing Project, travelling on the Simon Madera Avenue, when [they] were stopped by a gentleman that was coming out of the ‘Al Paso Senior’ business, which is located on said avenue.” Id. The gentleman “notified” Burgos that “two persons had jumped the fence of the residence, as he pointed out to [him], with his hands, a residence that is located almost in front of the business.” Id. The gentleman also stated that “they [were] inside the residence.” Id.

[147]*147Burgos approached the residence, which had a “white grill-work gate at the entrance, which was partially open.” Id. Bur-gos relayed this information, as well as his location, to his supervisor. Id. After, doing so, Burgos “proceeded to enter the residence.” Id. at 1-2. As he was “walking through the area of the yard towards the rear of the residence,” he “observed two individuals” whom he could not describe “since due to the time it was very dark.” Id. at 2. After Burgos yelled “Police,” they “took off running and jumped a cement fence in the rear part of the residence.” Id. At this point, Burgos “immediately noticed” a “peculiar stench” coming from inside the residence. Id. Burgos’s experience allowed him to identify the “peculiar stench” as marijuana. Id. Burgos circled the residence’s premises and discovered “five air conditioning consoles,” all of which were turned on. Id. And with the help of his flashlight, he also discovered “multiple big black plastic planters” with dirt and stalks in the “back part of the dwelling.” Id. Based on his experience, Burgos identified the stalks inside the planters as marijuana. Id.

Burgos also swore that he believed the residence was empty. Id. He believed so because “there were no motor vehicles” at the residence and because they “called out and knocked on multiple occasions” but “no one responded.” Id.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
218 F. Supp. 3d 143, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 156381, 2016 WL 6236602, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-ferrer-martell-prd-2016.