United States v. Heisman

371 F. Supp. 813, 1974 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 12424
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. Missouri
DecidedFebruary 1, 1974
DocketNos. 73 Cr 222(3), 73 Cr 225(3)
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 371 F. Supp. 813 (United States v. Heisman) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. Missouri primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Heisman, 371 F. Supp. 813, 1974 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 12424 (E.D. Mo. 1974).

Opinion

JUDGMENT

WANGELIN, District Judge.

These criminal actions were initiated by indictments filed on August 2, 1973. Count I of the indictment against the defendant Radford charges him with intent to defraud through the keeping in his possession and the concealment of certain falsely made, forged and counterfeited ten dollar denomination Federal Reserve Notes in violation of 18 U.S. C. Section 472. Count II of the indictment against Radford charges him with willful and knowing receipt of counterfeit notes with the intent to pass and publish the same as true and genuine Federal Reserve Notes in violation of 18 U.S.C. Section 473. Count I of the indictment against the defendant Heisman charges him with intent to defraud through the counterfeiting of ten dollar denomination Federal Reserve Notes in violation of 18 U.S.C. Section 471. Count II of the indictment against Heisman charges him with the willful and knowing sale, transfer and delivery to defendant Radford of said ten dollar denomination Federal Reserve Notes with intent same be passed and used as true and genuine notes in violation of 18 U. S.C. Section 473.

Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the aforesaid charges.

These actions are before this Court for trial as both defendants waived their right to a trial by jury. This Court held an evidentiary hearing for determination of defendants’ joint motions to suppress evidence on August 24th and 27th, 1973. Such motions were denied on September 6, 1973. The parties have stipulated that all testimony and exhibits identified at the hearing on said motions shall be taken as evidence adduced in the Government’s case at trial. This Court will consider both the evidence and exhibits adduced at the evidentiary hearing and the parties “Stipulation of Facts” to determine the findings of facts.

The Court being fully advised in the premises, makes the following findings of fact and conclusions of law.

General Findings

The Court finds the defendant, Michael Ray Radford, guilty of the violations charged in the indictment filed in Criminal Action No. 73 Cr 225(3).

The Court finds the defendant, Daniel E. Heisman, guilty of the violations charged in the indictment filed in Criminal Action No. 73 Cr 222(3).

[815]*815 Special Findings

1. Paul Kesterson and defendant Heisman were co-tenants of the premises at 1620 South Broadway, St. Louis, Missouri.

2. Both Kesterson and Heisman had signed the lease to the premises and were liable for the whole rent.

3. Kesterson and Heisman operated individual businesses which were financially independent of each other.

4. The premises at 1620 South Broadway consisted of a one floor office building with four partitioned sections containing no doors: the front area was a common office area, in the second section Heisman kept his supplies, in the third section Kesterson kept his printing press and supplies, and the fourth area was used primarily by Kesterson.

5. Both Kesterson and Heisman had keys to the premises at 1620 South Broadway.

6. Prior to July 26, 1973, both Kesterson and Heisman had access to each other’s rooms, supplies and equipment.

7. Before Kesterson departed on a trip, prior to July 26, 1973, Heisman asked for permission to use his printing press during his absence for the purpose of printing contract forms.

8. On July 26, 1973, Kesterson returned from his trip to the premises of 1620 South Broadway where he discovered on the printing press mat four impressions of ten dollar bills, whereupon, he called the United States Secret Service, who went to the premises and observed said impressions. Such ten dollar bills contain the same serial numbers and were of the same series as the counterfeit ten dollar denomination Federal Reserve Notes described in the indictment. Moreover, the impressions of the ten dollar bills were counterfeit.

9. The Secret Service agents took the mat from the press containing the counterfeit impressions and also observed such impressions on the back-up cylinder of the press.

10. Kesterson told the Secret Service agents that Heisman had asked to use his press to print green contract forms, that he was the only one with access to the printing press, and that he had a key to the premises.

11. The Secret Service agents arranged with Kesterson to return to the premises the following morning, July 27, 1973, to photograph the back-up drum of the press. Upon their return at 7:15 a. m., July 27, 1973, the back-up drum of the press had been cleaned and the printed images were erased. The agents asked Kesterson for permission to search the premises and such was granted as Kesterson believed he had access to the entire premises.

12. Agent Gilmore searched the second partitioned section where Heisman kept his supplies and which contained twelve to fifteen boxes. He opened one of the boxes therein and discovered a quantity of counterfeit treasury bills. Such box on its exterior had a picture of a red apple and the contents had not been visible before the box was opened. Agent Gilmore seized one sheet of counterfeit money, whereupon, the agents left the premises and put it under surveillance.

13. In the afternoon defendant Rad-ford drove an automobile up to the rear of 1620 South Broadway. The agents observed Radford place a box with a red apple on its exterior into the trunk of the automobile, while Heisman remained just inside the doors of the building. After this action by Radford, seven Secret Service agents converged upon the defendants with guns drawn and placed Radford and Heisman under arrest.

14. After the arrest, Radford was given his Miranda warnings and he acknowledged that he understood his rights. Moreover, he was told that he did not have to consent to the search of his car, was read the consent to search form and signed the form. A search of Radford’s car was conducted, whereupon, the box with the red apple was obtained from the trunk. Such box contained one hundred and forty thousand dollars in [816]*816ten dollar counterfeit Federal Reserve Notes.

15. Upon leaving the rear premises of 1620 South Broadway the agents took Radford to his home and with his consent recovered an additional one thousand dollars in counterfeit Federal Reserve Notes. Such notes were in ten dollar denominations and were of the same serial number and series number as those described in the indictment.

16. Sometime after the arrest, the defendant Radford after a knowing waiver of his rights gave a voluntary written statement to the agents. The following is the said statement:

I Michael Radford have been advised of my rights by Special Agent Richard Gilmore and Robert Rasor, and I fully understand them. I am making this statement voluntarily, no threats or promises have been made to me. Michael Radford.
Approximately three weeks ago Daniel Heisman approached me and asked if I would be interested in counterfeit money.

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371 F. Supp. 813, 1974 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 12424, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-heisman-moed-1974.