United States v. Herrmann

371 F. Supp. 343, 1974 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 12879
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. Wisconsin
DecidedJanuary 10, 1974
Docket73-Cr-206
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 371 F. Supp. 343 (United States v. Herrmann) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. Wisconsin primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Herrmann, 371 F. Supp. 343, 1974 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 12879 (E.D. Wis. 1974).

Opinion

DECISION and ORDER

MYRON L. GORDON, District Judge.

The defendants have moved to dismiss, to sever, to discover and to suppress; the government has moved for an order compelling the production of a second non-testimonial voice exemplar from one of the defendants for purposes of comparison.

The defendants, Albert Herrmann and William Peters, are the subject of a six count indictment. Mr. Herrmann is charged, individually, in the first four counts with distributing various amounts of “a mixture containing her *345 oin”, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1). In count five, Messrs. Peters and Herrmann are charged with the importation of heroin, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 952(a). Count six charges the two defendants with possession with the intent to distribute approximately 248.8 grams of “a mixture containing heroin”, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1).

The parties’ positions with regard to the several motions have been fully briefed. I conclude that all of the defendants’ motions should be denied. I also conclude that the government’s motion for an order compelling the defendant Peters to produce a second non-testimonial voice exemplar need not be reached; for purposes of this prosecution, the government is entitled to use the first voice exemplar obtained from Mr. Peters, pursuant to a court order of September 17, 1973, in connection with the grand jury investigation of a collateral matter.

I. THE DEFENDANTS’ MOTIONS TO DISMISS

The prohibition of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) is directed at the possession of a “controlled substance” with the “intent to distribute”. The defendant Peters contends that this section does not provide with enough specificity the standard to be applied in making the determination of whether or not the requisite intent exists.

In United States v. Mather, 465 F.2d 1035 (5th Cir. 1972), cert. den. 409 U.S. 1085, 93 S.Ct. 685, 34 L.Ed.2d 672 (1972), proof that one was in possession of 197.75 grams of a controlled substance, without more, was deemed sufficient to make out a prima facie case of possession with the intent to distribute such substance for purposes of § 841(a) (1). Although the vagueness issue raised by Mr. Peters has not been specifically reached by them, other circuit courts have also found § 841(a)(1) to be constitutional. See United States v. Wilkerson, 478 F.2d 813 (8th Cir. 1973); United States v. Rodriguez-Comacho, 468 F.2d 1220 (9th Cir. 1972); United States v. Alberto Lopez, 461 F.2d 499 (5th Cir. 1972); United States v. Amado Lopez, 459 F.2d 949 (5th Cir. 1972); and United States v. Scales, 464 F.2d 371 (6th Cir. 1972). Therefore, I conclude that Mr. Peters’ motion to dismiss count six of the instant indictment should be denied.

“Heroin” is described in Schedule 1(b)(10), 21 U.S.C. § 812(c), as a “controlled substance” for purposes of § 841(a)(1); however, in no place is “a mixture containing heroin” so characterized. The defendant Herrmann claims that all six counts of the instant indictment should be dismissed since they charge him variously with the distribution, importation and possession with intent to distribute of but “a mixture containing heroin”, as opposed to “heroin”.

I do not believe that Congress could have intended such a narrow construction. I conclude that “a mixture contaning heroin” comes within the purview of § 841(a)(1) as a “controlled substance”. See United States v. Pisano, 193 F.2d 355 (7th Cir. 1951).

The defendant Herrmann points to the fact that other subsections of 21 U.S.C. § 812(c) refer to “[a] mixture . . . which contains any quantity of .” certain substances as being “controlled substances”. E. g., see Schedule 1(c), 21 U.S.C. § 812(c). However, a reading of the entire schedule of “controlled substances”, for purposes of § 841(a)(1), reveals no place besides Schedule 1(b) (10), where “heroin” is mentioned. It is my conclusion that the words “a mixture containing” do not change the nature of the offenses charged.

Finally, the defendant Peters has moved to dismiss the instant indictment on the grounds that the prosecution improperly presented only hearsay testimony to the grand jury that returned the instant indictment. This motion should also be denied, for the reasons stated by the United States Supreme Court in Costello v. United States, *346 350 U.S. 359, 76 S.Ct. 406, 100 L.Ed. 397 (1956).

II. THE DEFENDANTS’ MOTIONS FOR SEVERANCE

The defendants have moved this court for orders severing this case both as to the counts and as to the defendants. The government has countered with the assertion that it intends to offer proof at trial that the defendants were involved in a common plan or scheme to distribute heroin which was illegally imported into this country. I believe that the government’s allegation of the existence of a common plan creates a nexus between the two defendants and the several counts which are sufficient to overcome the defendants’ allegations of misjoinder and of prejudicial joinder.

The defendants have thus far failed to demonstrate prejudice sufficient to justify a severance either as to themselves or as to the counts. Mere speculation as to the probability of the government offering statements of a co-defendant, or of the co-defendant testifying at trial in his own behalf, are not sufficient to justify severance under Rule 14, Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure. See United States v. Cervantes, 466 F.2d 736 (7th Cir. 1972); United States v. Hutul, 416 F.2d 607 (7th Cir. 1969); United States v. Kahn, 381 F.2d 824 (7th Cir.

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Bluebook (online)
371 F. Supp. 343, 1974 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 12879, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-herrmann-wied-1974.