United States v. Huang

15 F. Supp. 3d 1131, 2014 WL 1599463, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 55801
CourtDistrict Court, D. New Mexico
DecidedApril 22, 2014
DocketCriminal No. 12-1246 WJ
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 15 F. Supp. 3d 1131 (United States v. Huang) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. New Mexico primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Huang, 15 F. Supp. 3d 1131, 2014 WL 1599463, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 55801 (D.N.M. 2014).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER DENYING DEFENDANT’S AMENDED MOTION FOR DISCLOSURE OF FISA APPLICATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS AND TO SUPPRESS THE FRUITS OF INTERCEPTIONS MADE PURSUANT TO THE FISA SEARCH WARRANT 1

WILLIAM P. JOHNSON, District Judge.

THIS MATTER comes before the Court upon Defendant’s Amended Motion for Disclosure of FISA Applications and Certifications and to Suppress the Fruits of Interceptions Made Pursuant to the FISA Search Warrant, filed January 21, 2014 (Doc. 128). Having reviewed the parties’ briefs and applicable law, the Court finds that Defendant’s motion is not well-taken and, therefore, is denied.2

BACKGROUND

In this motion, Defendant alleges a misuse of a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) wiretap that was used to monitor Defendant’s office and home phone from October 2011 through June 2012, and raises procedural and constitutional issues concerning the FISA application. The eight-count Superseding Indictment (Doc. 132, Redacted) charges Defendant with using U.S. government resources and equipment to conduct research for the People’s Republic of China. Part of the alleged [1135]*1135conduct is that Dr. Huang “stole” TEM (Transmission Electron Microscope) time to review nano-materials at SNL. Defendant moves for (1) disclosure of the application papers submitted by the government and all court orders issued pursuant to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA); (2) disclosure of the names of Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) employees and agents who were made privy to FISA information in this case; and (8) for suppression of all FISA derived evidence. Defendant also requests that the Court conduct an adversary hearing (a Franks hearing) to determine the issues raised by the Motion to Suppress.

Defendant challenges the FISA warrant and monitoring in this case on two grounds. First, he claims that the Government obtained Defendant’s phone conversations while he was in the United States, which was a procedural violation of FISA. Second, Defendant contends that the FISA process was used to sidestep ordinary constitutional requirements to bolster a “traditional” criminal investigation. Defendant notes that an ongoing criminal investigation of Dr. Huang started prior to the approval in April 2011 of Dr. Huang’s trip to China and that when the criminal investigation yielded no result, the government resorted to FISA surveillance. As a result, the Government violated the Fourth Amendment (substantive violation) by circumventing the probable cause requirements of a traditional Title III wiretap. Defendant argues that there is no evidence that Dr. Huang was acting as an “agent of a foreign power” and raises the possibility of Franks violations in the FISA application papers.

Defense counsel claims that, at a minimum, he and Dr. Huang should be permitted to review the warrant and affidavit, especially if any personnel from Sandia viewed such or had input into its formulation, in order to determine whether any of those individuals had motive or bias. Defendant argues that, at a minimum, this Court should view the FISA warrant and affidavit in camera to determine if there are any exculpatory matters that must be disclosed. However, the Court has carefully reviewed the FISA warrant, affidavit, and all supporting material, and has determined that a hearing is not necessary, and that disclosure is not appropriate.

The government filed a Notice (Doc. 20) that it intends to offer into evidence information obtained from FISA surveillance. The government opposes Defendant’s requests but also maintains that the FISA information at issue was lawfully acquired and that the electronic surveillance and physical searches were conducted in conformity with an order of authorization or approval, and requests (1) that the Court deny the defendant’s request that the FISA information be suppressed; and (2) order that none of the FISA materials be disclosed to the defense, and instead, that they be maintained by the United States under seal.

DISCUSSION

I. Statutory Framework

The FISA was enacted in 1978 and was subsequently amended. FISA authorizes the Chief Justice of the United States to designate eleven United States District Judges to sit as judges of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC). 50 U.S.C. § 1803(a)(1). The FISC judges are empowered to consider ex parte applications submitted by the Executive Branch for electronic surveillance and physical searches when the government demonstrates that a “significant purpose” of the application is to obtain foreign intelligence information, as defined in FISA.

[1136]*1136The government may conduct electronic surveillance only after applying for and obtaining an order from the FISC. The application must be approved by the Attorney General and must include certain specified information. See 50 U.S.C. §§ 1804(a) (electronic surveillance), 1823(a) (physical searches). This information includes:

(1) the identity of the federal officer making the application;
(2) the identity, if known, or a description of the specific target of the electronic surveillance;
(3) a statement of the facts and circumstances supporting probable cause to believe that the target is a foreign power or an agent of a foreign power, and that each facility or place at which the electronic surveillance is directed is being used, or is about to be used, by a foreign power or an agent of a foreign power;
(4) a statement of the proposed minimization procedures to be followed;
(5) a description of the nature of the information sought and the type of communications or activities to be subjected to the surveillance;
(6) a certification, discussed below, of a high-ranking official;
(7) a summary of the manner or means by which the electronic surveillance will be effected and a statement whether physical entry is required to effect the electronic surveillance;
(8) the facts concerning and the action taken on all previous FISA applications involving any of the persons, facilities, or places specified in the application; and
(9)the proposed duration of the electronic surveillance.

50 U.S.C. § 1804(a)(l)-(9). An application to conduct a physical search pursuant to FISA must contain similar information as an application to conduct electronic surveillance except that an application to conduct a physical search must also contain a statement of the facts and circumstances that justify an applicant’s belief that “the premises or property to be searched contains foreign intelligence information” and that each “premises or property to be searched is or is about to be, owned, used, possessed by, or is in transit to or from” the target. 50 U.S.C. § 1823(a)(l)-(8).

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Bluebook (online)
15 F. Supp. 3d 1131, 2014 WL 1599463, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 55801, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-huang-nmd-2014.