United States v. Jeffrey Jefferson, A/K/A "Fly", United States of America v. James B. Sutton, United States of America v. Will Smith, United States of America v. Frank Moore, United States of America v. Sean Johnson, United States of America v. Bryant Terrell Valentine, A/K/A "Victor Valentine and A/K/A Taco", United States of America v. Ricky Hazellette, A/K/A Randy Hunt, A/K/A "Big Fred", United States of America v. Vincent Mack

956 F.2d 275
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
DecidedAugust 19, 1992
Docket90-30145
StatusUnpublished

This text of 956 F.2d 275 (United States v. Jeffrey Jefferson, A/K/A "Fly", United States of America v. James B. Sutton, United States of America v. Will Smith, United States of America v. Frank Moore, United States of America v. Sean Johnson, United States of America v. Bryant Terrell Valentine, A/K/A "Victor Valentine and A/K/A Taco", United States of America v. Ricky Hazellette, A/K/A Randy Hunt, A/K/A "Big Fred", United States of America v. Vincent Mack) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Jeffrey Jefferson, A/K/A "Fly", United States of America v. James B. Sutton, United States of America v. Will Smith, United States of America v. Frank Moore, United States of America v. Sean Johnson, United States of America v. Bryant Terrell Valentine, A/K/A "Victor Valentine and A/K/A Taco", United States of America v. Ricky Hazellette, A/K/A Randy Hunt, A/K/A "Big Fred", United States of America v. Vincent Mack, 956 F.2d 275 (9th Cir. 1992).

Opinion

956 F.2d 275

NOTICE: Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3 provides that dispositions other than opinions or orders designated for publication are not precedential and should not be cited except when relevant under the doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, or collateral estoppel.
UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee,
v.
Jeffrey JEFFERSON, a/k/a "Fly", Defendant-Appellant.
UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee,
v.
James B. SUTTON, Defendant-Appellant.
UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee,
v.
Will SMITH, Defendant-Appellant.
UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee,
v.
Frank MOORE, Defendant-Appellant.
UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee,
v.
Sean JOHNSON, Defendant-Appellant.
UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee,
v.
Bryant Terrell VALENTINE, a/k/a "Victor Valentine and a/k/a
Taco", Defendant-Appellant.
UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee,
v.
Ricky HAZELLETTE, a/k/a Randy Hunt, a/k/a "Big Fred",
Defendant-Appellant.
UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee,
v.
Vincent MACK, Defendant-Appellant.

Nos. 90-30143, 90-30145, 90-30154, 90-30155, 90-30166,
90-30167, 90-30235 and 91-30117.

United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.

Argued and Submitted Oct. 10, 1991.
Decided Feb. 27, 1992.
As Amended on Denial or Rehearing
Aug. 19, 1992.

Before WALLACE, Chief Judge, and HUG and RYMER, Circuit Judges.

MEMORANDUM

Hazellette, Jefferson, Johnson, Mack, Moore, Smith, Sutton, and Valentine (defendants) appeal from their convictions for drug-related crimes: conspiracy to distribute cocaine in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846 (count one); possession with intent to distribute cocaine in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(B) (counts two, six, and twelve); distribution of cocaine in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C) (counts seven and eleven); distribution of more than five grams of cocaine in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(B) (counts four, five, eight, nine, and ten); and possession of a firearm in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c) (counts three, thirteen, and fourteen).

They argue that the district court erred by admitting evidence obtained from a protective sweep, evidence of gang membership, and testimony of certain co-conspirators. They also contend that the district court abused its discretion by refusing to admit evidence concerning the results of an informant's intelligence test. They further challenge the sufficiency of the evidence for the convictions, the sufficiency of the affidavit supporting a search warrant, and the consistency of the convictions. Jefferson, Moore, Smith, Sutton, and Valentine contend that the district court erred by sentencing them for amounts of cocaine and weapons involved in substantive counts for which they were not convicted. Johnson argues that the district court erred by imposing consecutive sentences for multiple convictions under 18 U.S.C. § 924(c).

The district court had jurisdiction pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3231. We have jurisdiction over this timely petition pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We affirm in part, reverse in part, and vacate in part.

* We first address charges of the improper admission of evidence.

A.

Jefferson, Johnson, Mack, Moore, Smith, Sutton, and Valentine argue that the protective sweep violated the fourth amendment, and evidence gained from it should not have been admitted at trial. Once law enforcement officials have legally entered a residence, they may make a limited search, or protective sweep, of spaces nearby from which an attack may be launched. See United States v. Flippin, 924 F.2d 163, 165 (9th Cir.1991). However, such a sweep is proper only if there are "articulable facts which, taken together with the rational inferences from those facts, would warrant a reasonably prudent officer in believing that the area to be swept harbors an individual posing a danger to those on the arrest scene." Maryland v. Buie, 110 S.Ct. 1093, 1098 (1990).

The district court correctly found that the protective sweep was proper. Ringer and Perricone went to the Orchard Street residence on legitimate police business. They entered with the consent of one of the occupants. Once inside, the officials saw men wearing the indicia of violent gang members and heard noises from other parts of the apartment. The occupants said no one else was present in the apartment, and when another emerged the officials knew they were lying. These facts constitute reasonable and articulable grounds justifying a protective sweep. Because the officials had not yet completed their duties before performing the sweep, it was properly performed in furtherance of a legitimate government purpose. Therefore, we hold that the sweep was legal, and we reject defendants' contention that the district court abused its discretion by admitting evidence obtained as a result of the sweep.

B.

The defendants contend that the district court erred by admitting gang evidence. They argue that the quality of evidence was excessively prejudicial and the quantity confused the issues and mislead the jury, both in violation of Federal Rule of Evidence 403.

We have upheld the admission of evidence of preconspiracy joint activities by defendants. United States v. Conners, 825 F.2d 1384, 1390 (9th Cir.1987). Evidence of prior association of defendants charged with conspiracy is relevant to proving that they committed conspiracy. Id.

We hold that the district court did not abuse its discretion by admitting background evidence concerning metropolitan Los Angeles street gangs. The government presented evidence that the defendants were members of the "Blood" gang. It also presented evidence concerning the gang's metropolitan Los Angeles origin, history, hand signals, characteristic clothing, activities, and members' monickers. All of this evidence is relevant to the conspiracy charge by showing the strength of prior and current association. Although some of the evidence was undoubtedly prejudicial, it does not appear that this outweighed its probative value.

The defendants also argue that the evidence of gang membership was so extensive that it confused the issues and mislead the jury into believing that gangs were on trial. They contend they were convicted for being members of a gang, in violation of their right to association. However, the evidence concerning gangs was merely a fraction of the evidence advanced to support the conspiracy charge. Although the prosecution presented substantial evidence of gang membership, it appears that the resulting danger of confusion and violation of associational rights did not outweigh the probative value of the gang evidence. Therefore, the district court did not abuse its discretion.

C.

Moore contends that the district court abused its discretion by refusing to allow into evidence testimony and records concerning high school IQ tests of informant Hammond.

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