United States v. Joseph B. Sprofera, Also Known as Old Man Joe, Also Known as One-Eyed Joe, Also Known as Dago Joe

299 F.3d 725, 2002 U.S. App. LEXIS 14986, 2002 WL 1726817
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
DecidedJuly 26, 2002
Docket01-3674
StatusPublished
Cited by14 cases

This text of 299 F.3d 725 (United States v. Joseph B. Sprofera, Also Known as Old Man Joe, Also Known as One-Eyed Joe, Also Known as Dago Joe) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Eighth 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. Joseph B. Sprofera, Also Known as Old Man Joe, Also Known as One-Eyed Joe, Also Known as Dago Joe, 299 F.3d 725, 2002 U.S. App. LEXIS 14986, 2002 WL 1726817 (8th Cir. 2002).

Opinion

HANSEN, Chief Judge.

Joseph Sprofera appeals his conviction for conspiracy to manufacture and distribute 100 grams or more of methamphetamine in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846 and 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(A). He raises three challenges to his conviction. Sprofera asserts that the district court erred in granting the government’s motion to dismiss certain counts of the indictment. He also claims that 21 U.S.C. §§ 846 and 841 are unconstitutional in light of United States v. Lopez, 514 U.S. 549, 561, 115 S.Ct. 1624, 131 L.Ed.2d 626 (1995) (holding that Gun Free School Zones Act exceeded Congress’s commerce power), United States v. Morrison, 529 U.S. 598, 617, 120 S.Ct. 1740, 146 L.Ed.2d 658 (2000) (finding unconstitutional a provision of the Violence Against Women Act), and Jones v. United States, 529 U.S. 848, 857-58, 120 S.Ct. 1904, 146 L.Ed.2d 902 (2000) (holding that federal arson statute does not encompass burning of owner-occupied residence not used for any commercial activity). Finally, Sprofera argues that 21 U.S.C. §§ 846 and 841 are unconstitutional in light of Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466, 490, 120 S.Ct. 2348, 147 L.Ed.2d 435 (2000) (holding that other than the fact of a prior conviction, any fact that increases the penalty for a crime beyond the prescribed statutory maximum must be submitted to a jury and proved beyond a reasonable doubt). Finding no merit in Sprofera’s arguments, we affirm the judgment of the district court. 2

Sprofera first argues that the district court erred in dismissing counts two, three, and four of the indictment which charged Sprofera with manufacturing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and *727 with possessing and conspiring to possess and distribute iodine knowing and having reasonable cause to believe it would be used to manufacture methamphetamine. He argues that these counts should not have been dismissed because the government only sought dismissal to gain a strategic advantage over him. Although we are unsure what harm, if any, befell Sprof-era when the district court dismissed the last three counts of the government’s four-count indictment, we conclude that his argument lacks any merit.

We review the district court’s decision to grant the motion to dismiss the charges for an abuse of discretion. United States v. Rush, 240 F.3d 729, 730 (8th Cir.2001); United States v. Strayer, 846 F.2d 1262, 1265 (10th Cir.1988). Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 48 states that the government “may by leave of court file a dismissal of an indictment .... Such a dismissal may not be filed during the trial without the consent of the defendant.” Fed.R.Crim.P. 48(a) (2002). On the morning of trial, prior to jury selection, the government sought leave to dismiss counts two, three, and four to simplify and streamline the presentation of its case to the jury. The district court granted the motion and dismissed the charges. The government then presented its case on the remaining count-conspiracy to manufacture and distribute 100 grams or more of methamphetamine-and the jury convicted Sprofera on this count. Because the dismissal occurred before jury selection, the district court correctly concluded that it could grant the motion with or without Sprofera’s consent. Rush, 240 F.3d at 730. Indeed, in these circumstances, we have concluded that “the district court had to grant the motion unless the dismissal would be clearly contrary to manifest public interest, determined by whether the prosecutor’s motion to dismiss was made in bad faith.” Id. at 731 (internal quotation omitted).

There is no indication that the government acted in bad faith. The purpose of Rule 48 is to enhance the fair administration of criminal justice and to prevent the government from harassing the defendant by repetitively charging, dismissing, and then recharging the defendant. Strayer, 846 F.2d at 1265. The government’s action in this ease does not implicate those concerns. In this case, the government did not seek to delay the trial, charge the defendant with different crimes, manipulate the jury, or otherwise harass the defendant. Instead, the government merely sought to clarify its presentation to the jury. This motive has no implications of bad faith which would have required that the district court deny the motion to dismiss. Rush, 240 F.3d at 731 (concluding that alleged strategic decision did not rise to the level of bad faith). Accordingly, we conclude that the district court did not abuse its discretion in granting the government’s motion.

We also reject Sprofera’s argument that absent proof of a substantial nexus between him and interstate commerce, 21 U.S.C. §§ 841 and 846 are unconstitutional exercises of Congress’s Commerce Clause power. We have repeatedly affirmed Congress’s ability to regulate both the interstate and the intrastate manufacture and distribution of controlled substances under its commerce power. See United States v. Davis, 288 F.3d 359, 361-62 (8th Cir.2002) (rejecting argument that Controlled Substances Act is unconstitutional in light of Lopez, Morrison, and Jones); United States v. Peck, 161 F.3d 1171, 1174 (8th Cir.1998); United States v. Patterson, 140 F.3d 767, 772 (8th Cir.), cert. denied, 525 U.S. 907, 119 S.Ct. 245, 142 L.Ed.2d 202 (1998). Moreover, Sprofera does not dispute the fact that his illegal activities *728 spanned the states of Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. Accordingly, we find no merit in Sprofera’s argument.

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299 F.3d 725, 2002 U.S. App. LEXIS 14986, 2002 WL 1726817, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-joseph-b-sprofera-also-known-as-old-man-joe-also-known-ca8-2002.