United States v. Marcolynn Germaine Williams

259 F. App'x 281
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
DecidedDecember 19, 2007
Docket07-10848
StatusUnpublished

This text of 259 F. App'x 281 (United States v. Marcolynn Germaine Williams) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Eleventh 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. Marcolynn Germaine Williams, 259 F. App'x 281 (11th Cir. 2007).

Opinion

PER CURIAM:

Defendant Marcolynn Williams appeals his convictions for drug-related offenses and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and his concurrent 108-month sentences. After review, we affirm Williams’s convictions and sentences.

I. BACKGROUND

A. Offense Conduct

The Tallahassee Police Department (“TPD”) conducted a series of controlled buys in which an informant purchased cocaine from defendant Williams. The first controlled buy occurred on April 19, 2006 and involved approximately 3.3 grams of cocaine. The second controlled buy occurred on April 28, 2006 and involved 7.45 grams of cocaine. The third controlled buy occurred on June 16, 2006 and involved 28.20 grams of cocaine. The indictment charged the second and third controlled buys, but not the first one.

During a search of Williams’s residence, police discovered, among other things, marijuana; drug paraphernalia, including baggies, a scale and burning cannabis pipes; an electronic scanner for monitoring police traffic; a container with a false bottom that could be used to hide illegal contraband; and a loaded firearm in the bedroom. A search of Williams’s car revealed cocaine and cannabis. After being arrested and read his Miranda rights, Williams admitted to selling cocaine for the past five years and described his history of drug dealing. Williams indicated that the firearm seized in the residence was for protection because, on one occasion, Williams was involved in a situation in which someone had kicked in his door.

B. Trial Proceedings

A federal grand jury indicated Williams for: (1) conspiracy to distribute and to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), (b)(l)(B)(ii), 846 (“Count One”); (2) distribution of a mixture and substance containing cocaine, on or about April 28, 2006, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(C) (“Count Two”); (3) distribution of a mixture and substance containing cocaine, on or about June 16, 2006, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § § 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(C) (“Count Three”); (4) possession with the intent to distribute marijuana and a mixture and substance containing cocaine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(B), (b)(1)(C) (“Count *283 Four”); (5) possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g), 924(a)(2) (“Count Five”); and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1) (“Count Six”). Williams pled not guilty. At a pretrial conference, the government’s counsel indicated that he had already provided defense counsel with Jencks Act material.

At trial, the government called Sean Wyman, a TPD vice-narcotics officer and the case agent in the Williams investigation. Wyman explained how TPD learned through an informant that a man known as “Mark” was dealing cocaine and later identified that man as Williams. Without objection, Wyman described the first controlled buy on April 19, 2006.

Williams’s counsel then requested, and the district court granted, permission to voir dire the witness. Defense counsel asked Wyman whether the informant was “wired” during the April 19 buy, and Wyman responded. affirmatively. Defense counsel asked whether Wyman would have the taped recordings for the April 19 buy, and Wyman indicated that he should. Defense counsel asked whether Williams had been charged with any offenses in relation to the April 19 buy. Wyman conceded that Williams had not been charged for this buy. Defense counsel questioned whether Wyman had testified truthfully as to the April 19 buy. Wyman reiterated that the informant purchased cocaine from Williams on April 19.

Defense counsel then objected to Wyman’s testimony on relevance grounds only. The district court overruled the objection, and the government continued its examination of Wyman. Wyman described the second and third controlled buys and identified government exhibits consisting of taped recordings of telephone conversations with Williams attempting to set up the controlled buys and of the first and second controlled buys themselves. Wyman described the search of Williams’s residence and car and Williams’s post-arrest statement.

During cross-examination, Wyman admitted that, although he had documented the April 19 controlled buy, he had not included that transaction in the other reports he had prepared as part of the Williams investigation, as follows:

Q: Let me ask you something. This April 19th drug deal that you say that you got this three and a half ounce— grams of cocaine from Mr. Williams from Mr. Rowan, you did a 21-page report, correct?
A: Yes.
Q: You did an 8-page report, correct?
A: Yes, ma’am.
Q: And there is a lot of supplemental, correct?
A: Yes, ma’am.
Q: Where do you mention anywhere the April 19th drug deal ever happening?
A: Ma’am, I didn’t mention it. I do have it documented, but it’s not documented in the report.
Q: Okay. Now, it’s not documented in the report anywhere?
A: Not in the report.

Defense counsel asked Wyman why the April 19 buy had not been mentioned before in discovery, and Wyman indicated that he did not handle discovery, but that he had documentation with him on the April 19 transaction, as follows:

Q: My question is this:
[Williams has] not been charged with this April 19th drug sale; it never has been mentioned before today; no dope has been seen before today, at least as far as discovery is concerned. So, all of *284 a sudden today you come in with this dope that he made a sale on correct? A: No, ma’am. As far as discovery and all of that, I can’t answer that. I don’t handle the discovery between you guys.
Q: Right.
A: The deal happened. I do have it documented. I do keep records of the money that was spent. I have a piece of paper right here that actually has the information, the time, the date, who was involved. The reason why it’s not documented in the report, which I believe is what you’re trying to get to, if I can explain that—
Q: Well, you can explain it to [the government’s counsel] on [redirect]. I’m sure he’s going to ask you.

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Bluebook (online)
259 F. App'x 281, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-marcolynn-germaine-williams-ca11-2007.