United States v. Michael Chance

277 F. App'x 941
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
DecidedMay 15, 2008
Docket07-12446
StatusUnpublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 277 F. App'x 941 (United States v. Michael Chance) 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. Michael Chance, 277 F. App'x 941 (11th Cir. 2008).

Opinion

PER CURIAM:

Michael Chance appeals his convictions for robbery of a bank by use of a firearm, 18 U.S.C. § 2113(a), (d), attempted robbery in violation of the Hobbs Act, 18 U.S.C. § 1951(a), two counts of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(l)(A)(ii), and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1), 924(e). Chance argues that the district court erred when it denied his motions for a judgment of acquittal and mistrial. We affirm.

I. BACKGROUND

Chance entered the CVS pharmacy store in Coconut Creek, Florida, and approached clerk Francisco Gonzales. Chance asked to purchase cigarettes and, when Gonzales returned to the register, Chance withdrew a gun from the waistband of his pants, explained that it was not a toy, ejected a bullet on the counter, and instructed Gonzales that he had a few seconds to “give [Chance] the money.” Gonzales was unable to recall the code to open his register, and Chance left empty-handed.

Chance next drove to the Washington Mutual Bank in Boca Raton, Florida, and approached teller Patricia DeMarco. Chance told DeMarco, “[n]o dye packs and don’t set off the alarm,” then placed a gun on the counter and rested his finger on the trigger. DeMarco, who was “petrified,” stacked increments of $1, $5, and $100 bills on the counter. DeMarco left without incident.

The next day, DeMarco identified Chance in a photographic line-up. Special Agent John MacVeigh of the Federal Bureau of Investigation reviewed photographs printed from the surveillance camera inside the bank and recognized the individual as Chance. Chance’s brother, Ray Chance, also identified Chance as the robber.

Special Agent Roger Higgins of the Federal Bureau of Investigation identified Chance from the surveillance video of the CVS store. Detective Kevin Vernetti compiled a photo array that included a picture of Chance for Gonzales to examine. Gonzales identified Chance in “a few seconds.”

A federal grand jury indicted Chance for robbery of the Washington Mutual Bank by use of a firearm, 18 U.S.C. § 2113(a), (d); attempted robbery of a CVS Pharmacy in violation of the Hobbs Act, 18 U.S.C. § 1951(a); two counts of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(ii); possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1), 924(e); and possession of a stolen firearm, 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(j), 924(a)(2). Before trial, the parties stipulated that Chance had been convicted previously of a felony offense.

At trial, Vernetti stated that he prepared a photo array for Gonzales to review and stated that he used a prison photograph of Chance. Chance objected and moved to strike Vernetti’s testimony. The district court granted the motion, directed the jury to “disregard the last response,” and instructed the jury to “limit” the information that it considered “to what the detective himself did.” Chance “reserve[d] a motion to make later.”

*944 Vernetti also testified that he might have told Gonzales that the suspect had been arrested. Vernetti testified that he did not identify the suspect, and Vernetti did not tell Gonzales there was a photograph of the suspect in the array.

Chance moved for a mistrial because Vernetti said that Gonzales was in prison and the photographic lineup was unduly suggestive. The district court denied the motion. The district court ruled that mentioning the word “prison” was not unduly prejudicial and had been cured by an instruction to the jury. The district court acknowledged that Vernetti’s statements to Gonzales about the photo array were a “deviation from the norm,” but ruled that the remarks did not affect the pre-trial identification.

Brian Ray testified that his Beretta .40 caliber pistol had been stolen from his home. After an investigator left his house, Ray discovered that a check had been removed from his checkbook. A copy of the check showed that it had been made payable to Chance. On cross-examination, Ray denied that he had used drugs or allowed anyone to use drugs in his home.

To impeach Ray, Chance called Shannon Wallace, Chance’s niece. Wallace testified that she had used cocaine with Ray and observed Ray smoke crack cocaine in his home. Special Agent Roger Higgins testified in rebuttal that Ray did not have any prior convictions for drug-related crimes, but Ray might have mentioned that he had smoked crack cocaine in the past.

Chance moved for a mistrial and argued that the government failed to disclose information about Ray’s drug use. The district court denied the motion. The district court ruled that defense counsel had impeached Ray and the jury could resolve the contradictions in the testimony. The jury acquitted Chance on the charge of possession of a stolen firearm, but convicted him on the remaining counts of the indictment.

II. STANDARD OF REVIEW

We review de novo the sufficiency of the evidence and view the evidence in the light most favorable to the government. United States v. Martinez, 83 F.3d 371, 373-74 (11th Cir.1996). We review the denial of a mistrial for an abuse of discretion. United States v. Diaz, 248 F.3d 1065, 1101 (11th Cir.2001).

III. DISCUSSION

Chance makes two arguments on appeal. First, Chance challenges the sufficiency of the evidence to support his convictions for armed robbery of a bank, attempted robbery, and brandishing a firearm during crimes of violence. Second, Chance challenges the denial of his motions for a mistrial.

A. The Government Introduced Sufficient Evidence to Support Chance’s Convictions.

Chance challenges his convictions on three grounds. First, Chance argues that the government failed to present sufficient evidence to support his convictions for bank robbery and the attempted robbery of the CVS Pharmacy. Second, Chance contends that the government did not establish that he intimidated the bank teller. Third, Chance contends that the government did not establish that he “brandished” a firearm during the robberies. These arguments fail.

A reasonable jury could find that the government presented sufficient evidence that Chance robbed a bank using a firearm. 18 U.S.C.

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Bluebook (online)
277 F. App'x 941, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-michael-chance-ca11-2008.