United States v. Parker

862 F. Supp. 988, 1994 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 17442, 1994 WL 534732
CourtDistrict Court, W.D. New York
DecidedJuly 18, 1994
DocketNo. 93-CR-333A
StatusPublished

This text of 862 F. Supp. 988 (United States v. Parker) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Parker, 862 F. Supp. 988, 1994 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 17442, 1994 WL 534732 (W.D.N.Y. 1994).

Opinion

ORDER

ARCARA, District Judge.

This case was referred to Magistrate Judge Carol E. Heckman pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1), on December 23, 1993. On January 19, 1994, defendant filed a motion to suppress evidence seized from her at the time of her arrest, as well as statements made following her arrest.

On March 29,1994, following a suppression hearing, Magistrate Judge Heckman filed a Report and Recommendation denying defendant’s motion to suppress. On June 1, 1994, defendant filed objections to the Magistrate Judge’s Report and Recommendation. This Court heard oral argument on defendant’s objections to the Report and Recommendation on July 11, 1994.

Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1), this Court must make a de novo determination of those portions of the Report and Recommendation to which objections have been made. Upon a de novo review of the Report and Recommendation, and after reviewing the submissions and hearing argument from the parties, the Court adopts the proposed findings of the Report and Recommendation.

Magistrate Judge Heckman made alternate findings regarding the defendant’s motion to suppress. The Magistrate Judge found that defendant’s initial encounter with the government agents and the initial search of defendant’s baggage were consensual. Alternatively, the Magistrate Judge found that [989]*989the agents’ initial stop and questioning of the defendant were supported by reasonable suspicion that the defendant was the travelling companion of a drug courier and that she was perhaps acting as the “mule.”

Because the Court adopts the Magistrate Judge’s finding that the agents’ initial encounter with the defendant and the search of her baggage were consensual, the Court does not consider whether the initial stop and search were supported by reasonable suspicion. Further, the Court adopts the Magistrate Judge’s finding that, once the agents asked defendant whether she was being used as a “mule” and she became evasive and her eyes began watering, there was, at that point, reasonable suspicion and the agents were justified in detaining defendant and her luggage for further investigation. Finally, the Court adopts the Magistrate Judge’s finding that, once the agents asked defendant where she was carrying the drugs and she pointed to her stomach area in response, the agents, at that point, had probable cause to believe the defendant was engaged in the criminal activity of carrying narcotics.

Accordingly, for the reasons set forth in Magistrate Judge Heckman’s Report and Recommendation, the Court denies defendant’s motion for suppression of the evidence seized from her at the time of her arrest, as well as statements made following her arrest.

IT IS ORDERED that this matter be referred back to Magistrate Judge Heckman for further proceedings.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION

HECKMAN, United States Magistrate Judge.

Defendant has moved to suppress evidence seized from her at the time of her arrest, as well as statements made following her arrest. A suppression hearing was held on February 14 and 15, 1994. For the reasons set forth below, defendant’s motion should be denied.

BACKGROUND

The first witness to testify was Paul Terra-nova, an investigator with the Erie County Sheriffs Department. Deputy Terranova testified that on November 4,1993, he was on duty at the airport in the upper concourse of the terminal servicing USAir. The DEA Task Force, of which he was a member, had previously received a tip about a subject who had taken an 8:30 a.m. flight to New York City that day and was carrying a large amount of cash. According to the tip, that subject was due to fly back into Buffalo at approximately 12:00 p.m. on a USAir Flight.

Deputy Terranova testified that the flight, was delayed and arrived at approximately 1:10 p.m. He and three other officers (Fry, Geraee and Capezola) observed the passengers getting off the plane. He observed a person meeting the physical description of the subject leaving the plane. A young black woman who was later identified as the defendant was walking alongside and a little bit to the rear of the subject. She was carrying a small baby. The two walked together for 15 to 20 feet, at which time the defendant sat down in a chair facing the wall. She was holding the baby, a diaper bag and a purse. The subject continued through the terminal. The defendant kept looking at the subject as he went through the concourse by turning around and looking over her shoulder.

After observing the defendant for several minutes, Deputy Terranova then went down to the lower concourse and talked to Agent Johnson. He learned that Geraee and Fry were talking to the male subject in the lower concourse, and that the subject was using an alias but had no cash and no drugs. Deputy Terranova felt that the defendant was acting suspiciously. She appeared nervous, she was sitting with her face toward a wall away from other people and she continued looking over her shoulder at the male suspect. He therefore returned to the upper concourse with Agent Torre. The defendant made eye contact with Terranova and Torre, who were approximately 20 to 30 feet away. She then got up to make a telephone call, which was very brief, and then went toward the exit of the upper concourse. Torre and Terranova followed the defendant. Terranova testified that she appeared nervous, looked over her shoulder, quickened and then slowed her [990]*990pace several times and averted her eyes from their watch. '

At the escalator,. Terranova approached the defendant. He showed the defendant his credentials. Torre was behind him. Terra-nova asked to speak to the defendant and she replied, “sure.” The group then came to a halt and a conversation ensued.

Deputy Terranova asked the defendant if she had just gotten off a flight from New York,City and she indicated that she had. He advised her that he was a narcotics officer looking for drugs entering the area from New York City. He asked if she would mind if he checked her bag and her purse. She indicated she would not mind and handed both to Deputy Terranova. He placed them on a chair and looked through them and found no drugs. Agent Torre then asked the defendant for identification. She produced a Florida driver’s license as identification, and an airplane ticket. The agents asked her about her travel plans. Deputy Terranova did not recall a specific answer. They then asked if she minded if they checked her luggage. She indicated she did not mind. Deputy Terranova then gave the claim check to Agent Torre and asked if it was okay to go get the bag and check it. She again stated that she did not mind. Torre turned ov.er the claim check to Gerace. Gerace went to get the bag. In a few minutes, he returned with a bag and asked for permission to look through it. She said, “Go ahead.” Agent Gerace then looked through the bag. During this time, the defendant sat down holding her baby.

After the suitcase was examined, Torre conversed with the defendant. Deputy Terranova did not hear this conversation. The defendant was then advised by Agent Torre that they were going back to the NFTA police office at the other terminal because Torre believed she was carrying drugs. The defendant began crying.

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Bluebook (online)
862 F. Supp. 988, 1994 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 17442, 1994 WL 534732, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-parker-nywd-1994.