United States v. Rafael Ubieta

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
• Decided: January 9, 2018
• Docket: 16-14811
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

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[DO NOT PUBLISH]

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT ________________________

No. 16-14810 Non-Argument Calendar ________________________

D.C. Docket No. 1:12-cr-20423-KMM-1

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Plaintiff - Appellee,

versus

ANGEL BARROSO,

Defendant - Appellant.

________________________

No. 16-14811 Non-Argument Calendar ________________________

D.C. Docket No. 1:12-cr-20423-KMM-4

versus Case: 16-14810 Date Filed: 01/09/2018 Page: 2 of 13

RAFAEL UBIETA,

Defendant - Appellant. ________________________

Appeals from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida ________________________

(January 9, 2018)

Before MARTIN, JORDAN, and JILL PRYOR, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:

After being found guilty by a jury of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit

wire fraud, Angel Barroso and Rafael Ubieta appealed their convictions and

sentences. We affirmed. See United States v. Ubieta, 630 F. App’x 964 (11th Cir.

2015). The defendants then filed a motion for a new trial in the district court

pursuant to Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 33(b)(1), alleging that they had

uncovered new evidence pertaining to two of the government’s witnesses that

would likely have led to a different result if it had been produced to them before

trial. They also asserted that the government had committed Brady1 and Giglio2

violations which warranted a new trial, and sought an evidentiary hearing to

determine the effect of the information that had allegedly been withheld from

1 Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83 (1963). 2 Giglio v. United States, 405 U.S. 150 (1972). 2 Case: 16-14810 Date Filed: 01/09/2018 Page: 3 of 13

them. The district court, however, found the defendants’ arguments to be without

merit. We agree, and affirm.

I

The facts of the case are amply laid out in our opinion on direct appeal. See

Ubieta, 630 F. App’x at 968-81. We limit the present discussion of the facts to

those relevant to the present appeal.

In January of 2013, following a week-long trial, Mr. Barroso and Mr. Ubieta

were convicted of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, in violation of

18 U.S.C. §§ 1343 and 1349, and were sentenced to 210 and 240-month prison

terms, respectively. The fraudulent scheme involved the use of straw purchasers to

submit false mortgage loan applications to secure financing, take title to residential

properties, and improperly use and disburse mortgage loan proceeds for

unapproved purposes.

One of the witnesses for the government, Julio Diaz, had previously pled

guilty to fraud and had served a 14-month prison term for his involvement with

Mr. Barroso relating to the purchase of a different property in 2006. Mr. Diaz

testified at the trial of Mr. Barroso and Mr. Ubieta, however, that he did not

knowingly purchase any other properties under this type of scheme. The

government produced evidence that someone posing as Mr. Diaz purchased a

property at 185 SW 7th Street (the “7th Street” property), and the government

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portrayed Mr. Diaz as an unwitting victim of the defendants’ fraudulent scheme as

to this property, rather than as a knowing participant. This contrasted with the

superseding indictment, which alleged that Mr. Diaz acted as a straw buyer and

allowed his identity and credit to be used for the purchase of the property. The

government stated that its investigation revealed, post-indictment, that Mr. Diaz

was in fact not a knowing participant in the fraudulent scheme.

We addressed this issue in the direct appeal, concluding that there had been

no constructive amendment or variance to the indictment. We also noted that,

“[r]egardless of whether [Mr.] Diaz was a consenting straw buyer who agreed to

purchase the property at 185 SW 7th Street – as alleged in the indictment – or a

victim of identity theft – as he and the government argued at trial – the essential

elements of wire fraud and conspiracy were unchanged.” Id. at 980.

The defendants maintain that they discovered new evidence showing that a

home equity line of credit (“HELOC”) was taken out in Mr. Diaz’s name on this

property in January 2008, and that this newly discovered evidence demonstrates

that Mr. Diaz’s testimony at trial – that he was an unwitting victim of the fraud – is

false. They argue that this new evidence was undoubtedly known to the

government, that the government withheld this information from them, and that

under Brady and Giglio, they are entitled to a new trial.

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A second government witness, William Hartnett, a co-conspirator who

cooperated with the government, testified that he was at the closing for the 7th

Street property and that Mr. Ubieta gave him instructions on how to handle the

loan proceeds. He also testified that he paid Jose Martinez, the son-in-law of the

seller of the 7th Street property, a $30,000 commission in connection with that

transaction. The defendants claim that newly discovered evidence shows that Mr.

Martinez attended the 7th Street property closing, that Mr. Ubieta may not have

attended the closing, and that Mr. Martinez stated in a pre-trial interview that the

$30,000 he received was a loan (not a commission). They assert that this evidence

also establishes Brady and Giglio violations and warrants a new trial.

II

We review the denial of a motion for a new trial based on newly discovered

evidence for an abuse of discretion. See United States v. Vallejo, 297 F.3d 1154,

1163 (11th Cir. 2002). We review alleged Brady or Giglio violations de novo, see

United States v. Stein, 846 F.3d 1135, 1145 (11th Cir. 2017), petition for cert. filed,

no. 17-250 (Aug. 14, 2017), but we review the denial of a motion for a new trial

based on these alleged Brady or Giglio violations for an abuse of discretion. See id.

Finally, we also review the district court’s denial of an evidentiary hearing for an

abuse of discretion. See United States v. Sweat, 555 F.3d 1364, 1368 (11th Cir.

2008). An evidentiary hearing is not required where the record contains all the

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evidence needed to dispose of each of the grounds asserted as a basis for a new

trial. See United States v. Scrushy, 721 F.3d 1288, 1305 n.30 (11th Cir. 2013).

Motions for a new trial based on newly discovered evidence are highly

disfavored and should be granted only with great caution. See United States v.

Campa, 459 F.3d 1121, 1151 (11th Cir. 2006). The defendants bear the burden of

justifying a new trial. See id.

In order to succeed on a motion for a new trial based on newly discovered

evidence, the defendants must show that (1) the evidence was in fact discovered

only after trial; (2) their failure to discover the evidence was not due to a lack of

due diligence; (3) the evidence is not merely cumulative or impeaching; (4) the

evidence is material to issues before the court; and (5) the evidence is such that a

new trial would probably produce a different result. See United States v. Barsoum,

763 F.3d 1321, 1341 (11th Cir. 2014). Failure to show any one of these elements is

fatal to a motion for a new trial. See United States v. Starrett, 55 F.3d 1525, 1554

(11th Cir. 1995).

These elements are identical to those required to succeed on a motion for a

new trial based on newly discovered evidence in a civil trial under Federal Rule of

Civil Procedure 60(b)(2). See Scutieri v. Paige, 808 F.2d 785, 793 (11th Cir.

1987). In that context, we have held that evidence contained in public records at

the time of trial cannot be considered newly discovered evidence. See id. at 794.

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Similarly, the former Fifth Circuit has previously determined in a criminal case

that evidence contained in the public records at the time of trial could be

discovered by due diligence, and thus did not warrant a new trial. See Green,

Moore & Co. v. United States, 19 F.2d 130, 131 (5th Cir. 1927). 3

Under Brady, the suppression by the prosecution of evidence favorable to

the defense violates the defendant’s due process rights where the evidence is

material either to guilt or punishment, irrespective of the good or bad faith of the

prosecution. See Brady, 373 U.S. at 87. Evidence is favorable to the accused for

Brady purposes if it is exculpatory or impeaching. See United States v. Naranjo,

634 F.3d 1198, 1212 (11th Cir. 2011). Brady evidence is material “if there is a

reasonable probability that, had the evidence been disclosed to the defense, the

result of the proceeding would have been different.” United States v. Bagley, 473

U.S. 667, 682 (1985). The burden to establish a Brady violation lies with the

defendant. See United States v. Esquenazi, 752 F.3d 912, 933 (11th Cir. 2014).

And the government is not obliged to provide a defendant with information he

already has or could obtain with any reasonable diligence. See Stein, 846 F.3d at

1146.

To establish a violation under Brady, a defendant must show that (1) the

government possessed evidence favorable to him; (2) he did not possess the

3 Decisions of the former Fifth Circuit prior to October 1, 1981 are binding precedent in this Circuit. See Bonner v. City of Prichard, 661 F.2d 1206, 1209 (11th Cir. 1981) (en banc). 7 Case: 16-14810 Date Filed: 01/09/2018 Page: 8 of 13

evidence and could not obtain the evidence with any reasonable diligence; (3) the

prosecution suppressed the favorable evidence; and (4) had the evidence been

disclosed to him, there is a reasonably probability the outcome would have been

different. See Vallejo, 297 F.3d at 1164.

Giglio defines a specific subset of Brady violations. See Ford v. Hall, 546

F.3d 1326, 1331 (11th Cir. 2008). Giglio error occurs when the undisclosed

evidence demonstrates that the prosecution used perjured testimony in its case, and

that the prosecution either knew or should have known of the perjury. See id. To

succeed on a Giglio claim, the defendant must demonstrate that the prosecutor

knowingly used perjured testimony, or failed to correct what he subsequently

learned was false testimony, and that the falsehood was material. See Vallejo, 297

F.3d at 1163-64. The materiality element is satisfied “if the false testimony could

in any reasonably likelihood have affected the judgment of the jury.” Giglio, 405

U.S. at 154. See also Ford, 546 F.3d at 1332.

III

The district court found no merit in any of the defendants’ arguments. Nor

do we. Neither the evidence relating to Mr. Diaz nor the evidence relating to Mr.

Hartnett establish a Brady or a Giglio violation or warrant a new trial.

First, none of the evidence can be considered newly discovered. The

HELOC taken out in Mr. Diaz’s name was available on the public website for the

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Miami-Dade Clerk of Courts, and the defendants “discovered” the evidence during

a post-trial public records search. As illustrated by Green, Moore & Co. and

Scutieri, we do not consider evidence available in the public records to be newly

discovered. See Green, Moore & Co., 19 F.2d at 131; Scutieri, 808 F.2d at 793.

The defendants assert that they had no need to conduct such a search because they

believed Mr. Diaz would be presented as a willing participant in the fraud. But that

is not accurate. Ten days prior to the start of the trial, the government provided to

the defendants a report of an interview with Mr. Diaz detailing his claim that he

had no knowledge of the purchase of any property in his name. That report

provided evidentiary support for Mr. Diaz’s contention that he was the victim of

identity theft. Additionally, five days before trial, Mr. Barroso filed a motion in

limine that expressly acknowledged Mr. Diaz’s claims. And the government’s

opposition to that motion in limine set forth its position and the evidentiary support

underlying it. Thus, the defendants knew well ahead of time that Mr. Diaz would

not be presented by the government as a willing participant in the fraud.

Likewise, the interview in which Mr. Hartnett claimed that the $30,000 was

a loan, not a commission, was provided to the defense during discovery. And

although the defendants present Mr. Martinez’s presence at the 7th Street closing

as newly discovered evidence, it is exactly what Mr. Hartnett testified to during

trial. The defendants’ assertions to the contrary simply are not valid. And though

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the defendants claim that post-trial discoveries show that Mr. Ubieta may not have

attended the closing, they provide no such “newly discovered evidence” showing

that he did not in fact attend the closing. The district court did not abuse its

discretion in denying a new trial based on this unsubstantiated claim.

Second, and related to the first prong, all of the evidence the defendants

claim is newly discovered could have, and should have, been discovered through

due diligence. For example, even a cursory review of the public records would

have revealed the existence of Mr. Diaz’s HELOC.

Third, even if the evidence were new, and undiscoverable with due

diligence, none of it actually refutes any of the evidence of guilt produced at trial.

Even if it is true that Mr. Diaz took out the HELOC on the 7th Street property, it

does not contradict his testimony that he was unaware that his identity was

unlawfully used to purchase the property. And even if the defendants could show

that the HELOC directly related to the purchase and closing, the only effect would

be to impeach Mr. Diaz’s testimony that he was an unwitting victim. But as we

said in the direct appeal, “the essential elements of wire fraud and conspiracy

[remain] unchanged.” Ubieta, 630 F. App’x at 980. Thus, none of the “newly

discovered evidence” undermines the jury’s findings of guilt, and it cannot survive

the third prong’s requirement that the evidence be more than simply cumulative or

impeaching. As for Mr. Hartnett’s testimony, the defendants have failed to even

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provide any newly discovered evidence, much less show that it is not just

cumulative or impeaching.

Fourth, none of the evidence goes to issues material to the defendants’ guilt

or innocence. Whether or not Mr. Martinez or Mr. Ubieta attended the 7th Street

property closing, whether or not Mr. Diaz took out a HELOC on the property, and

whether or not the $30,000 that Mr. Hartnett gave to Mr. Martinez was a loan or a

commission, the fraudulent nature of the entire scheme was attested to by

numerous witnesses, involved numerous purchases of property, and was proven by

a substantial volume of evidence. This “newly discovered evidence” does not

affect that evidence of guilt.

Finally, given the overwhelming evidence of the defendants’ guilt regarding

the entire scheme, as described in detail in the direct appeal, there is no probability

that a new trial would produce a different result. As the district court stated, the

“[d]efendants’ argument that the Government’s case would crumble without Diaz’s

testimony is rendered impuissant by the overwhelming evidence of Defendants’

guilt.” United States v. Ubieta, 2016 WL 8715673, at *2 (S.D. Fla. June 17, 2016).

IV

The defendants’ claims of Brady and Giglio violations do not fare any better.

In addition to the HELOC being publicly available and discoverable with any due

diligence, which by itself dooms the Brady claim, there is no evidence the

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government possessed that information prior to trial, much less suppressed it. The

defendants argue that it is inconceivable that the government was not aware of it

before trial, but they claim they were unaware of it too. We note that the charged

conspiracy occurred between February and October 2007, and the HELOC was not

executed until January 2008, so it is not implausible that the government lacked

knowledge. The defendants have provided no evidence that the government in fact

had knowledge of the HELOC, and, as the district court recognized, it would strain

credulity to conclude that the government would withhold and suppress

information that was placed in a public records website which the defendants could

easily access.

Additionally, the defendants provide no evidence that any of Mr. Diaz’s or

Mr. Hartnett’s testimony is actually false. They provide evidence which, at best,

may call into question or impeach the credibility of each witness. But there is

nothing which approaches clear evidence of false testimony provided by a

government witness which could lead us to conclude that the government

knowingly presented, or failed to correct, perjured testimony. The defendants’

claims of Giglio violations fail.

V

The district court did not abuse its discretion in denying the defendants’

motion for a new trial based on newly discovered evidence, or on Brady or Giglio

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violations. It also did not abuse its discretion in denying the defendants an

evidentiary hearing. We therefore affirm.

AFFIRMED.