United States v. Raymond Williams, United States of America v. Jerry Cunningham

46 F.3d 1148, 1995 U.S. App. LEXIS 7423
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
DecidedJanuary 11, 1995
Docket93-50151
StatusUnpublished

This text of 46 F.3d 1148 (United States v. Raymond Williams, United States of America v. Jerry Cunningham) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Ninth 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. Raymond Williams, United States of America v. Jerry Cunningham, 46 F.3d 1148, 1995 U.S. App. LEXIS 7423 (9th Cir. 1995).

Opinion

46 F.3d 1148

NOTICE: Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3 provides that dispositions other than opinions or orders designated for publication are not precedential and should not be cited except when relevant under the doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, or collateral estoppel.
UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee,
v.
Raymond WILLIAMS, Defendant-Appellant.
UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee,
v.
Jerry CUNNINGHAM, Defendant-Appellant.

Nos. 93-50151, 93-50427.

United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.

Argued and Submitted Oct. 4, 1994.*
Decided Jan. 11, 1995.

Before: FLETCHER, FERNANDEZ, Circuit Judges, and SEDWICK, District Judge.**

MEMORANDUM***

Jerry Cunningham and Raymond Williams, convicted of drug conspiracy and substantive drug counts, were both members of an eleven-person cocaine trafficking conspiracy. Williams appeals his sentence imposed after a guilty plea. Cunningham appeals his convictions based on jury verdicts. We affirm.

I. FACTS

In November 1988, the FBI and the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department ("LASD") began a joint investigation of a suspected cocaine trafficking organization operating out of Miracle Carpet Cleaners ("MCC") in Glendale, California. The investigators used undercover officers, informants, surveillance, pen registers, and toll records to obtain information concerning the drug trafficking activities of the conspiracy. However, they were not able to obtain information about the suppliers or the disposition of the drug proceeds.

In July 1989, the FBI agents decided it was necessary to obtain a wiretap on MCC's phone. The agents successfully obtained a wiretap warrant. In the following months, the agents intercepted telephone conversations in which Cunningham arranged to sell cocaine and discussed the business of the organization with several of his co-conspirators.

On September 29, 1989, FBI agents and LASD deputies executed search warrants for Cunningham's car and residence. They found almost one-third of a kilogram of cocaine in Cunningham's car, and five firearms and two pagers in his residence. In a Mirandized post-arrest statement, Cunningham admitted that he was a cocaine trafficker. Charges were brought against Williams, Cunningham, and nine other codefendants.

Williams pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to manufacture and distribute cocaine and cocaine base, 21 U.S.C. Secs. 846, 841(a)(1), and three counts of using a communication facility to commit a felony drug trafficking offense, 21 U.S.C. Sec. 843(b). Williams appeals his sentence pro se.

Cunningham was charged with one count of conspiring to manufacture and distribute cocaine and cocaine base, 21 U.S.C. Secs. 846, 841(a)(1), thirteen counts of distributing and possessing with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base, 21 U.S.C. Sec. 841(a)(1), and two counts of using a telephone to facilitate the distribution of cocaine, 21 U.S.C. Sec. 843(b). Before trial, Cunningham joined in motions to suppress wiretap evidence and evidence seized from his residence and car. These motions were denied. On November 5, 1990, a jury convicted Cunningham on all charges. This appeal followed.

II. CUNNINGHAM'S CLAIMS

A. Suppression of Wiretap Evidence

Cunningham argues that the district court erred in not suppressing the evidence gathered from the wiretap. Cunningham argues that the wiretap affidavit omitted material information and failed to demonstrate the requisite necessity. 18 U.S.C. Sec. 2518(3)(c). In United States v. Young, a memorandum opinion arising out of the appeal of codefendant Young, we addressed this issue and affirmed the district court's refusal to suppress the wiretap evidence admitted at trial. United States v. Young, No. 91-50197 (9th Cir. May 7, 1993). Jerry Cunningham also joined in this motion to suppress the wiretap evidence and was convicted, along with Young, at the same trial. Here, the law of the case governs. See United States v. Schaff, 948 F.2d 501, 506 (9th Cir.1991). We affirm the district court's ruling on the sufficiency of the wiretap affidavit.

On appeal, Cunningham also urges reversal on the ground that Special Agent Schwarz made a false oral statement to the district judge who authorized the wiretap. In United States v. Beckley, Nos. 91-50191 and 91-50297 (9th Cir. Oct. 6, 1993), a memorandum opinion arising out of the appeals of codefendants Beckley and Mozee, we addressed this argument and found that even assuming that the argument was properly preserved for appeal, it was without merit as Schwarz's allegedly false statement was not material to a finding of necessity. See United States v. Ippolito, 774 F.2d 1482, 1485 (9th Cir.1985).

On these facts, the law of the case established in Young and Beckley governs, and the district court's refusal to suppress the wiretap evidence is affirmed.

B. Suppression of Evidence Seized from Cunningham's Car and Residence

Cunningham argues that the district court erred in finding probable cause to issue search warrants for his car and residence. We review the determination of probable cause in a search warrant affidavit for clear error. United States v. Pitts, 6 F.3d 1366, 1368 (9th Cir.1993).

The record supports the district court's determination that probable cause existed to believe that evidence of cocaine trafficking would be found in Cunningham's residence and car. Schwarz was an experienced narcotics officer familiar with the methods of local cocaine dealers. United States v. Fannin, 817 F.2d 1379, 1381-82 (9th Cir.1987). The investigation had revealed that Cunningham was heavily involved in a drug trafficking organization and had used his car to transport drugs. Cunningham had stated on the wiretap, and a confidential informant confirmed, that he hid cocaine in his home. These facts support the district court's finding of probable cause to search Cunningham's car and house.

C. Motion to Dismiss for Brady Violation

Cunningham argues that the Government violated his rights under Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83 (1963), by failing to turn over information concerning an investigation of corruption within the LASD at a time when the information would be of value to him.

In a memorandum disposition deciding the appeal of codefendant Johnson, we affirmed the district court's refusal to grant a mistrial for this alleged Brady violation. United States v. Johnson, No. 91-50186 (9th Cir. May 7, 1993). Cunningham joined in the motion for a mistrial. They were convicted in the same trial.

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Related

Brady v. Maryland
373 U.S. 83 (Supreme Court, 1963)
United States v. Wilson
503 U.S. 329 (Supreme Court, 1992)
United States v. Sandra Clayton
588 F.2d 1288 (Ninth Circuit, 1979)
United States v. Larry W.G. Giddings
740 F.2d 770 (Ninth Circuit, 1984)
United States v. John Fannin
817 F.2d 1379 (Ninth Circuit, 1987)
William D. Dunne v. Gary L. Henman
875 F.2d 244 (Ninth Circuit, 1989)
United States v. Melvin Frank Schaff
948 F.2d 501 (Ninth Circuit, 1991)
United States v. Timothy Pitts
6 F.3d 1366 (Ninth Circuit, 1993)
United States v. Hernandez
608 F.2d 741 (Ninth Circuit, 1979)

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Bluebook (online)
46 F.3d 1148, 1995 U.S. App. LEXIS 7423, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-raymond-williams-united-states-of--ca9-1995.