United States v. Scozzafava

833 F. Supp. 203, 1993 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 17855, 1993 WL 393019
CourtDistrict Court, W.D. New York
DecidedSeptember 22, 1993
Docket1:92-cr-00070
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 833 F. Supp. 203 (United States v. Scozzafava) 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. Scozzafava, 833 F. Supp. 203, 1993 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 17855, 1993 WL 393019 (W.D.N.Y. 1993).

Opinion

ORDER

ARCARA, District Judge.

■INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

The above captioned cases were referred to Magistrate Judge Leslie G. Foschio, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). Indictment 92-CR-70A charges defendants Louis Scoz-zafava and Mvin Rhoney with devising a scheme to defraud and obtain monies from the Niagara County Department of Social Services and, in furtherance of said scheme, using the Postal Service in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1341. Indictment 92-CR-237A charges defendant Scozzafava with one count of accepting a bribe in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 666(a)(1)(B). Below is a brief summary of the proceedings in these actions relative to the matters presently before the Court.

On June 8, 1992, in Indictment 92-CR-70A, defendants moved for discovery under 18 U.S.C. § 2518(8)(d) and Fed.R.Crim.P. 16 of certain information obtained on wiretaps of John Gross and Arthur Curcione. On July 31, 1992, Magistrate Judge Foschio denied defendants’ requests for these wiretaps. On August 6,1992, Scozzafava filed objections to the Magistrate Judge’s decision and Magistrate Judge Foschio considered the objections as a motion to reconsider. On October 22, 1992, Magistrate Judge Foschio directed the government to file an in camera affidavit with respect to the wiretap material.

On November 25, 1992, Magistrate Judge Foschio filed a Memorandum and Order denying Scozzafava’s motion with respect to the Gross wiretap but did not address the Cur-cione wiretap. On December 3,1992, Scozza-fava filed objections with the Court to the November 25,1992 Memorandum and Order.

On December 8, 1992, in Indictment 92-CR-70A, Scozzafava filed an additional motion seeking suppression of statements of the defendant based on a purported violation of Disciplinary Rule (“DR”) 7-104(A)(l) by an Assistant United States Attorney, severance from codefendant Rhoney pursuant to Fed. R.Crim.P. 14, and an order excluding any evidence pursuant to Fed.R.Evid. 404(b). Rhoney joined in these motions by letter dated January 22, 1993.

On January 12, 1993, in Indictment 92-CR-237A, Scozzafava moved for a bill of particulars, disclosure of Fed.R.Evid. 404(b) evidence, and Brady material. On January 25,1993, the government filed a bill of particulars and a response to Scozzafava’s motions. On February 1,1993, Scozzafava filed a reply memorandum seeking further particularization and a schedule for disclosure of Brady material similar to the schedule which had been previously ordered in Indictment 92-CR-70A.

On January 14, 1993, Scozzafava moved this Court for a de novo determination of his request for disclosure of wiretap material pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 2518(8)(d).

On June 24, 1993, Magistrate Judge Fos-chio filed a Decision and Order denying the motion for disclosure of the Curcione wiretaps, the severance motion, the motion for further particularization, the motion for suppression of Rule 404(b) material with leave to renew at or prior to trial, and setting a schedule for disclosure of Rule 404(b) Brady material. Magistrate Judge Foschio also filed a Report and Recommendation on the same date recommending denying Scozzafa-va’s suppression motion with regard to the *205 statements allegedly obtained in violation of DR 7-104(A)(l) by the government.

On July 2,1993, this Court filed a Decision and Order finding that Magistrate Judge Foschio’s November 25, 1992 Memorandum and Order was neither clearly erroneous nor contrary to law. The Court also denied Scozzafava’s motion for disclosure of wiretap material pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 2518(8)(d) based in part on the government’s representation that it would disclose all recorded Scozzafava intercepted conversations.

On July 6,1993, Scozzafava filed objections to Magistrate Judge Foschio’s June 24, 1993 Report and Recommendation. On July 7, 1993, Scozzafava filed objections to Magistrate Judge Foschio’s June 24, 1993 Decision and Order. Specifically, Scozzafava objected to the Decision and Order insofar as it denied disclosure of the Curcione wiretap, the severance motion and the motion for further particularization. Scozzafava also renewed his motion for suppression of Rule 404(b) evidence. The Court held oral argument on the objections on August 10 and 26,1993. At the August 26,1993 oral argument, Scozzafa-va withdrew his objection regarding the Cur-cione wiretap in light of the Court’s July 2, 1993 Decision and Order. Scozzafava also withdrew his motion for suppression of Rule 404(b) evidence subject to renewal at the time of the final pretrial conference.

DISCUSSION

I. Objections to Report and Recommendation

Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1), this Court has made a de novo review of the June 24, 1993 Report and Recommendation, and after reviewing the submissions and hearing oral argument related to the suppression motion, the Court adopts the Report and Recommendation. Accordingly, for the reasons stated by Magistrate Judge Foschio, the Court denies Scozzafava’s suppression motion and finds the government has not violated DR 7-104(A)(l).

II. Objections to Decision and Order

Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(A), the district court “may reconsider any pretrial matter under this subparagraph (A), where it has been shown that the magistrate’s order is clearly erroneous or contrary to law.”

Having carefully reviewed the submissions of the parties, and Magistrate Judge Fos-ehio’s June 24,1993 Decision and Order as it relates to the severance motion and the bill of particulars, and having heard oral argument from counsel, the Court finds that the June 24, 1993 Decision and Order was neither clearly erroneous nor contrary to law.

CONCLUSION

For the reasons stated by Magistrate Judge Foschio, the Court finds there to have been no violation of DR-7-104(A)(l), and accordingly adopts his recommendation to deny defendant’s suppression motion. The Court further finds that Magistrate Judge Fos-chio’s June 24, 1993 Decision and Order was neither clearly erroneous nor contrary to law.

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Bluebook (online)
833 F. Supp. 203, 1993 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 17855, 1993 WL 393019, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-scozzafava-nywd-1993.