United States v. Sliwa

109 F. Supp. 3d 360, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 75131, 2015 WL 3617121
CourtDistrict Court, D. Massachusetts
DecidedJune 10, 2015
DocketCriminal No. 13 CR: 40019-TSH
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 109 F. Supp. 3d 360 (United States v. Sliwa) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Massachusetts primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Sliwa, 109 F. Supp. 3d 360, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 75131, 2015 WL 3617121 (D. Mass. 2015).

Opinion

FINDINGS AND ORDER ON DEFENDANT’S MOTION FOR FRANKS HEARING AND TO SUPPRESS EVIDENCE

TIMOTHY S. HILLMAN, District Judge.

Introduction

The Defendant Eric Sliwa has moved to suppress from the introduction into evidence against him at trial, evidence seized pursuant to five search and seizure warrants issued on June 22, 2012. He assigns as reason for the suppression that the evidence was seized in violation of his right against unreasonable searches and seizures under the Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution. Alternatively he seeks a hearing to challenge the truthfulness of statements made in the affidavit in support of the application for the search warrant. He alleges that the statements were knowingly and intentionally false or were made with reckless disregard for their truth. He argues that the false statements were material to the finding of probable cause by the issuing magistrate. For the reasons set forth below that motion is denied.

Background

On June 22, 2012 Chief Magistrate Judge Leo T. Sorokin signed warrants authorizing the search and seizure of evidence from the defendant’s home in Berlin, Massachusetts, and from safe deposits boxes from banks in Worcester and Leo-minster Massachusetts. In addition, Judge Sorokin authorized the seizures of a 2008 Ducati motorcycle, and a 2007 Ford Pickup Truck.

On August 28, 2013 the defendant was charged in a thirty-four count indictment with Conspiring to Distribute Marijuana (Count # 1); Concealment Money Laundering (Counts # 2 thru 22); Transactional Money Laundering (Counts # 23 Thru 30); Filing False Tax Returns (Counts #31 thru 33); and Obstruction of Internal Revenue Laws for the Filing of False Tax Returns (Count # 34).

Standard of Review and Burden of Proof

“A warrant application must demonstrate probable cause to believe that (1) a crime has been committed ... and (2) enumerated evidence of the offense will be found at the place to be searched.” United States v. Ribeiro, 397 F.3d 43, 48 (1st Cir.2005) citing United States v. Feliz, 182 F.3d 82, 86 (1st Cir.1999). When a defendant challenges the legality of a search warrant, that defendant must show by a preponderance of the evidence that the warrant was unlawful. United States v. Legault, 323 F.Supp.2d 217, 220 (D.Mass.2004). A reviewing court determines whether, based on a practical, commonsense assessment of all the facts and cir[363]*363eumstances set forth in the affidavit, the magistrate had a substantial basis for concluding that there was probable cause to issue the warrant. Illinois v. Gates, 462 U.S. 213, 238-39, 103 S.Ct. 2317, 76 L.Ed.2d 527 (1983). In so doing, the court accords considerable deference to the magistrate’s finding of probable cause. Feliz, 182 F.3d at 86.

A court ordinarily limits its inquiry to the four corners of the supporting affidavit, which is afforded a presumption of validity. United States v. Tanguay, 787 F.3d 44, 53 (1st Cir.2015) (four corners); United States v. Tzannos, 460 F.3d 128, 136 (1st Cir.2006) (presumption of validity); Franks v. Delaware, 438 U.S. 154, 171, 98 S.Ct. 2674, 57 L.Ed.2d 667 (1978) (same). However, if a defendant makes a substantial showing that the affiant (1) knowingly, or with reckless disregard for the truth (2) included a false statement in the warrant affidavit (3) that was necessary for the finding of probable cause, then the defendant is entitled to an evidentiary hearing to test the validity of the affidavit. Tanguay, 787 F.3d at 48-49; Franks, 438 U.S. at 155-56, 98 S.Ct. 2674. Material omissions from an affidavit may also provide a basis for a hearing if those omissions were intentional or reckless and the inclusion of the oipitted information would preclude a finding of probable cause. Tanguay, 787 F.3d at 48-49; United States v. Castillo, 287 F.3d 21, 25 (1st Cir.2002). The burden is on the defendant to make these showings by a preponderance of the evidence, and. to demonstrate that setting aside the false information (or including the omitted information) would render the affidavit incapable of supporting probable cause. Tzannos, 460 F.3d at 136; Franks, 438 U.S. at 156, 98 S.Ct. 2674. The defendant may only put the truthfulness of the affiant at issue, and may not challenge the truthfulness of a tipster or any other private informant. United States v. D'Andrea, 648 F.3d 1, 13 (1st Cir.2011).

Discussion

Sliwa argues that IRS agent James Formica made false statements knowingly, intentionally, or with reckless disregard for their truth in his omnibus affidavit in support of the application for the five search and seizure warrants. Specifically, he argues that Formica made no effort to insure that confidential witnesses # 1 and # 2 (“CW” 1) and (“CW” 2) were reliable. Agent Formica represented that CW 1 claimed that Sliwa had been identified in a February, 2008 investigation conducted by the Burlington, Vermont office of the Drug Enforcement Agency. CW 1 also said that he was involved in marijuana transactions with Sliwa and a Canadian supplier, “until just prior to CW l’s arrest, in July of 2007.” CW 1 also claims to have obtained marijuana from Sliwa’s Princeton, Massachusetts home on 10 to 20 occasions prior to CW l’s arrest and that an unidentified associate of his had helped “establish a straw business for Sliwa to send monies out of the United States.” As for CW2, he was arrested on drug charges in New Jersey, and subsequently became an informant for the government. He provided details of a marijuana-distribution conspiracy with Sliwa during a period in the early 20Q0’s.

Sliwa posits that the affidavit is deliberately misleading because Formica never spoke to CW 1 or that any agent who interviewed him found him credible. Sliwa suggests that Formica recited CW l’s information wholesale from, his February 1, 2008 DEA proffer report. Sliwa argues that Formica should have disclosed that he had never spoken to CW 1, and that Formica did not have any information as to whether this historical information was [364]*364ever reliable. Sliwa further argues that Formica made uncorroborated statements regarding CW2’s reliability, that Formica overstated his familiarity with CW2, and that greater investigation would have cast a pall over CW2’s statements. Finally, he argues that CW2’s information was stale. Sliwa suggests that these omissions and inclusions reflect a reckless disregard for the truth.

“To prove reckless disregard for the truth, the defendant must prove that the affiant in fact entertained serious doubts as to the truth of the allegations. Recklessness may be inferred from circumstances evincing obvious reasons to doubt the veracity of the allegations.” United States v. Ranney, 298 F.3d 74, 78 (1st Cir.2002) (quoting

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Bluebook (online)
109 F. Supp. 3d 360, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 75131, 2015 WL 3617121, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-sliwa-mad-2015.