United States v. URI AMMAR

237 F. Supp. 3d 1294, 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 31364, 2017 WL 887185
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. Florida
DecidedFebruary 22, 2017
DocketCASE NO. 11-CR-20613-KING
StatusPublished

This text of 237 F. Supp. 3d 1294 (United States v. URI AMMAR) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. Florida primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. URI AMMAR, 237 F. Supp. 3d 1294, 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 31364, 2017 WL 887185 (S.D. Fla. 2017).

Opinion

ORDER DISMISSING INDICTMENT WITHOUT PREJUDICE

JAMES LAWRENCE KING, UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

THIS .CAUSE comes before the Court upon Defendant URI AMMAR’s motion to dismiss the indictment with prejudice pursuant to the mandate of the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals for failure to comply with the Speedy Trial Act (the “Act”), 18 U.S.C. § 3161, and a motion by the Government to dismiss the indictment, but without prejudice. DE 479; DE 480. Both motions were filed on January 31, 2017.1 The Court heard oral argument on February 14,2017.

I. INTRODUCTION

Defendant seeks dismissal of the Superseding Indictment (DE 222) with prejudice based upon the failure to bring him to trial within the timeframe required by Act. In support of his motion, the defense relies heavily on its erroneous calculation of a 332-day violation of the Act and the prejudice Defendant claims to have suffered by the wrongful denial of his counsel of choice. The government concedes that this matter must be dismissed for failure to comply with the Act, but moved for a dismissal without prejudice.

II. RELEVANT PROCEDURAL HISTORY

A. The Indictment

On September 1, 2011, a federal grand jury in the Southern District of Florida [1296]*1296returned a three-count indictment charging Defendant and his co-conspirators Reginald Mitchell, Vladimir Louissant, Victoria Barkley, and Byron Kyler with Hobbs Act robbery, conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, and 'carrying and using a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, which resulted in the death of Alvaro Lopez Ramos, a Brinks security guard. DE 31. Defendant and his co-conspirators each entered pleas of “not. guilty” to the charges, contained in the indictment. DE 34; DE 35; DE 36; DE 39; DE 85.

B. The Scheduling Conference and the Scheduling Order

On September 13, 2011, the Court held a scheduling conference for the purpose of adjusting all scheduling conflicts among counsel and selecting a positive date for the trial of this matter. DE 32; DE 59; see also DE 362. At the scheduling conference, the Court raised the death penalty issue and questioned the government as to whether or not it intended to seek the death penalty in this case. DE 362 at 9. The government informed the Court that: 1) it had not yet made a determination with respect to the death penalty, 2) the decision-making process is a long one, and 3) the decision is- made out of the main Department of Justice office in Washington, D.C. Id. '

Based on the Court' and counsels’ previous experience with death penalty cases, concern over obtaining a carefully reasoned decision on this vital issue was discussed. Timely cooperation from defense counsel, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and the Attorney General at the Department of Justice was imperative. Id. at 9-14. While discussing the points. raised by the Court, learned counsel for Defendant Mitchell, Mr. Lena-mon,2 informed the Court that the lengthy death penalty decision-making process requires substantial investigation,' including examination by mental health experts, for the purpose of presenting mitigating factors, and defenses to aggravating factors, to the DOJ. Id. at 15-16. Mr. Handfleld, learned counsel for Defendant Barkley, echoed Mr. Lenamon’s' appraisal of the lengthiness of the process, stating, “I’ve never been in a [death penalty] trial and get the government to maintain a [death penalty] position in-less than a year in every single case I’ve had in the federal system. I have handled at least 20 federal death penalty cases,” Id. at 20.

Learned counsel for Defendant, William Matthewman,3 stated his belief the government would not seek the death penalty against his client based on his client’s role in the robbery, expressed his concern over his 'client’s pre-trial, detention, and advised the. Court that, -he would be unable to acquiesce to- a trial date one year hence if his client was to be in pre-trial detention the whole time.4 Id. at 21-22. The Court then.inquired of Mr. Matthewman whether [1297]*1297he anticipated filing a motion to sever his client and noted that the protracted DOJ death .penalty decision-making' process might be- grounds for such a motion. Id. at 23.- In response, Mr. Matthewman stated, “There are several severance issues on inconsistent defenses to the point where I believe it would be virtually impossible for this case to proceed with all Defendants tried together in a single trial. I know the courts, and especially Your Honor, are inclined not to want to sever.” Id. The Court then informed the parties that the Court often conducts severed trials where the circumstances require it. Id. at 23-24. Indeed, the Court stated, “Matter of fact, this might be a very good case to try about three of these people or four of these people on a severed situation ... if there is no death penalty involved.” Id. at' 24-25. Mr. Matthewman stated he could be ready for trial very quickly and reiterated that he' “cannot acquiesce to a [trial] date a year away,” Id. at 25.

Continuing the discussion of scheduling, the Court heard from counsel for Defendant Louissant, Assistant Federal Public Defenders Jan Smith and Eric Cohen,5 who informed the Court that: 1) counsel for clients charged with a crime punishable by the death penalty must treat the case as a death penalty case until a DOJ decision otherwise is made, 2) death penalty cases in this District often, require a year or more before trial while the .parties await a decision from the DOJ, 3) they would request five months to prepare their death penalty mitigation package for presentation to the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida; and 4) the Spencer Report to the Judicial Commission states that a defense counsel’s opportunity to present , a mitigation package is..a “critical stage” in death penalty proceedings and “it is essential that we be given the time to make our presentation to Washington.” Id. at '31-39. Based on these representations, and knowledge of the Court’s scheduling practices,6 counsel for Defendant Louis-sant asked that the Court refrain from setting a trial date at all until the DOJ rendered a death penalty decision. Id.; Id. at 40.

After hearing from counsel for Defendant Louissant, Mr, Matthewman urged the Court to.set a trial date in December of 2011, stating: “If that’s not possible, we would ask that Your Honor seriously consider reviewing the pre-trial detentipn order in this case upon a motion of the defense.” Id. at 41.

Counsel for Defendant Barkley, Mr. Pérez, also refocused the hearing on client release bn bond pending trial, stating: 1) he did not believe the government would seek the death' penalty against his client and he would request a trial' date sooner than one year hence, 2) severance issues would be forthcoming due to the fact that each of the Defendants gave statements that tended to implicate each other, and 3) “If [the Court] takes the position that we’re going to set it a year from now, I would also' ask the Court to revisit her [pretrial] detention.” Id', at 41-42..

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Bluebook (online)
237 F. Supp. 3d 1294, 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 31364, 2017 WL 887185, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-uri-ammar-flsd-2017.