PROSECUTING AND DEFENDING FEDERAL DRUG OFFENSES. JOSE ANGEL MORENO Assistant United States Attorney 1100 Matamoros, Suite 200 Laredo, Texas 78040

Transcription

1 PROSECUTING AND DEFENDING FEDERAL DRUG OFFENSES JOSE ANGEL MORENO Assistant United States Attorney 1100 Matamoros, Suite 200 Laredo, Texas SELENA N. SOLIS 1 Assistant Federal Public Defender 700 E. San Antonio Avenue, Suite 401-D El Paso, Texas State Bar of Texas 40 TH ANNUAL ADVANCED CRIMINAL LAW COURSE July 21-24, 2014 Houston CHAPTER 62 1 Special thanks to Kristin K. Kimmelman, Writing and Research Specialist for the Western District of Texas, El Paso Division, who wrote Sections II and III of this paper.

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS I. INTRODUCTION... 1 A. The Conspiracy Charge The Elements of the Drug Conspiracy Penalties Other Advantages of the Drug Conspiracy Charge... 2 a. The Pinkerton Principle... 2 b. In For a Penny, In For a Pound... 2 c. Conspirator Statements... 3 d. Statute of Limitations... 3 e. Venue... 3 f. Withdrawal From a Conspiracy... 3 B. Technology The Modern Age of Investigation and Prosecution Interception of Communications Wiretaps Other Electronic Surveillance... 4 a. Pen Registers and Trap and Trace Devices... 4 b. Mobile Tracking Devices... 5 c. Location Information for Cellular Telephones... 5 d. Video Surveillance... 5 e. Other Surveillance Techniques... 5 (1) Aerial Surveillance... 5 (2) Searches of Cellular Telephones Incident to Arrest... 6 (3) Border Surveillance Techniques and Devices... 6 (4) Orders, Subpoenas, and Warrants... 6 II. SENTENCING IN A NEW ERA OF DRUG PROSECUTION... 7 A. Mandatory Minimums: What Triggers Them and How to Escape Them Triggering Statutory Minimum and Maximums The Holder Mandatory Minimum Memo Encourages Use of Prosecutorial Discretion Getting Out from Under the Mandatory Minimum Pending Legislation Could Reduce Mandatory Minimums and Allow Judges More Discretion... 9 B. Sentencing Guidelines U.S. Sentencing Commission Promulgated Amendment to Decrease the Drug Offense Level by Two Levels Relevant Conduct: Increasing Offense Level Based on a Preponderance of the Evidence Specific Offense Characteristics Role Adjustments: Aggravated and Mitigating Use of a Minor Requires More than Mere Presence C. Booker and 18 U.S.C Individualized Sentencing: Defendant, Offense, and Purposes of Sentencing Deconstructing the Drug Guidelines III. IMMIGRATION CONSEQUENCES: COMPLYING WITH ETHICAL DUTIES TO ADVISE CLIENTS A. Deportability Grounds Consequences of Drug-Related Criminal Convictions Consequences of Drug-Related Activity, Without a Conviction B. Inadmissibility Grounds Consequences of Drug-Related Criminal Convictions Consequences of Drug-Related Activity, Without a Conviction C. Alternative Pleas i

3 Table of Authorities Cases Alleyne v. United States, U.S., 133 S. Ct. 2151, 2155 (2013) Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466, 490 (2000) Bourjaily v. United States, 483 U.S. 171, 107 S.Ct. 2775, 97 L.Ed.2d 144 (1987)... 4 California v. Ciraolo, 476 U.S. 207, 106 S.Ct. 1809, 90 L.Ed. 210 (1986)... 7 Carachuri-Rosendo v. Holder, 560 U.S. 563, 582 (2010) Crawford v. Washington, 541 U. S. 36, 124 S.Ct. 1354, 158 L.Ed.2d 177 (2004)... 4, 8 Cuevas v. Holder, 737 F.3d 972, 975 (5th Cir. 2013) Dow Chemical Company v. United States, 476 U.S. 227 (1986)... 7 Fiswick v. United States, 329 U.S. 211, 67 S.Ct. 224, 91 L.Ed. 196 (1946)... 4 Florida v. Riley, 488 U.S. 445, 109 S.Ct. 693, 102 L.Ed. 835 (1989)... 7 In re Application of the United States of America for Historical Cell Site Data, 724 F.2d 600 (5th Cir. 2013)... 8 Kimbrough v. United States, 552 U.S. 85, (2007) Lopez v. Gonzales, 549 U.S. 47, 60 (2006) Lopez v. Gonzalez, 549 U.S. 47, 53 (2006) Melendez v. United States, 518 U.S. 120, 125 (1996) Moncrieffe v. Holder, 133 S. Ct (2013) Padilla v. Kentucky, 559 U.S. 356, 369 (2010) Pinkerton v. United States, 328 U. S. 640, 644, 66 S.Ct. 1180, 90 L.Ed (1946)... 2 Rosemond v. United States, 572 U. S., 134 S.Ct.1240, 188 L.Ed.2d 248, 82 USLW 4178 (2014)... 2 Terrebone v. Blackburn, 646 F.2d 997 (5 th Cir. 1981)... 8 United States v. Akins, 746 F.3d 590 (5th Cir. 2014)... 4 United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220 (2005)... 12, 16 United States v. Brownlee, 204 F.3d 1302, 1305 (11th Cir. 2000) United States v. Caldwell, 16 F.3d 623 (5th Cir. 1994)... 4 United States v. Cardenas, 9F.3d 1139, 1157 (5th Cir. 1993)... 1 United States v. Castro, No , 2014 WL (5th Cir. Mar. 6, 2014) (unpublished)... 3 United States v. Chesire, 569 F.2d 887 (5th Cir 1978)... 6 United States v. Cuevas-Sanchez, 821 F.2d 248 (5th Cir. 1987)... 7 United States v. Curtis, 635 F.3d 704 (5th Cir. 2011)... 7 United States v. Dean, 59 F.3d 1479 (5th Cir. 1995)... 2 United States v. Finley, 477 F.3d 250 (5th Cir 2007)... 7 United States v. Foulks, F.3d, No , 2014 WL (5th Cir. Mar. 11, 2014) United States v. Foulks, 747 F.3d 914 (5th Cir. 2014)... 3 United States v. German, 486 F.3d 849 (5th Cir. 2007)... 6 United States v. Goodman, 556 F.Supp.2d 1002, 1016 (D. Neb. 2008) United States v. Hayes, F.Supp.2d, No. CR MWB, 2013 WL (N.D. Iowa June 7, 2013) United States v. Hinojosa, F.3d, No , 2014WL (5th Cir. May 20, 2014)... 4 United States v. Hubel, 625 F.Supp.2d 845, 853 (D. Neb. 2008) United States v. Jones, 132 S.Ct. 945, 181 L.Ed.2d 911 (2012)... 6 United States v. Jones, 31 F.3d 1304 (4th Cir. 1994)... 6 United States v. Landry, 903 F.2d 334, 338 (5th Cir. 1990)... 1 United States v. Lewis, 476 F.3d 369, (5th Cir. 2007)... 1 United States v. Lopez-Moreno, 420 F.3d 420 (5th Cir. 2005)... 8 United States v. Maltos, 985 F.2d 743, 746 (5th Cir. 1992)... 1 United States v. Maryland, 442 U.S. 735, 99S.Ct. 2577, 61 L.Ed. 220 (1979)... 6 United States v. Mata, 624 F.3d 170, 176 (5th Cir. 2010) United States v. Moreno, 649 F.2d 309, 312 (5th Cir. 1992)... 1 United States v. North, 735 F.3d 212 (5th Cir. 2013)... 5 United States v. Olguin, 643, F.3d 384 (5th Cir. 2011)... 4 United States v. Polk, 56 F.3d 613 (5th Cir. 1995)... 2 ii

4 United States v. Pomranz, 43 F.3d 156 (5th Cir. 1995)... 4 United States v. Pozos, 697 F.2d 1238 (5th Cir. 1983)... 4 United States v. Privett, 947 F.2d 1259 (5th Cir. 1991)... 2 United States v. Puente, 826 F.2d 1415 (5th Cir. 1987)... 8 United States v. Puig-Infante, 19 F.3d 929 (5th Circuit), cert. denied, 513 U. S. 864, 115 S.Ct. 180, 130 L.Ed.2d 115 (1994)... 4 United States v. Rita, 551 U.S. 338, 351 (2007) United States v. Shabani, 513 U.S. 10, 115 S.Ct. 382, 130 L.Ed.2 nd, 225 ( United States v. Smith, 133 S.Ct. 714, 184 L.Ed.2d 570, 81 USLW 4039 (2013)... 5 United States v. Tenorio, 360 F.3d 491 (5th Cir. 2004)... 1 United States v. Terrebone, 820 F.2d 156 (5th Cir. 1987) United States v. Tolliver, 61 F.3d 1189 (5th Cir. 1995)... 4 United States v. Wright, 496 F.3d 371, 380 (5th Cir. 2007) United States v. Wurie, 134 S.Ct. 999, 187 L.Ed. 848, 82 USLW 3104 (Jan. 17, 2014)... 7 United States v. Wurie, 728 F.3d 1 (1st Cir. 2013)... 7 United States v. Zapata-Lara, 615, F.3d 388 (5th Cir. 2010)... 3 Statutes 18 U.S.C U.S.C , U.S.C. 3117(a) U.S.C U.S.C. 3553(a)(1)-(7) U.S.C. 3553(e) U.S.C. 3553(f)(1)-(5) U.S.C. 3582(c)(2) U.S.C U.S.C , 8, 9, U.S.C U.S.C U.S.C U.S.C , 8, 9 21 U.S.C U.S.C U.S.C U.S.C U.S.C , 15 8 U.S.C. 1229b... 14, 15 8 U.S.C Other Authorities Dep t of Justice, Office of Public Affairs, Attorney General Holder Urges Changes in Federal Sentencing Guidelines to Reserve Harshest Penalties for Most Serious Drug Traffickers (Mar. 13, 2014), 7 FED. R. CRIM. P. 35(b)... 9 FIFTH CIRCUIT PATTERN JURY INSTRUCTIONS: CRIMINAL, 2.22 (2012)... 2 FIFTH CIRCUIT PATTERN JURY INSTRUCTIONS: CRIMINAL, 2.89 (2012)... 1, 2 Memorandum from U.S. Att y Gen. Eric Holder to U.S. Att ys & Asst. Att y Gen. for the Crim. Div., Department Policy on Charging Mandatory Minimum Sentences and Recidivist Enhancements in Certain Drug Cases (Aug. 12, 2013), available at 7, 8 Memorandum from U.S. Att y Gen. Eric Holder to U.S. Att ys & Asst. Att y Gen. for the Crim. Div., Federal Prosecution Priorities (Aug. 12, 2013), available at 8 Justice Safety Valve Act, S. 619, H.R (2013)... 9 iii

5 Smater Sentencing Act, S (2013)... 9 Supervision Costs Significantly Less than Incarceration in Federal System, THIRD BRANCH NEWS (July 18, 2013), (last visited Dec. 10, 2013)... 7 U.S. Sentencing Comm n, Quick Facts: Drug Trafficking Sentences, (last visited May 20, 2014)... 7 U.S. Sentencing Comm n, Special Report to the Congress: Cocaine and Federal Sentencing Policy 148 (1995) U.S. Sentencing Guidelines U.S.S.G. 2D U.S.S.G. 3B U.S.S.G. 3B U.S.S.G. 3B U.S.S.G. 4B U.S.S.G. 5C U.S.S.G. 5K U.S.S.G. 6A iv