U.S. v. Satterwhite ( 1992 )

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FIFTH CIRCUIT
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No. 92-8002
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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
VERSUS
BRADFORD SATTERWHITE, III,
Defendant-Appellant.
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Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Western District of Texas
__________________________________________________
(December 17, 1992)
Before GOLDBERG, SMITH, and EMILIO M. GARZA, Circuit Judges.
EMILIO M. GARZA, Circuit Judge:
Defendant, Bradford Satterwhite, III, entered a conditional
plea of guilty to the charges of conspiracy to possess with intent
to distribute cocaine base, and possession with intent to
distribute cocaine base, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1),
846 (1988). Satterwhite raises two issues on appeal. First, he
argues that the federal prosecution of his case violated his due
process rights. Second, Satterwhite contends that the district
court erred in denying his motions to suppress evidence. Finding
no reversible error, we affirm.
I
A confidential informant ("the CI") told DEA agent Gray
Hildreth that he had received information from an acquaintance that
cocaine was being stored and manufactured at Satterwhite's
apartment. The acquaintance, Jimmie Cooks, had asked the CI to
drive him to Satterwhite's apartment so that Cooks could purchase
crack cocaine. The CI saw Cooks enter the apartment. When Cooks
returned from the apartment, he showed the CI some crack cocaine.
Cooks also told the CI that he saw a large quantity of crack
cocaine in the apartment, and that Satterwhite was a financier of
a cocaine distribution ring, which was using the apartment to store
and manufacture cocaine. In addition, Cooks informed the CI that
he had recently purchased at least three kilograms of cocaine, and
delivered it to Satterwhite's apartment.
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Agent Hildreth conveyed this information in an affidavit1 to
1
The affidavit reads, in relevant part:
Your affiant states that the facts which establish
probable cause necessary for the issuance of a search
warrant for the described premises are as follows:
1. The undersigned Affiant, Andrew Gray Hildreth,
having been placed under oath, deposes and states as
follows: Affiant has worked as a Special Agent for the
U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration since August 21,
1986. Prior to that date Affiant worked as an officer
for the Mobile, Alabama Police Department for ten years.
Affiant has extensive experience in the investigation of
narcotics smuggling, sales, and other violations of Title
21 of the U.S. Code.
2. In early August 1990, your affiant along with
Austin Police Officers J.W. Thompson and Gary Duty
debriefed a cooperation individual in regards to the
narcotic trafficking from apartment #108 of the Forest
Creek Village apartments located at 1401 St. Edwards
Drive, Austin, Travis County, Texas. This cooperating
individual was arrested in July of 1990 by the Repeat
Offender Program of the Austin Police Department for
possession for cocaine and is currently on bond for that
charge. This cooperating individual has provided
officers of the Repeat Offender Program true and accurate
information, on at least two occasions since the CI's
arrest. This information has been corroborated as being
true and correct and has subsequently led to the arrest
of individuals and the seizure of controlled substances
by the Austin Police Department on at least one occasion.
Further, this cooperating individual has provided the
names, addresses and other personal information of other
suspected narcotic traffickers corroborated by officers
to be true and correct. In consideration of the
aforementioned facts, it is the opinion of the your
affiant and the opinion of officers in the Repeat
Offender Program that this cooperation individual is
credible and reliable.
3. The cooperating individual stated that on
Friday, August 3, 1990, he received information from an
acquaintance, Jimmie Cooks that apartment #108 of the
Forest Creek Village Apartments located at 1401 St.
Edwards Drive, Austin, Travis County, Texas is being used
to store and manufacture crack cocaine. Cooks requested
the cooperating individual to drive him to the above
described apartment for the purpose of obtaining crack
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cocaine. The cooperating individual stated that he drove
Jimmie Cooks to the above named apartment and observed
Jimmie Cooks enter the apartment. Upon returning from
inside the apartment, Cooks showed the cooperating
individual a distributable amount of crack cocaine.
Cooks further told the cooperating individual that he .
. . had traveled to Galveston, Texas in the recent period
of time and brought back at least three kilograms of
cocaine and delivered the cocaine to the above described
apartment. Cooks also told the cooperating individual
that while inside the above described apartment he . . .
had observed a large quantity of crack cocaine and
identified the apartment as being a place used to
manufacture and distribute crack cocaine. The
cooperating individual states that he was told by Jimmie
Cooks that the above described apartment is maintained
and operated by a crack cocaine distribution organization
that includes B.J. Satterwhite, a financier in the
organization.
4. Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal
History records indicate that Bradford Satterwhite III,
Black male born 12/26/44, aka B.J. Satterwhite, has 6
previous arrests and at least 4 convictions, including 2
convictions for possession of dangerous drugs and is
currently on State of Texas parole for dangerous drugs
until January 1994.
. . . .
8. A check with the City of Austin Electric Utility
Customer records indicate that the account at apartment
#108 is subscribed to by Joseph Walker with Texas DL
number 07750414 listed on the record.
. . . .
10. A check of the Austin Police Department
computerized offense report records show that on 1/17/88,
in offense report # 88-0012864, a burglary of a non-
residence (game arcade), Joseph Walker reported his
employer as Game World, 3101 E. 12th Street. Walker told
the reporting officer that he believes the motive for the
burglary was to obtain drugs. The report state that the
business is managed by B.J. Satterwhite. Offense report
#90-0310340, dated 1/31/90, reflects that Joseph Walker
is employed by J.B. Motors located at 4700 Loyola. The
cooperating individual advised your affiant that J.B.
Motors is owned by Jimmie Cooks. City of Austin Electric
Customer Utility records reflect that the account at 4700
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a magistrate, who subsequently issued a warrant to search
Satterwhite's apartment. Upon executing the warrant, agent
Hildreth and officers of the Austin Police Department discovered
large quantities of crack cocaine, cash, and tally sheets in the
apartment. The officers subsequently arrested Satterwhite, and
referred his case for federal prosecution. Satterwhite was charged
with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine base
and possession with intent to distribute cocaine base, in violation
of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), 846 (1988).
The district court denied two motions to suppress evidence
obtained from the search of the apartment. The court found that
the affidavit supporting the search warrant contained adequate
probable cause and that the warrant was clearly valid on its face.
Pursuant to a conditional guilty plea, the district court sentenced
Satterwhite to 210 months in prison, a five-year term of supervised
release, and a mandatory special assessment of $100.00.
Satterwhite appeals, contending that: (1) the absence of a
policy governing the referral of his case for federal prosecution
violated his due process rights; and (2) the district court erred
in denying his motions to suppress evidence, because the affidavit
supporting the search warrant was based on unreliable hearsay.
II
Loyola #120 is in the name of Joseph Walker with Texas DL
number 07750414 shown on the record.
Record on Appeal, vol. 1, at 152-53.
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A
Satterwhite first argues that the decision to refer his case
for federal prosecution violated his due process rights because it
adversely affected his sentence2 and was made without any
reviewable guidelines. We disagree.
We recently decided this issue in United States v. Carter, 953
F.2d 1449 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 112 S. Ct. 2980,
119 L. Ed. 2d 598 (1992). In Carter, the defendant argued that the
decision to refer his case for federal prosecution violated his due
process rights "because it exposed him to substantially more severe
sentences and was made without any objective or reviewable
guidelines or standards." Id. at 1462. We concluded that "the
ultimate decision of whether or not to charge a defendant
presumably rests with the federal prosecutor . . . [who] has
complete discretion in deciding whether or not to prosecute or what
charge to file." Id. "[Because] a defendant may be prosecuted and
convicted under a federal statute even after having been convicted
in a state prosecution based on the same conduct," id., we held
that the defendant's claim lacked merit. Accordingly,
Satterwhite's argument also lacks merit.3
2
In federal court, Satterwhite was sentenced to 210 months
with no time off for good behavior. See Record on Appeal, vol. 1,
at 182. He claims that had his case been referred to state court,
he probably would have received the same sentence, but with the
opportunity to reduce his time through good behavior. See Brief
for Satterwhite at 4.
3
Satterwhite conceded at oral argument that Carter makes
his first point of error moot.
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B
Satterwhite argues next that the district court erred in
refusing to suppress evidence obtained from searching his
apartment. We engage in a two-step review of a district court's
denial of a motion to suppress evidence obtained pursuant to a
warrant: (1) whether the good-faith exception4 to the exclusionary
rule applies; and (2) whether probable cause supported the warrant.
See United States v. Webster, 960 F.2d 1301, 1307 (5th Cir.), cert.
denied, ___ U.S. ___, ___ S. Ct. ___, 61 U.S.L.W.. 3285 (1992).
However, we need not reach the probable cause issue if the
good-faith exception applies, and the case does not involve a
"novel question of law whose resolution is necessary to guide
future action by law enforcement officers and magistrates."
Illinois v. Gates, 462 U.S. 213, 264, 103 S. Ct. 2317, 2346, 76 L.
Ed. 2d 527 (1983) (White, J., concurring); United States v.
Maggitt, 778 F.2d 1029, 1033 (5th Cir. 1985) (quoting Gates), cert.
denied, 476 U.S. 1184, 106 S. Ct. 2920, 91 L. Ed. 2d. 548 (1986);
see United States v. Craig, 861 F.2d 818, 820 (5th Cir. 1988)
("Principles of judicial restraint and precedent dictate that, in
most cases, we should not reach the probable cause issue if . . .
the good-faith exception of Leon will resolve the matter."). This
case does not raise a novel question of law under the Fourth
Amendment. The only question is whether, on the particular facts
of this case, the affidavit supporting the search warrant
4
See United States v. Leon, 468 U.S. 897, 104 S. Ct. 3405,
82 L. Ed. 2d 677 (1984).
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established probable cause to search the apartment. We therefore
turn to the good-faith issue first.
In Leon, the Supreme Court held that evidence obtained by
officers in objectively reasonable good-faith reliance upon a
search warrant is admissible, even though the affidavit on which
the warrant was based was insufficient to establish probable cause.
See Leon, 468 U.S. at 922-23, 104 S. Ct. at 3420; Craig, 861 F.2d
at 821. This rule does not apply where the warrant is based on an
affidavit "``so lacking in indicia of probable cause as to render
official belief in its existence entirely unreasonable.'" Leon,
468 U.S. at 923, 104 S. Ct. at 3421 (quoting Brown v. Illinois, 422
U.S. 590, 610-11, 95 S. Ct. 2254, 2265-66, 45 L. Ed. 2d 416 (1975)
(Powell, J., concurring in part)); see Craig, 861 F.2d at 821(referring to this type of affidavit as a "bare bones" affidavit).
Satterwhite argues that the affidavit supporting the search warrant
for his apartment was a "bare bones" affidavit, which made agent
Hildreth's reliance on the warrant unreasonable.
We review de novo the reasonableness of an officer's reliance
upon a warrant issued by a magistrate. U.S. v. Wylie, 919 F.2d
969, 974 (5th Cir. 1990). When a warrant is supported by more than
a "bare bones" affidavit, officers may rely in good faith on the
warrant's validity. United States v. Pigrum, 922 F.2d 249, 252
(5th Cir.), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 111 S. Ct. 2064, 114 L. Ed.
2d 468 (1991); United States v. Settegast, 755 F.2d 1117, 1122 n.6
(5th Cir. 1985). "Bare bones" affidavits contain wholly conclusory
statements, which lack the facts and circumstances from which a
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magistrate can independently determine probable cause. See United
States v. Brown, 941 F.2d 1300, 1303 n.1 (5th Cir.) (per curiam)
(giving as an example, an affidavit that states the affiant "``has
cause to suspect and does believe'" that contraband is located on
the premises (quoting Nathanson v. United States, 290 U.S. 41, 54
S. Ct. 11, 78 L. Ed. 159 (1933))), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 112
S. Ct. 648, 116 L. Ed. 2d 665 (1991).
We conclude that the CI's personal observations and Cooks's
statements to the CI provided the magistrate with more than a "bare
bones" affidavit. Agent Hildreth's affidavit contains facts which
the CI personally observed. As stated in the affidavit, the CI
accompanied Cooks to the apartment for the purpose of buying
cocaine. See Record on Appeal, vol. 1, at 152. Once there, the CI
saw Cooks enter the apartment and return carrying cocaine. See id.This information provided the magistrate with facts, and not mere
conclusions, from which he could determine probable cause.5
Satterwhite maintains that the CI's observations are
unreliable hearsay, because neither agent Hildreth nor the CI had
5
Satterwhite contends that Cooks may have had the cocaine
on his person before he entered the apartment, and that therefore
the CI's observations cannot establish probable cause for a search
warrant. We disagree. Determining probable cause does not require
certainty, but only a probability that contraband or evidence is
located in a certain place. See Gates, 462 U.S. at 230-31, 103 S.
Ct. at 2328; see also United States v. Fluker, 543 F.2d 709, 714
(9th Cir. 1976) (finding probable cause on similar facts,
notwithstanding argument that an informant who was not searched
before entering defendant's apartment could have had the drugs on
his person when he entered the apartment). Furthermore,
Satterwhite does not offer, and we cannot find, any explanation for
why Cooks might have wanted to deceive the CI.
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personal knowledge that Satterwhite's apartment contained drugs.
Satterwhite therefore argues that the government is attempting to
put flesh on an otherwise "bare bones" affidavit by the use of
unreliable hearsay.
An affidavit may rely on hearsay))information not within the
personal knowledge of the affiant, such as an informant's
report))as long as the affidavit presents a "``substantial basis for
crediting the hearsay.'" Gates, 462 U.S. at 242, 103 S. Ct. at
2334 (quoting Jones v. United States, 362 U.S. 257, 269, 80 S. Ct.
725, 735, 4 L. Ed. 2d 697 (1960)). In assessing the credibility of
an informant's report, we examine the informant's veracity and
basis of knowledge. See id. at 230-33, 103 S. Ct. at 2328-29(these two factors are relevant considerations under the "totality
of the circumstances" test for valuing an informant's report).
The affidavit supporting the search warrant for Satterwhite's
apartment adequately demonstrated the CI's veracity. The affiant
asserted that the CI had in the past given true and accurate
information leading to arrests and the seizure of controlled
substances. The affiant further asserted that the CI had
accurately provided the names and addresses of other suspected
narcotic traffickers. These assertions sufficiently establish the
CI's veracity. See United States v. McKnight, 953 F.2d 898, 905
(5th Cir.), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 112 S. Ct. 2975, 119 L. Ed.
2d 594 (1992) (assertion that informant had in the past given true
and reliable information sufficiently establishes veracity).
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The affidavit also sufficiently demonstrated the CI's basis of
knowledge. The affiant stated that the CI saw Cooks enter and
leave Satterwhite's apartment, whereupon Cooks showed the CI some
cocaine. That the CI personally observed these events demonstrates
that he obtained his information in a reliable way. See Spinelli
v. United States, 393 U.S. 410, 425, 89 S. Ct. 584, 593, 21 L. Ed.
2d 637 (1969) (White, J., concurring) ("[If an informant's] report
. . . purports to be first-hand observation, remaining doubt
centers on the honesty of the informant, and that worry is
dissipated by the officer's previous experience with the
informant.").
Moreover, the affidavit contains information within the
personal knowledge of agent Hildreth which tends to corroborate the
CI's story. See Gates, 462 U.S. at 242, 103 S. Ct. at 2334 ("An
officer ``may rely upon information received through an informant,
rather than upon his direct observations, so long as the
informant's statement is reasonably corroborated by other matters
within the officer's knowledge.'" (quoting Jones, 362 U.S. at 269,
80 S. Ct. at 735)). Agent Hildreth discovered that Satterwhite had
six previous arrests and at least four convictions, including two
convictions for possession of dangerous drugs. The affidavit also
states that Satterwhite was on probation at the time for his
involvement with dangerous drugs. See Jones, 362 U.S. at 271, 80
S. Ct. at 736 (that defendant was known user of narcotics
corroborated informant's report); United States v. Farese, 612 F.2d
1376, 1379 (5th Cir.) (that defendant had an extensive criminal
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record corroborated informant's report), cert. denied, 447 U.S.
925, 100 S. Ct. 3019, 65 L. Ed. 2d 1118 (1980).
Agent Hildreth also discovered that the account for the
apartment's utility bill belonged to Joseph Walker. See Record on
Appeal, vol. 1, at 153. Police records indicated that Walker had
worked at a game arcade managed by Satterwhite, and had also worked
for J.B. Motors, supposedly owned by Cooks. Id. These facts also
tend to corroborate the CI's story by establishing a connection
between Cooks, Walker, and Satterwhite. Because the affidavit
established a substantial basis for crediting the CI's
observations, the government does not add to an otherwise "bare
bones" affidavit with unreliable hearsay.
Cooks's statements to the CI further support the sufficiency
of agent Hildreth's affidavit. Cooks stated that: (1) he had seen
large amounts of cocaine in the apartment; (2) he had purchased
cocaine, and delivered it to defendant's apartment; and (3)
Satterwhite was a financier of a drug distribution ring, which was
operating the apartment to manufacture and store crack cocaine.
See Record on Appeal, vol. 1, at 152. Because this information was
not within the personal knowledge of the affiant, these statements
constitute hearsay (Cooks's statements) within hearsay (the CI's
report). Satterwhite argues that Cooks's statements are unreliable
double hearsay, and should not be used to support the affidavit.
Where an informant's report is not based on personal
knowledge, but rather on the information of a second individual, we
must determine whether a substantial basis exists for crediting the
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second individual's information. See Spinelli, 393 U.S. at 410,
425, 89 S. Ct. at 593 (White, J., concurring) ("If the affidavit
rests on . . . an informant's report . . . the informant must
declare either (1) that he has himself seen or perceived the fact
or facts asserted; or (2) that his information is hearsay, but
there is good reason for believing it))perhaps one of the usual
grounds for crediting hearsay information."); United States v.
Smith, 462 F.2d 456, 458 (8th Cir. 1972) (upon receiving affidavit
which contains hearsay upon hearsay, magistrate need not
categorically reject double hearsay information, but is called upon
to determine whether information gained in reliable way).
The CI corroborated Cooks's statements by observing cocaine on
his person after he returned from Satterwhite's apartment. See
Record on Appeal, vol. 1, at 152. Agent Hildreth's independent
corroboration of the CI's story also tends to corroborate Cooks's
statements. See id. at 153. "It is enough . . . that
``[c]orroboration through other sources of information reduced the
chances of a reckless or prevaricating tale,' thus providing a
``substantial basis for crediting the hearsay.'" See Gates, 462
U.S. at 244-45, 103 S. Ct. at 2335 (alteration in original)
(quoting Jones, 362 U.S. at 269, 271, 80 S. Ct. at 735, 736).
Cooks's statements are also reliable because he admitted that
he had previously delivered cocaine to the apartment. This was an
admission against penal interest because it implicated Cooks as a
co-conspirator with Satterwhite. "Admissions of crime, like
admissions against proprietary interests, carry their own indicia
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of credibility))sufficient at least to support a finding of
probable cause to search." United States v. Harris, 403 U.S. 573,
583, 91 S. Ct. 2075, 2082, 29 L. Ed. 2d 723 (1971); see Spinelli,
393 U.S. at 425, 89 S. Ct. at 593 (White, J., concurring) ("[I]f .
. . the informer's hearsay comes from one of the actors in the
crime in the nature of an admission against interest, the affidavit
giving this information should be held sufficient."); United States
v. Angulo-Lopez, 791 F.2d 1394, 1397 (9th Cir. 1986) ("When the
circumstances suggest veracity, such as an admission against penal
interest, a statement made to an informant can be considered
reliable."). Thus, the affidavit presented a substantial basis for
crediting both the CI's information as to what he personally
observed, and Cooks's statements to the CI. Accordingly, agent
Hildreth provided the magistrate with more than a "bare bones"
affidavit, and the good-faith exception applies.
III
For the foregoing reasons, we AFFIRM.
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