United States v. William Steele , 919 F.3d 965 ( 2019 )

RECOMMENDED FOR FULL-TEXT PUBLICATION
Pursuant to Sixth Circuit I.O.P. 32.1(b)
File Name: 19a0051p.06
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE SIXTH CIRCUIT
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ┐
Plaintiff-Appellee, │
│
> No. 18-1146
v. │
│
│
WILLIAM SHAWN STEELE, │
Defendant-Appellant. │
┘
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Eastern District of Michigan at Detroit.
No. 2:16-cr-20062-12—Denise Page Hood, Chief District Judge.
Decided and Filed: March 26, 2019
Before: KEITH, STRANCH, and DONALD, Circuit Judges.
_________________
COUNSEL
ON BRIEF: Jeffrey B. Lazarus, FEDERAL PUBLIC DEFENDER, Cleveland, Ohio, for
Appellant. Shane Cralle, UNITED STATES ATTORNEY’S OFFICE, Detroit, Michigan, for
Appellee.
_________________
OPINION
_________________
DAMON J. KEITH, Circuit Judge. After ten days of trial, a jury convicted Defendant
William S. Steele (“Steele”) of (1) Racketeering Conspiracy (“RICO Conspiracy”) under
18 U.S.C. § 1962(d), and (2) Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime
under 18 U.S.C. § 924(c). Steele contends that (1) he should have been acquitted of the § 924(c)
charge because there is insufficient evidence to support the conviction, (2) the jury instruction
No. 18-1146 United States v. Steele Page 2
for that charge was erroneous, and (3) he should have been allowed to substitute his counsel mid-
trial. The record does not support any of the errors Steele alleges. For the following reasons, we
AFFIRM.
BACKGROUND
In 2016, a grand jury indicted Steele and eleven other suspected members of the Detroit
chapter of the Rollin 60s Crips street gang on charges including RICO Conspiracy, in violation
of 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d). During the time period between indictment and trial, all but two of the
co-conspirators pleaded guilty. The remaining co-conspirator pleaded guilty shortly after trial
commenced, leaving Steele as the sole defendant at trial.
Although Steele denied any gang affiliation, during trial the Government presented seven
current and former Rollin 60s Crips members who testified that Steele was a member of the
Rollin 60s Crips street gang during the relevant time period. The jury saw photographs of
Steele’s tattoos which demonstrated participation in the gang, and were read his social media
messages that demonstrated his fluency in the gang’s jargon. The jury saw a photograph of
Steele posed next to other Rollin 60s Crips members, one of whom held a sawed-off shotgun.
The jury also heard testimony from Rollin 60’s Crips members who witnessed Steele store guns
to protect his drug and weapon stash, and who witnessed Steele sell marijuana while armed with
a weapon. They also heard from multiple officers who either arrested or processed Steele for
various gun or drug charges. The jury returned a guilty verdict.
DISCUSSION
Steele brings this appeal alleging the district court erred on three occasions: First, when
it denied his motion for judgment of acquittal; second, when it did not provide an unanimity jury
instruction on his § 924(c) charge; and third, when it denied his mid-trial motion to substitute his
appointed counsel. We address each in turn.
No. 18-1146 United States v. Steele Page 3
I. Motion for Judgment of Acquittal
A. Standard of Review
Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 29(a) states that “[a]fter the government closes its
evidence or after the close of all the evidence, the court on the defendant’s motion must enter a
judgment of acquittal of any offense for which the evidence is insufficient to sustain a
conviction.” On appeal, Steele requests this court to utilize a de novo review standard.
However, that standard would be inappropriate under the factual scenario of his case. Steele’s
trial counsel moved for a judgment of acquittal for Count Four (§ 924(c) charge) during the
Government’s case, and the motion was denied. The trial court allowed the Government to
continue its case, and then Steele presented evidence in his own defense by taking the stand.
Steele’s trial counsel did not renew that motion upon the close of all evidence, so we consider his
objection to the sufficiency of the evidence waived, and subject to heightened deference to the
trial court.1 This is not the first time our court has addressed this scenario:
When a court denies a defendant’s motion for judgment of acquittal at the close of
the government’s case-in-chief and the defendant then puts on evidence in his or
her own defense without renewing the Rule 29 motion, the defendant “waives
objection to the denial of his earlier motion, absent a showing of a manifest
miscarriage of justice.”
United States v. Wagner, 382 F.3d 598, 611 n.2 (6th Cir. 2004) (quoting United States v. Price,
134 F.3d 340, 350 (6th Cir. 1998)); see also U.S. v. Kennedy, 714 F.3d 951 (6th Cir. 2013).
“A miscarriage of justice exists only if the record is devoid of evidence pointing to guilt.”
United States v. Jordan, 544 F.3d 656, 670 (6th Cir. 2008) (quoting Price, 134 F.3d at 350).
And even if Steele had preserved the claim, we would ask only whether, “after viewing
the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have
found the essential elements of [Count Four] beyond a reasonable doubt.” Jackson v. Virginia,
1Steele also could have preserved a sufficiency challenge after the trial verdict if he filed a motion for a
judgment of acquittal within fourteen days. See Fed. R. Crim. P. 29(c)(1). Although he brought a pro se motion for
a retrial, the district court struck that motion as untimely (93 days late) and as an improper attempt at hybrid
representation, as he was still represented by counsel.
No. 18-1146 United States v. Steele Page 4
443 U.S. 307, 319 (1979) (emphasis in original). As detailed below, upon review of the record,
Steele is unable to succeed using either standard.
B. Sufficiency of the Evidence
In Count Four of the Second Superseding Indictment, a grand jury charged Steele with
possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime in violation of 18 U.S.C.
§ 924(c). To convict a defendant of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking
crime in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c), the government must show “a specific nexus between
the gun and the crime charged,” such as using the gun “to promote or facilitate the crime.”
United States v. Mackey, 265 F.3d 457, 461–62 (6th Cir. 2001). “[A]lthough possession of a
firearm in the same premises as the drug trafficking activities alone is insufficient to support a
conviction under section 924(c), a jury can reasonably infer that firearms which are strategically
located so as to provide defense or deterrence in furtherance of the drug trafficking are used in
furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.” United States v. Swafford, 385 F.3d 1026, 1029 (6th
Cir. 2004) (citation and internal quotation marks omitted).
At Steele’s trial, one witness testified that Steele stored a sawed-off shotgun in the house
to protect Steele’s drug stash from a potential home invasion and robbery. Another witness
testified to the following while being questioned by the Government:
Q: [D]id you ever discuss the sale of drugs with Mr. Steele?
A: Yes.
Q: And did you ever discuss the sale of drugs and any concerns Mr. Steele
may have had?
A: Yes.
Q: Can you explain, please?
A: He would keep guns in the house in case somebody tried to rob the house,
or run in the house and steal the drugs or any type of weapons that were in
the house at the time.
R. 482, Trial Tr. at 76:16-25.
Importantly, the jury heard the testimony of Steele’s former roommate. His former
roommate testified that in July 2012, Steele temporarily moved into his home and sold marijuana
there. He described the process by which Steele would go about these sales. When Steele would
No. 18-1146 United States v. Steele Page 5
receive a call regarding a potential sale, the former roommate witnessed Steele go to Steele’s
bedroom and retrieve the requested quantity of marijuana, and then walk out to the vehicle
parked outside of his home to complete the sale. The former roommate witnessed Steele return
to the home, disarm himself by removing the handgun with an extended magazine from his
person, and then count the money received from the transaction. An officer testified that he
arrested Steele in possession of a handgun with an extended magazine in late July 2012.
Based on these facts, a rational juror could conclude that the evidence established a
sufficient nexus between Steele’s firearms and his drug trafficking offenses. The jury could have
convicted Steele based on the testimony that he stored guns in the house to protect his drug stash.
See United States v. Hardin, 248 F.3d 489, 500 (6th Cir. 2001) (“In the instant case the fortress
analogy fits the scenario: large stash of cocaine, and a readily available 9MM semi-automatic
gun to protect the stash. It ‘reasonably appears’ that the gun was there to be used, inter alia, to
protect the cocaine.”). The jury also could have convicted Steele based on the testimony from
his former roommate that he conducted drug sales while armed with a Glock handgun with an
extended magazine. See United States v. Head, 927 F.2d 1361, 1366 (6th Cir. 1991)
(“[A] rational trier of fact could find beyond a reasonable doubt that . . . Swanson, armed with a
sawed-off shotgun, was there to protect the drugs and the transactions.”). Steele was arrested
with that style of Glock later that month. While Steele challenges all evidence presented during
trial as insufficient, “we are bound to make all reasonable inferences and credibility choices in
support of the jury’s verdict.” United States. v. Jackson, 473 F.3d 660, 669-70 (6th Cir. 2007)
(quoting United States v. Johnson, 440 F.3d 832, 839 (6th Cir. 2006)). The two above-
mentioned specific instances form a sufficient basis for a conviction of violating 18 U.S.C.
§ 924(c).
Accordingly, Steele has not shown that a manifest miscarriage of justice took place
because the record includes evidence that points to his guilt. Wagner, 382 F.3d at 611 n.2.
Alternatively, even if Steele had properly preserved his insufficient-evidence challenge, we
would still conclude that the evidence was sufficient for a rational juror to conclude that Steele
possessed a firearm to advance or promote a drug trafficking crime. Jackson, 443 U.S. at 319.
No. 18-1146 United States v. Steele Page 6
Therefore, the district court did not err when it denied Steele’s motion for acquittal from Count
Four of the Second Superseding Indictment.
II. Unanimity Jury Instruction
On appeal, Steele argues that the district court should have provided a specific jury
instruction requiring unanimity on Count Four, 18 U.S.C. § 924(c). Appellant Br. at 34
(“Without the proper instruction, there exists a significant possibility that Steele’s conviction was
the result of only six jurors finding Steele possessed only the Glock in furtherance of a drug
trafficking crime, and the other six jurors finding he only possessed the shotgun in furtherance of
a drug trafficking crime.”). He did not object to the jury instructions during trial. Therefore, we
review for plain error. United States v. Stewart, 729 F.3d 517, 530 (6th Cir. 2013). In the context
of jury instructions, plain error review requires an inquiry of whether the jury instructions were
“so clearly wrong as to produce a grave miscarriage of justice.” United States v. Eaton, 784 F.3d
298, 307 (6th Cir. 2015) (quoting United States v. Miller, 734 F.3d 530, 538 (6th Cir. 2013)).
The district court provided the following instruction:
The Government does not have to prove that a particular firearm was possessed in
furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, but in order to return a guilty verdict, all
12 of you must unanimously agree as to at least one specific occurrence on which
Defendant William Steele personally possessed a firearm in furtherance of a
conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.
R. 608, Trial Tr. at 51:19-25.
A federal jury must return a unanimous verdict in order to convict a criminal defendant.
Fed. R. Crim. P. 31(a). However, “a federal jury need not always decide unanimously which of
several possible sets of underlying brute facts make up a particular element, say, which of
several possible means the defendant used to commit an element of the crime.” Richardson v.
United States, 526 U.S. 813, 817 (1999). To further explain this point, the Richardson court
used the crime of robbery as an example. The Court noted that an element of robbery is whether
the defendant used “force or the threat of force.” Id. Even though there are different means by
which “force or the threat of force” can be achieved, for example using a knife or a gun, the
Court advised that the jury should focus on whether the element itself is satisfied, not the means
No. 18-1146 United States v. Steele Page 7
utilized. Id. (“[A] disagreement about means [ ] would not matter as long as all 12 jurors
unanimously concluded that the Government had proved the necessary related element, namely,
that the defendant had threatened force.”)
Like the analogy used in Richardson, an element of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c) is the possession
of “a firearm.” Steele conflates the facts that may establish this element with the element itself
when he stated, “the type of firearm underlying a § 924(c) charge constitutes an element of the
offense.” Appellant Br. at 34. We have not directly addressed whether the jury must be
unanimous as to a specific gun that the defendant possessed under § 924(c). However, relying
on relevant precedent within and outside of this circuit, we now find that the jury need not
unanimously decide which specific gun a defendant possessed in order to convict him or her
under 18 U.S.C. § 924(c). See United States v. DeJohn, 368 F.3d 541 (6th Cir. 2004).
In DeJohn, we discussed the element of possession, albeit in the context of a felon in
possession of a firearm under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). 368 F.3d at 541–42. We adopted the First
Circuit’s analysis in United States v. Verrecchia, 196 F.3d 294, 298–301 (1st Cir. 1999), where it
held that the particular firearm possessed by a defendant is a means and not an element of the
crime of being a felon in possession. Although § 922(g) utilizes the term “any” firearm, we find
that to be analogous to the term “a” firearm as utilized in § 924(c). As such, the possession
contemplated in § 922(g) is sufficiently similar to the possession contemplated here.2
Additionally, our sister circuits have uniformly held that a jury need not be unanimous as
to a specific gun that a defendant possessed, used, or carried in violating § 924(c). See United
States v. Renteria, 720 F.3d 1245, 1255–56 (10th Cir. 2013) (holding that the district court did
not err when it did not provide the jury with a unanimity instruction for the defendant’s § 924(c)
charge); United States v. Perry, 560 F.3d 246, 258 (4th Cir. 2009) (“Because juror unanimity
was not required as to the specific firearm possessed and the jury unanimously convicted Perry
only of the marijuana-trafficking offense, there is no possibility of jury disagreement creating ‘a
2Steele urges us to rely instead on Castillo v. United States, in which the Supreme Court held that “the
firearm type-related words” used in one subsection of § 924(c) “refer to an element of a separate, aggravated crime.”
530 U.S. 120, 131 (2000). Castillo interpreted provisions now codified in an amended form in § 924(c)(1)(B),
assigning harsher penalties for possession of particular types of weapons, such as short-barreled rifles or machine
guns. Steele was not subjected to an increased penalty triggered by firearm type.
No. 18-1146 United States v. Steele Page 8
reasonable doubt that [the defendant] used a firearm in committing a drug trafficking crime.’”
(alteration in original) (citation omitted)); United States v. Hernandez-Albino, 177 F.3d 33,
40 (1st Cir. 1999) (holding that “the jury need not reach unanimous agreement on the identity of
the weapon when the defendant is charged with violating § 924(c) due to possession of more
than one firearm,” so long as “none of the weapons justifies more than the statutory minimum
sentence”); United States v. Morin, 33 F.3d 1351, 1353–54 (11th Cir. 1994) (“[T]o obtain a
conviction under 18 U.S.C. § 924(c), the government needs to prove only that the defendant used
one of the guns in relation to the drug trafficking… [and] the jury is not required to reach a
unanimous verdict as to which gun the defendant used.”); United States v. Correa-Ventura,
6 F.3d 1070, 1086–87 (5th Cir. 1993) (providing extensive analysis of § 924(c), its legislative
history, and relevant precedent, and “find[ing] that a specific unanimity instruction [is] not
required with respect to the identity of the firearm ‘used’ or ‘carried’ by Correa”). We agree and
hold that 18 U.S.C. § 924(c) generally does not require jury unanimity as to a specific gun that a
defendant possessed, used, or carried in violating § 924(c).
There may be exceptions to this general rule. The court in Correa-Ventura warned that
some violations of § 924(c) may require that the jury reach a unanimous decision on the gun
used. See Correa-Ventura, 6 F.3d at 1087. Similarly, the Court in Richardson warned that “the
Constitution itself limits a State’s power to define crimes in ways that would permit juries to
convict while disagreeing about means, at least where that definition risks serious unfairness and
lacks support in history or tradition.” 526 U.S. at 820; see also id. (“We would not permit an
indictment charging that the defendant assaulted either X on Tuesday or Y on Wednesday.”
(ellipses omitted) (quoting Schad v. Arizona, 501 U.S. 624, 651 (1991) (Scalia, J., concurring))).
In this case, however, the district court appropriately addressed that concern by tasking the jury
with deciding unanimously on one instance of firearm possession in furtherance of a drug
trafficking crime, not one specific gun, and we assume they followed this instruction. See United
States v. Neuhausser, 241 F.3d 460, 469 (6th Cir. 2001) (finding that juries are presumed to
follow a judge’s instructions). The district court provided the proper jury instruction on
§ 924(c), and did not commit plain error. Accordingly, we affirm.
No. 18-1146 United States v. Steele Page 9
III. Substitution of Counsel
A defendant who is unable to obtain counsel is entitled to have counsel appointed to
represent him or her at every stage of the proceeding, unless the defendant chooses to waive that
right. See Fed. R. Crim. P. 44(a). However, an indigent defendant’s right to counsel of choice is
not an absolute right and is subject to limitations. United States v. Iles, 906 F.2d 1122, 1130 (6th
Cir. 1990). One limitation involves the defendant’s ability to substitute their appointed counsel.
Id. Another regards this circuit’s restrictions on hybrid representation. United States v. Conder,
423 F.2d 904, 908 (6th Cir. 1970). We find that the district court did not err in its handling of
Steele’s counsel-related requests, and we discuss each in turn.
Steele first claims that the district court erred when it denied his mid-trial motion to
substitute his appointed counsel. We review an indigent defendant’s motion to substitute counsel
for abuse of discretion. Unites States v. Vasquez, 560 F.3d 461, 466 (6th Cir. 2009). In this
circuit, a district court is “obliged to conduct an inquiry into the defendant’s complaint to
determine whether there is good cause for substitution of counsel.” Id. When analyzing whether
the trial court abused its discretion in denying a motion to substitute counsel, we consider:
(1) the timeliness of the motion, (2) the adequacy of the court’s inquiry into the
matter, (3) the extent of the conflict between the attorney and client and whether it
was so great that it resulted in a total lack of communication preventing an
adequate defense, and (4) balancing the factors with the public’s interest in the
prompt and efficient administration of justice.
United States v. Mack, 258 F.3d 548, 556 (6th Cir. 2001).
Although he had been represented by counsel for a year and a half, Steele moved to
substitute his counsel for the first time on the seventh day of trial, alleging that there was a
complete breakdown in his attorney-client relationship. He claimed that he was not receiving
adequate representation because of his counsel’s age and alleged physical ailments, and his
counsel’s failure to request a continuance once the Government added another count to his
indictment. When the district court asked for Steele’s counsel’s opinion on the matter, he agreed
that there had been a breakdown in communications and acquiesced to Steele’s request for
substitute counsel. Upon weighing the above factors, the district court did not abuse its
No. 18-1146 United States v. Steele Page 10
discretion in denying Steele’s motion to substitute his appointed counsel, and we find nothing in
the record to support reversing the district court’s action.
First, it is undisputed that Steele’s motion to substitute was not timely, as he made it
seven days into trial, and without sufficient justification as to why he could not have voiced his
concerns earlier. Steele’s stated reason—that he “wanted to give [his attorney] a chance before
[he] actually made a decision”—does not suffice. A defendant may not use trial as an audition
for counsel.
Second, the district court adequately inquired into Steele’s concerns. For example, it
considered Steele’s statements that his trial counsel “hasn’t been real effective . . . and at times
can’t hear [him].” The district court took a thirty-minute recess to research and analyze the
matter. When it returned, it discussed the limitations of courtroom acoustics, trial counsel’s
pointed objections to evidence proffered by the Government, and the fact that hearing issues
alone are insufficient to sustain his motion.
Both at the time of Steele’s original motion and when the objection was later renewed,
the district court went further and addressed Steele’s claims that there was an overall breakdown
in communication. Steele admitted that he missed meetings and pre-trial court proceedings with
his counsel because he was either late or chose not to attend when he had the right to, and that he
chose to live out of state during the course of his case before trial began. The district court noted
that his affirmative choices were at least partially to blame for communication difficulties. The
district court also addressed Steele’s allegations that his trial counsel exhibited signs of dementia
that he witnessed his grandfather experience. The district court noted that Steele was not in the
position to diagnose anything and that age itself did not prove dementia. When the district court
asked if either side had further argument, neither side had anything to add. We find that the
district court adequately addressed Steele’s concerns and afforded him the opportunity to be
heard.
As to the third factor, there was not a total lack of communication between Steele and his
counsel. The district court discussed the extent of Steele’s conflict with his counsel and stated
that Steele’s reasons for wanting new counsel “have [not] resulted in a complete breakdown of
No. 18-1146 United States v. Steele Page 11
communication, or an irreconcilable conflict preventing [Steele] from proceeding [in] trial.” We
agree. The record demonstrates that Steele’s counsel requested that if Steele had a question or
comment during trial, Steele was to write it down for the counsel to evaluate. This is exactly
what occurred during trial, and his counsel’s decision not to address each and every one of
Steele’s comments is not a breakdown in communication. It is a matter of trial strategy, which is
largely in the discretion of the trial attorney. Steele mentioned that his concern was not with his
counsel’s trial strategy or legal abilities, but instead was with his counsel’s age and the amount
of communication between them. As noted above, Steele contributed to the lack of
communication with his counsel, as he was late to at least one meeting and purposefully lived
out of state during the time leading up to trial.
We do not make light of a scenario where a defendant has a conflict with his or her
attorney that would prevent a constitutional representation. However, we must be careful to
avoid the situation where a defendant’s discomfort with how trial is progressing becomes
sufficient legal justification for substitution of counsel mid-trial. See United States v. Sullivan,
431 F.3d 976, 982 (6th Cir. 2005). And in this case, the district court addressed each of Steele’s
concerns, including those related to his counsel’s age and alleged physical ailments, finding that
although the district court was not in a position to diagnose counsel’s alleged mental condition,
counsel’s performance during trial exemplified zealous advocacy on Steele’s behalf.
Accordingly, Steele’s particular concerns with his trial counsel did not prevent an adequate
defense.
Turning to the last factor, “the public’s interest in the prompt and efficient administration
of justice” weighed in favor of proceeding with the trial for several reasons. Mack, 258 F.3d at
556. First, Steele did not request substitute counsel until seven days into trial, when the
Government was nearly finished presenting its case. None of the rationale Steele presented to
justify his request for substitute counsel were urgent, and they all could have been made prior to
the start of trial. Granting his motion in the middle of trial would clearly upset the district court’s
ability to promptly and efficiently conduct trial. See Sullivan, 431 F.3d at 982. Second, Steele’s
attorney was up-to-date with the nuances of Steele’s case, and up to that point – and afterwards –
zealously defended Steele during trial. See id. Third, the replacement of Steele’s counsel would
No. 18-1146 United States v. Steele Page 12
have required significant costs and efforts related to reconvening a jury trial. Finding that each
of the four Mack factors weigh in favor of Steele’s continued representation by his trial counsel,
we find no abuse of discretion and affirm the district court’s denial of Steele’s motion. See
Mack, 258 F.3d at 556; Sullivan, 431 F.3d at 982. The same analysis adheres with regard to
Steele’s later renewal of his motion, involving similar concerns and a similar reaction by the
district court.
Next we address Steele’s second claim regarding the district court’s denial to allow him
to question witnesses and otherwise represent himself at trial. “It is well settled that there is no
constitutional right to hybrid representation.” United States v. Cromer, 389 F.3d 662, 681 n.1
(6th Cir. 2004). As such, the district court acted within its discretion when it denied Steele’s
requests to question witnesses, and otherwise represent himself while he was still appointed by
counsel. He did not unequivocally waive his right to counsel, and as such could not assert his
right to self-representation. See Conder, 423 F.2d at 908 (“[A] defendant must make a choice,
and he should not be permitted to manipulate his choice so that he can claim reversible error on
appeal no matter which alternative he apparently chose in the District Court.”).
CONCLUSION
For the reasons stated above, the district court did not err when it (1) denied Steele’s
motion for acquittal, (2) did not provide an unanimity instruction for Steele’s 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)
charge, and (3) denied Steele’s mid-trial motion to substitute his appointed counsel.
Accordingly, we AFFIRM the judgment of the district court.