United States v. Bruce Costa, Jr.

NOT PRECEDENTIAL
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT
_____________
No. 13-1218
_____________
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
v.
BRUCE E. COSTA, JR.,
Appellant
_______________
On Appeal from the United States District Court
for the District of Delaware
(D.C. No. 10-cr-047)
District Judge: Hon. Leonard P. Stark
_______________
Submitted Under Third Circuit LAR 34.1(a)
December 16, 2013
Before: JORDAN, VANASKIE and VAN ANTWERPEN, Circuit Judges.
(Filed: January 27, 2014)
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OPINION OF THE COURT
_______________
JORDAN, Circuit Judge.
Bruce E. Costa, Jr., appeals his convictions for unlawful distribution of oxycodone
and maintaining a premises for distributing oxycodone. He also appeals the sentence
imposed by the United States District Court for the District of Delaware. For the
following reasons, we will affirm.
I. Background
In 2007, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) and Drug Enforcement
Administration (“DEA”) suspected that Michael Scalia and his nephew, Joseph Scalia,
were distributing oxycodone. The agencies began an investigation, during which they
learned that Ronald Turner was the supplier for the Scalias. The DEA began surveillance
on Turner in August 2009 and, on three separate occasions – August 29, 2009,
September 5, 2009, and September 12, 2009 – they observed him receiving oxycodone
pills from Costa outside of the Renaissance Family Pharmacy LLC (“Renaissance”), a
retail pharmacy in Claymont, Delaware. Costa, a licensed pharmacist, had opened
Renaissance in January 2008.1 His criminal activity there apparently began soon after.
The federal investigation revealed that Renaissance‟s records between October 1, 2008,
and September 27, 2009, failed to account for more than 45,000 oxycodone pills, which
was approximately half of all the oxycodone pills that Renaissance ordered.
On September 22, 2010, a federal grand jury in the District of Delaware returned a
superseding indictment charging Costa with three counts of unlawful distribution of
oxycodone (Counts I, II, and III), in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C),
and maintaining a premises for distributing oxycodone (Count IV), in violation of 21
U.S.C. § 856(a)(1). At trial, Costa admitted that he was guilty of Counts I, II, and III.
1
Costa purportedly sold his interest in Renaissance to a friend later in 2008, but he
continued to run the store, including ordering and handling oxycodone pills.
2
The jury found him guilty of all four counts, and he was subsequently sentenced to, inter
alia, 20 years imprisonment on each count, to be served concurrently. This timely appeal
followed.
II. Discussion2
A. Prosecutorial Misconduct
Costa argues that we should vacate his conviction and order a new trial because
prosecutorial misconduct “permeated” the government‟s closing argument. (Appellant‟s
Opening Br. at 19.) He primarily argues that the prosecutor (1) improperly shifted the
burden of proof and asked the jury to assume guilt by referencing the movie Jagged
Edge; (2) improperly used Costa‟s prior convictions to claim that he (Costa) was trying to
bargain with the jury; and (3) improperly referenced his (the prosecutor‟s) own
experience and knowledge and vouched for his co-counsel‟s knowledge and insight.
None of these issues warrants a new trial.3
2
The District Court had subject matter jurisdiction pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3231.
We have jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291 and 18 U.S.C. § 3742.
3
Costa also argues that various other errors in the prosecutor‟s closing argument
warrant a new trial, but the complaints are unpersuasive. “The prosecutor is entitled to
considerable latitude in summation to argue the evidence and any reasonable inferences
that can be drawn from that evidence.” United States v. Werme, 939 F.2d 108, 117 (3d
Cir. 1991). For example, the argument that Costa may have had more money which the
FBI did not locate was based on Costa‟s assertion that, although the FBI found more than
$1.4 million in cash in several safes belonging to Costa, the cash was from legitimate
business, not from illegal drug dealing. Given that testimony, it was not plainly
erroneous to permit the prosecutor to pose for the jury the question of where the proceeds
of Costa‟s illegal drug dealing were. The prosecutor‟s statements that Costa‟s “back is
up against the wall” (App. at A1575) and that Costa “is done, stick a fork in him” (App.
at A1582) were also not improper because (though one might question the wisdom and
tenor of the latter colloquialism) they referred specifically to Counts I, II, and III, to
3
1. Standard of Review
We review a district court‟s ruling on a contemporaneous objection for abuse of
discretion. United States v. Lee, 612 F.3d 170, 193 (3d Cir. 2010). “However, any non-
contemporaneous objections are reviewed for plain error.” Id. As Costa concedes, he
“did not raise [any] issues [of prosecutorial misconduct] below except for an objection
concerning an improper reference to defense counsel, and an improper reference to the
prosecutor‟s own professional experience.”4 (Appellant‟s Opening Br. at 1 (citations
which Costa had admitted his guilt. Nor was it improper for the prosecutor to comment
that oxycodone abuse “causes untold hardship … and … tears at the very fabric of our
society,” while certain people, including Costa, have “profited from that tragedy and …
profited from that hardship.” (App. at A1605.) A prosecutor may “impress upon the jury
the seriousness of [drug-related] charges,” United States v. Tucker, 714 F.3d 1006, 1015
(7th Cir. 2013), and, given the evidence of the illegal oxycodone transactions and the
money that the FBI found, the assertion that Costa profited from oxycodone abuse was
supported by the evidence.
4
The trial transcript reads, in relevant part:
[The government]: I suggest to you that this is neither [defense
counsel‟s] nor [Costa‟s] first time at the rodeo. [Defense counsel] in
fact knows, and I don‟t suggest that 14 members of the citizenry will
do this, but he knows that the juries sometimes compromise. And
Mr. Costa –
[Defense counsel]: Objection, your Honor.
….
(Sidebar conference.)
….
[Defense counsel]: If he had limited it to Mr. Costa, I would have no
problem. It’s when you put me in it, make it personal. You can’t do
that.
[The government]: Okay. I‟ll retract then in front of the jury.
The Court: Do you want the retraction?
[The government]: That‟s fine.
The Court: Then stay away from that.
(Sidebar conference ends.)
4
omitted).) Therefore, the only issue of alleged misconduct that we will review for abuse
of discretion is the prosecutor‟s comments on the prosecutorial team‟s knowledge and
experience.5 We will review for plain error the other issues of alleged misconduct.
A finding of prosecutorial misconduct “does not always warrant the granting of a
mistrial.” United States v. Zehrbach, 47 F.3d 1252, 1265 (3d Cir. 1995) (en banc). “A
criminal conviction is not to be lightly overturned on the basis of a prosecutor‟s
comments standing alone, for the statements or conduct must be viewed in context … .”
United States v. Young, 470 U.S. 1, 11 (1985). “Therefore, we will reverse if we
conclude that the prosecutor‟s remarks, taken in the context of the trial as a whole,
prejudiced the defendant[].” Zehrbach, 47 F.3d at 1265. To determine prejudice, we
consider “the scope of the improper comments in the overall context of trial,” “the effect
of any curative instructions given,” and “the strength of the evidence against the
defendant.” United States v. Mastrangelo, 172 F.3d 288, 297 (3d Cir. 1999). “If the
….
[The government]: I misspoke. I‟m going to stay away from what
[defense counsel] said. He is a fine attorney and you guys have seen
that. All of you have seen that. And I will stay away from what he
knows and what he doesn‟t know.
(App. at A1584-85) (emphasis added). Near the end of the closing argument, the
prosecutor asserted: “It‟s not my first time [at the rodeo] either. You know, I have
prosecuted powder cocaine traffickers[.]” Costa then raised the “[s]ame objection,”
which the Court sustained. (App. at A1604-05.)
5
Although Costa objected to the lead prosecutor‟s reference to his (the
prosecutor‟s) own experience, Costa did not expressly object to the lead prosecutor‟s
reference to the co-prosecutor‟s knowledge and insight of the case. Nevertheless, we will
give Costa the benefit of the doubt and review the references to both the lead prosecutor‟s
experience and the co-prosecutor‟s knowledge and insight for abuse of discretion.
5
error is constitutional, we will affirm [only] if we determine that the error is harmless
beyond a reasonable doubt.” Lee, 612 F.3d at 194 (alteration in original) (internal
quotation marks omitted). “If the error is non-constitutional, we will affirm when it is
highly probable that the error did not contribute to the judgment.” United States v.
Helbling, 209 F.3d 226, 241 (3d Cir. 2000) (quoting Gov’t of V.I. v. Toto, 529 F.2d 278,
284 (3d Cir. 1976)).
2. Alleged Misconduct
a. Reference to Jagged Edge
The prosecutor began his closing argument by quoting the actor Jeff Bridges‟
character from the movie Jagged Edge: “So you think I killed my wife. Prove it.” (App.
at A1565.) The prosecutor noted that Bridges‟ character was in fact guilty of killing his
wife but observed that “the way our system is set up, and rightly so, if someone is …
charged with a crime, … [h]e has a right to say I‟m not guilty and, Government, you have
to prove it.” (App. at A1566.) Costa argues on appeal that the reference to Bridges‟
character in Jagged Edge “cast a specter over the entire closing” by implying that
“defendants are guilty as charged but that they sometimes force the government to „prove
it‟ in the charade of a trial.” (Appellant‟s Opening Br. at 26). The government counters
that the prosecutor made the reference to Jagged Edge simply “to illustrate several points
about the criminal justice process.” (Appellee‟s Br. at 43.)
Costa cites United States v. Kincannon, 567 F.3d 893 (7th Cir. 2009), in which the
government, in its closing argument, made an analogy to the movie The Godfather to
explain to the jury that it would try to tie together the events of the underlying crime
6
much like director Francis Ford Coppola did in various scenes depicting assassinations
coordinated by the character Michael Corleone. Id. at 896. Costa focuses on the Seventh
Circuit‟s observation in dicta that, had “the government compared [the defendant] to …
Corleone, an organized crime kingpin responsible for murders and a whole host of other
criminal activity[,] [s]uch an analogy would be utterly unmoored from the record … .”
Id. at 900 (citation omitted).
Despite that comment, the Kincannon court held that the “reference to The
Godfather [did] not approach impropriety” because the government used the movie to
“explain[] to the jury that [it] would try to do orally what Coppola did in his film – that is,
tie together the events that occurred … into one seamless story.” Id. Similarly, the
prosecutor‟s remarks in this case can be understood as not directly comparing Costa with
Bridges‟ character in Jagged Edge but instead referencing the movie to exemplify
Costa‟s right to claim his innocence and require the government to prove his guilt. The
prosecutor emphasized to the jury that, despite Costa‟s admissions, it “still [had] to
prove” Counts I, II, and III, and that it would explain “why [it] [had] shown … that
[Costa] is in fact guilty of Count [IV] also.” (App. at A1567.) Thus, while unnecessary,
the reference to Jagged Edge was consistent with the government‟s burden of proof, and
it was not plain error for the District Court to see it as less than misconduct.
b. Reference to Jury Bargaining
Costa also argues that the prosecutor improperly accused Costa of trying to
bargain with the jury. After summarizing the evidence against Costa, the prosecutor
suggested that the reason Costa admitted his guilt on Counts I, II, and III at trial, but not
7
on Count IV, was because he was trying to “bargain” or “horse trade” with the jury –
asking, in return for his concessions, that the jury find him not guilty of Count IV. (App.
at A1585-86.) Costa also characterizes the prosecutor‟s attack on the defense as
amounting to a statement that the defense was a “sham” aimed at “deceitfully bargaining
directly with the jury.” (Appellant‟s Opening Br. at 29.)
As already discussed, the government did not presuppose Costa‟s guilt or shift the
burden of proof, even though Costa admitted his guilt to Counts I, II, and III.
Furthermore, “attacking and exposing flaws in one‟s opponent‟s arguments is a major
purpose of closing argument.” United States v. Rivas, 493 F.3d 131, 139 (3d Cir. 2007);
cf. United States v. Balter, 91 F.3d 427, 441 (3d Cir. 1996) (holding that permitting a
comment that “attempted to focus the jury‟s attention on holes in the defense‟s theory”
was not plain error). While it is improper for counsel to “introduce information based on
personal belief or knowledge,” he “may state his views of what the evidence shows and
the inferences and conclusions that the evidence supports … .” Zehrbach, 47 F.3d at
1265 n.11. In this case, the prosecutor‟s suggestion of the motive behind Costa‟s trial
strategy was not so untoward as to warrant any conclusion that the District Court plainly
erred in permitting it.6
6
Additionally, Costa argues that the prosecutor used his prior convictions
improperly in closing arguments. The prosecutor asserted that “Costa knows about a
bargain” because he was previously charged with five counts of felony Medicaid fraud in
state court but pleaded to misdemeanors. (App. at A1585.) As the government
recognizes, the District Court had ruled that the prior convictions were admissible for two
limited purposes: impeaching Costa‟s character, pursuant to Federal Rule of Evidence
609, and showing Costa‟s motive to sell Renaissance, pursuant to Federal Rule of
Evidence 404(b). It is arguable that Costa opened the door to a broader use of his prior
8
c. Reference to the Prosecutors’ Experience and Insight
Costa argues that the prosecutor vouched for his own experience in prosecuting
powder cocaine traffickers and for his co-counsel‟s “insight and knowledge of this case.”
(App. at A1581.)
Vouching “threatens to „convey the impression that evidence not presented to the
jury, but known to the prosecutor, supports the charges against the defendant.‟” United
States v. Berrios, 676 F.3d 118, 133 (3d Cir. 2012) (quoting United States v. Walker, 155
F.3d 180, 184 (3d Cir. 1998)). Improper vouching may occur if a prosecutor makes
“repeated comments aimed at establishing his own veracity and credibility as a
representative of the government.” United States v. Smith, 962 F.2d 923, 933 (9th Cir.
1992); see also Lee, 612 F.3d at 195 (holding that a prosecutor is not allowed to speak
about his own personal experiences).
Costa promptly and successfully objected to the lead prosecutor‟s alleged
vouching for his own experience in prosecuting other drug-related cases. Assuming that
the prosecutor indeed engaged in improper vouching, however, “a new trial is not
warranted because it is highly probable that the error did not contribute to [Costa‟s]
conviction.”7 Lee, 612 F.3d at 195. The prosecutor did not continue the vouching after
convictions, but, even if the prosecutor‟s use of the prior convictions was improper, the
passing comment about bargaining inflicted no prejudice that would warrant a new trial.
7
Vouching is a non-constitutional error, United States v. Dispoz-O-Plastics, Inc.,
172 F.3d 275, 286 & n.10 (3d Cir. 1999), so the question of prejudice is whether it is
“highly probable that the error did not contribute to the judgment,” United States v.
Helbling, 209 F.3d 226, 241 (3d Cir. 2000).
9
the District Court sustained the objection.8 He immediately moved on, emphasizing that
“the trial necessarily focuses on [Costa]” and observing that the crimes were not
victimless. (App. at A1605.) Moreover, the District Court reminded the jury that “what
is said in closing arguments is not evidence.” (App. at A1565). Viewed in the context of
the entire trial record, it is not highly probable that the prosecutor‟s vouching for himself
weighed on the jury‟s decision, and, therefore, a new trial is not warranted. See Lee, 612
F.3d at 195 (holding that, “even though the prosecutor did cross the line into improper
vouching,” a new trial was not necessary because, inter alia, “the prosecutor did not
continue the vouching once an objection was raised and the District Court directed the
prosecutor to move on”).
Similarly, even if the lead prosecutor‟s passing reference to the knowledge and
insight of his co-prosecutor was vouching, it was a passing comment and not so
prejudicial as to warrant a new trial.
B. Resentencing
Costa argues in the alternative that we should remand for resentencing because (1)
the District Court violated the Double Jeopardy Clause of the Fifth Amendment by
failing to merge the four counts for sentencing purposes; (2) the Court abused its
discretion by not conducting an analysis under 18 U.S.C. § 3584 “prior to running a
8
Costa points out that the Court did not give a curative instruction, but he never
requested one. Costa also asserts, without explanation, that “[t]he final jury charge did
not contain the correct standards concerning burden of proof, presumption of innocence,
and use of Costa‟s prior convictions.” (Appellant‟s Br. at 34 (citing App. at A1696-98,
A1706, A1708).) We discern no error in the cited instructions.
10
portion of the sentences consecutively”; and (3) the government did not produce Brady
material that “was directly contradictory to the position that the government took at
sentencing.” (Appellant‟s Opening Br. at 39-40.)
1. Double Jeopardy Clause9
Costa argues that, for purposes of sentencing, his convictions on Counts I, II, and
III (unlawful distribution of oxycodone under 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C))
should have merged with his conviction on Count IV (unlawful maintenance of a
premises for distribution of oxycodone under 21 U.S.C. § 856(a)(1)). If they had been
merged, he would face a statutory maximum of 20 years imprisonment, see 21 U.S.C.
§§ 841(b)(1)(C), 856(b), rather than the higher Guidelines range of 292 to 365 months
that the District Court used as its starting point. Costa argues that Congress did not
intend to treat § 841 and § 856 as separate offenses when based on the same underlying
conduct. He also argues that, under the double jeopardy test provided by Blockburger v.
United States, 284 U.S. 299 (1932), each offense does not require proof of a fact that the
other does not.
The Blockburger test “is not controlling when the legislative intent is clear from
the face of the statute or the legislative history.” Garrett v. United States, 471 U.S. 773,
779 (1985). Because “„the Double Jeopardy Clause does no more than prevent the
sentencing court from prescribing greater punishment than the legislature intended[,]‟ …
9
The Fifth Amendment to the Constitution provides in relevant part: “[N]or shall
any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb … .”
U.S. Const. amend. V. Because Costa‟s double jeopardy argument addresses only a
question of law, we review it de novo. See United States v. Baird, 63 F.3d 1213, 1215
(3d Cir. 1995).
11
a Double Jeopardy challenge must fail if the statutory text clearly reflects a legislative
intent to impose multiple sentences on a defendant for a single underlying transaction.”
Berrios, 676 F.3d at 138 (quoting Missouri v. Hunter, 459 U.S. 359, 366 (1983)) (citing
Albernaz v. United States, 450 U.S. 333, 344 & n.3 (1981)). Other Circuit Courts that
have examined whether Congress intended to punish § 841 and § 856 offenses separately
have concluded that, in enacting § 856, “Congress unequivocally determined to create a
distinct offense – with its own, separate punishment – aimed specifically at criminalizing
the use of property for narcotics-related purposes.”10 United States v. Sturmoski, 971
F.2d 452, 462 (10th Cir. 1992) (relying on the plain language and legislative history of
the statute); accord United States v. Church, 970 F.2d 401, 407 (7th Cir. 1992) (“The
10
Section 856 provides, in relevant part:
[I]t shall be unlawful to –
(1) knowingly open, lease, rent, use, or maintain any place, whether
permanently or temporarily, for the purpose of manufacturing, distributing,
or using any controlled substance;
(2) manage or control any place, whether permanently or temporarily,
either as an owner, lessee, agent, employee, occupant, or mortgagee, and
knowingly and intentionally rent, lease, profit from, or make available for
use, with or without compensation, the place for the purpose of unlawfully
manufacturing, storing, distributing, or using a controlled substance.
21 U.S.C. § 856(a). On the other hand, 21 U.S.C. § 841 provides, in relevant part:
(a) Unlawful acts
[I]t shall be unlawful for any person knowingly or intentionally –
(1) to manufacture, distribute, or dispense, or possess with intent to
manufacture, distribute or dispense, a controlled substance … .
21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1).
12
plain language of the statute indicates that Congress intended to punish conspiracies to
violate 841(a)(1) separately from conspiracies to violate 856(a)(1).”); cf. United States v.
Baker, 16 F.3d 854, 858 (8th Cir. 1994) (concluding that a § 856 offense is distinct from
a “controlled substance offense” under U.S.S.G. § 4B1.2). We agree with those
decisions. Since it is clear that Congress intended to punish § 841 and § 856 offenses
separately, Costa‟s sentences could have run consecutively, and the District Court did not
err in using the Guidelines range of 292 to 365 months.
2. Demand for Analysis Under 18 U.S.C. § 358411
Costa argues that the District Court abused its discretion by not explicitly
conducting an analysis under 18 U.S.C. § 3584 before “running a portion of the sentences
consecutively to reach the higher Guideline range.” (Appellant‟s Opening Br. at 40.)
The argument is without merit.
Under 18 U.S.C. § 3584, a sentencing court has discretion to impose multiple
terms of imprisonment either concurrently or consecutively: “[A] court, in determining
whether the terms imposed are to be ordered to run concurrently or consecutively, shall
consider, as to each offense for which a term of imprisonment is being imposed, the
factors set forth in [18 U.S.C. §] 3553(a).” 18 U.S.C. § 3584(b). Costa seems to argue
that the Court should have conducted a § 3584 analysis before applying the Guidelines
range of 292 to 365 months to each of Counts I, II, and III. As the government correctly
11
Because Costa‟s claim pertains to the District Court‟s decision on whether his
convictions should be addressed in concurrent or consecutive sentences, we review for
abuse of discretion the Court‟s exercise of discretion without explicitly conducting an
analysis under 18 U.S.C. § 3584. United States v. Swann, 275 F.3d 272, 275 (3d Cir.
2002).
13
points out, however, Costa conflates the court‟s obligation to determine the applicable
Guidelines range for each count with the court‟s discretion to order the sentences on each
count to run concurrently or consecutively. Section 3584 relates to the latter
determination, in which the District Court imposed Costa‟s 20-year sentences for each
count to run concurrently.12
Nonetheless, the District Court properly considered the § 3553(a) factors, as
required by 18 U.S.C. § 3584(b), when determining the sentence for each of count. It
found that the facts compelled “substantial additional punishment and incarceration”
(App. at A1886) because Costa was, “by far, the largest distributor of [oxycodone] in
Delaware at the time” (id. at A1884-85) and had a “pattern of manipulation and
deception” (id. at A1887-88). The Court also took into account the sentences imposed on
other defendants involved in the underlying oxycodone distribution and distinguished the
rationales behind their sentences from the rationale behind Costa‟s sentence.
Therefore, the Court did not err in exercising its discretion under 18 U.S.C.
§ 3584.
3. Brady Violation13
Finally, Costa argues that the government withheld Brady material that was
relevant to his sentencing. Specifically, he contends that, despite two written requests,
12
Running the sentences concurrently, rather than consecutively, was obviously to
Costa‟s benefit.
13
A review of a Brady violation involves both questions of law and fact. United
States v. Pelullo, 14 F.3d 881, 886 (3d Cir. 1994). We review questions of law de novo,
and factual findings for clear error. Id.
14
the government failed to produce documents that would have supported his argument for
a more lenient sentence.
Under Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83, 87 (1963), “the suppression by the
prosecution of evidence favorable to an accused upon request violates due process where
the evidence is material either to guilt or to punishment, irrespective of the good faith or
bad faith of the prosecution.” Materiality in this context requires a “reasonable
probability” that, had the evidence been disclosed, the result of the proceeding would
have been different. United States v. Bagley, 473 U.S. 667, 684 (1985). Here, the
information at issue, even if assumed to be covered by Brady, would have been
cumulative of the evidence that the Court considered at sentencing. Because it is not
reasonably probable that the result of the sentencing would have been different, there was
no Brady violation.
III. Conclusion
For the foregoing reasons, we will affirm Costa‟s convictions and sentence.
15