United States v. Tyree Belk

USCA4 Appeal: 20-4551 Doc: 61 Filed: 12/22/2022 Pg: 1 of 15
UNPUBLISHED
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT
No. 20-4551
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff − Appellee,
v.
TYREE BELK,
Defendant – Appellant.
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina, at
Charlotte. Max O. Cogburn, Jr., District Judge. (3:17−cr−00347−MOC−DCK−1)
Submitted: June 28, 2022 Decided: December 22, 2022
Before DIAZ and QUATTLEBAUM, Circuit Judges, and FLOYD, Senior Circuit Judge.
Affirmed in part, vacated in part, and remanded for resentencing by unpublished per curiam
opinion.
ON BRIEF: James W. Kilbourne, Jr., ALLEN, STAHL & KILBOURNE, PLLC,
Asheville, North Carolina, for Appellant. William T. Stetzer, Acting United States
Attorney, Charlotte, North Carolina, Amy E. Ray, Assistant United States Attorney,
OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY, Asheville, North Carolina, for
Appellee.
Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.
USCA4 Appeal: 20-4551 Doc: 61 Filed: 12/22/2022 Pg: 2 of 15
PER CURIAM:
In July 2019, a jury found Tyree Belk guilty on several counts, including robbery
and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance analogue. 1 Belk appeals,
alleging (1) the district court violated his due process rights by not giving him full access
to discovery while he was pro se, (2) the district court erred by denying his motion for a
Franks hearing, 2 (3) the district court improperly admitted in-court and out-of-court
identification testimony, and (4) there was insufficient evidence for the jury to convict him
of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance analogue (Count Four). We
agree with Belk as to his last argument, so we vacate his conviction on Count Four and
remand with instructions that the district court enter a judgment of acquittal on that count
and resentence Belk. We otherwise affirm.
1
A “controlled substance analogue” is a substance “the chemical structure of which
is substantially similar to that of a controlled substance in schedule I or II, and which has
an actual, claimed, or intended stimulant, depressant, or hallucinogenic effect on the central
nervous system that is substantially similar to or greater than that of a controlled substance
in schedule I or II.” United States v. McFadden, 823 F.3d 217, 220 (4th Cir. 2016) (citing
21 U.S.C. § 802(32)(A)) (cleaned up).
2
The Fourth Amendment requires a court to hold a hearing on the veracity of the
contents of a search warrant affidavit “where the defendant makes a substantial preliminary
showing that a false statement knowingly and intentionally, or with reckless disregard for
the truth, was included by the affiant in the warrant affidavit,” to determine whether “the
allegedly false statement is necessary to the finding of probable cause.” Franks v.
Delaware, 438 U.S. 154, 155–56 (1978).
2
USCA4 Appeal: 20-4551 Doc: 61 Filed: 12/22/2022 Pg: 3 of 15
I.
A.
In April 2017, a deli employee observed a man and a woman park a white Pontiac
Grand Prix outside a nearby “Skillz Biz” gaming store in Charlotte, North Carolina, the
man take out a gun, and both pull ski masks over their faces and enter the store. The
employee eyewitness told a coworker to call the police.
The two suspects robbed a Skillz Biz employee at gunpoint, driving away with a
little over $3,000. The police arrived afterward and interviewed the eyewitness, who
described the suspects and their car’s make, model, and license plate number. A detective,
Jamie C. Smith, ran the tag and learned it belonged to defendant Tyree Belk.
Smith showed the eyewitness a photo lineup of six men that included Belk. The
eyewitness identified Belk, and when an officer asked him “how sure he was on a scale of
0-100 percent, he stated that he was 75% sure.” J.A. 109. Smith then sought a warrant
from a state magistrate for Belk’s arrest and submitted an affidavit that stated the
eyewitness “positively identified Belk.” J.A. 126. Police also issued a “be on the lookout”
notice for the car.
An officer spotted the car and pulled it over. Belk was driving and a woman, Gina
Cathcart, was in the front seat. The officer arrested Belk when he learned the warrant was
pending. During the resulting search of Belk, the officer found a hotel key card and about
$1,270.
Officers took Belk to jail and collected a DNA sample. Belk refused to speak to the
police. Cathcart, however, confessed to the robbery and that the officers would discover
3
USCA4 Appeal: 20-4551 Doc: 61 Filed: 12/22/2022 Pg: 4 of 15
drugs on her person and in the car. Officers later discovered around four grams of N-
Ethylpentylone (“bath salts”) packaged in nine “plastic corners” in the car’s glove
compartment. S.J.A. 11.
Officers obtained a warrant to search the room associated with the hotel key card.
In it, officers found a handgun with Belk’s DNA.
B.
A grand jury issued a nine-count indictment against Belk. Although he was
represented by counsel, Belk filed multiple pro se motions requesting new representation.
The court held a hearing, during which Belk’s counsel withdrew. The court then appointed
Brent Walker as Belk’s counsel.
One week before Belk’s trial was scheduled to begin, the court held another hearing
to inquire about counsel. 3 Belk moved to represent himself and Walker moved to
withdraw. The district court granted Belk’s motion and appointed Walker as standby
counsel.
Two months later, Belk moved for a Franks hearing on the validity of his arrest
warrant, arguing Detective Smith omitted and falsified relevant facts such as not including
that the eyewitness was only “75% sure” of his identification. The court denied his motion.
Two months after that, Belk moved to suppress, arguing that the officer who arrested
him did so without probable cause. The district court held a hearing and denied Belk’s
3
During the hearing, the prosecutor and Walker noted that Belk’s trial may not
begin the next week because of a long trial taking place before his. The trial was ultimately
postponed several months.
4
USCA4 Appeal: 20-4551 Doc: 61 Filed: 12/22/2022 Pg: 5 of 15
motion. In his motion and during the suppression hearing, Belk claimed Walker’s attorney-
client visits were not regular enough for Belk to review “all of the voluminous discovery”
in the case. J.A. 149.
At the end of the hearing, Belk confirmed that he had received copies of the grand
jury transcripts, though they had come late. And he asked that Walker take over his case,
explaining that he felt he could not represent himself to “the best of [his] degree” because
of “the limited amount of access [and] time” he had to review the grand jury transcripts.
J.A. 297. The court granted Belk’s request and reappointed Walker as counsel. Walker
stated he had reviewed all the discovery material, and that he would stay at the courthouse
to review it with Belk.
Belk’s trial began the next week. The eyewitness testified about identifying Belk
in the photo lineup, again noting he was 75 percent sure. The prosecutor played a video of
a suspect going into the Skillz Biz and asked the eyewitness if he recognized the individual.
The eyewitness confirmed it was the person he saw enter the store. While a photo of the
suspect was still up, the prosecution asked the eyewitness to identify the suspect in the
courtroom. The eyewitness pointed at Belk, describing him as “African-American. He
looks to be about 6’1”, 6’2”.” J.A. 557. The court warned the prosecutor, “In the future
don't put pictures up while [the eyewitness is] identifying the person.” Id. But the court
didn’t strike the identification.
Cathcart testified that she and Belk robbed the Skillz Biz. She also claimed that the
drugs found on her were from Belk, and that she earlier saw Belk give what she thought
was “crack cocaine” to his brother. J.A. 794.
5
USCA4 Appeal: 20-4551 Doc: 61 Filed: 12/22/2022 Pg: 6 of 15
A chemist testified that the substance found in the white Pontiac’s glovebox was N-
Ethylpentylone which is “substantially similar” to other controlled substances. J.A. 623.
Others also testified, including police who arrived on scene after the robbery.
After the government rested, Belk moved for a judgment of acquittal on all counts.
The court granted the motion on one count: possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug
trafficking crime. Belk then presented his case and renewed his motion for judgment of
acquittal on the remaining counts. The district court denied the motion.
The jury found Belk guilty of (Count One) conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act
robbery, (Count Two) Hobbs Act robbery, (Count Three) brandishing a firearm during and
in relation to the robbery, (Count Four) possession with intent to distribute a controlled-
substance analogue, and (Count Six) possessing a firearm as a felon. The jury found Belk
not guilty of the other charges.
The district court sentenced Belk to 135 months in prison. Belk timely appealed.
II.
A.
We begin with (and reject) Belk’s claim that he was denied due process because he
didn’t have full access to discovery.
Belk didn’t raise a due process argument during trial, so we review for plain error.
See United States v. Banks, 29 F.4th 168, 174 (4th Cir. 2022). “Before we will consider
reversing under plain-error review, (1) there must be an error; (2) the error must be plain,
meaning obvious or clear under current law; and (3) the error must affect substantial
6
USCA4 Appeal: 20-4551 Doc: 61 Filed: 12/22/2022 Pg: 7 of 15
rights.” United States v. Knight, 606 F.3d 171, 177 (4th Cir. 2010) (cleaned up). Federal
Rule of Criminal Procedure 52(b) “leaves the decision to correct the forfeited error within
the sound discretion of the court of appeals, and the court should not exercise that discretion
unless the error seriously affects the fairness, integrity or public reputation of judicial
proceedings.” United States v. Olano, 507 U.S. 725, 732 (1993) (cleaned up).
As a pro se defendant, Belk was entitled to “the means of presenting his best
defense,” including having the “time and facilities for investigation and for the production
of evidence.” Adams v. U.S. ex rel. McCann, 317 U.S. 269, 279 (1942). And the record
reflects that Belk made several requests to obtain and review the extensive discovery
materials. But the record also shows the court promptly responded to Belk’s requests. In
the hearing where Belk asked to represent himself, the court noted that standby counsel,
who had reviewed the materials, could “set up discovery and kind of run through it with”
Belk. J.A. 63. And in a later hearing, the court offered to postpone certain witness
testimony to allow Belk more time to review relevant materials, and directed standby
counsel to go over discovery with Belk that afternoon. J.A. 290–91.
Even assuming Belk didn’t have adequate access to discovery, we see no harm to
his “substantial rights.” At his request, Belk was represented by counsel, Walker, at trial.
Walker had been on the case for months, first as Belk’s lawyer and then as standby counsel,
and had reviewed the discovery materials. And Walker didn’t request a continuance to
review discovery, further suggesting Belk suffered no prejudice. See United States v.
Uzenski, 434 F.3d 690, 709 (4th Cir. 2006) (defendant “had not suffered prejudice by the
denial of discovery” where counsel didn’t request a continuance). Finally, there’s no
7
USCA4 Appeal: 20-4551 Doc: 61 Filed: 12/22/2022 Pg: 8 of 15
evidence that Belk’s attorney was unprepared or that any error “seriously affect[ed] the
fairness, integrity or public reputation of [Belk’s] judicial proceedings.” Olano, 507 U.S.
at 732. We thus find no due process violation.
B.
Belk also challenges the district court’s denial of his Franks hearing request over
the validity of the affidavit for his warrant. He claims Detective Smith both omitted
relevant information and falsified information. Finding no error, we affirm the district
court.
In considering whether the district court should have ordered a Franks hearing, we
review legal determinations de novo and any factual findings for clear error. United States
v. Seigler, 990 F.3d 331, 344 (4th Cir. 2021).
To show he’s entitled to a Franks hearing, Belk “must make a substantial
preliminary showing that false statements were either knowingly or recklessly included in
an affidavit supporting [an arrest] warrant and that, without those false statements, the
affidavit cannot support a probable cause finding.” Id. at 344.
A defendant relying on an omission “must provide a substantial preliminary
showing that (1) law enforcement made an omission; (2) law enforcement made the
omission knowingly and intentionally, or with reckless disregard for the truth; and (3) the
inclusion of the omitted evidence in the affidavit would have defeated its probable cause.”
United States v. Haas, 986 F.3d 467, 474 (4th Cir. 2021) (cleaned up). One way to show
reckless disregard “is by proffering evidence that a police officer failed to inform the
judicial officer of facts he knew would negate probable cause.” United States v. Lull, 824
8
USCA4 Appeal: 20-4551 Doc: 61 Filed: 12/22/2022 Pg: 9 of 15
F.3d 109, 117 (4th Cir. 2016) (cleaned up). And “the significance—or insignificance—of
a particular omission to the determination of probable cause may inform our conclusion
regarding the agent’s intent.” Id.Belk notes that Detective Smith (1) didn’t include in his affidavit that the eyewitness
was only 75 percent certain in his identification and (2) incorrectly claimed in the affidavit
that the witness saw Belk get into his car and leave the area. But there’s no evidence that
Smith acted intentionally or with reckless disregard for the truth. And this isn’t a case in
which the alleged errors were “clearly critical to the finding of probable cause.” United
States v. Colkley, 899 F.2d 297, 301 (4th Cir. 1990) (cleaned up).
That’s because the affidavit included other information that independently
supported probable cause. It explained that the eyewitness saw the suspects “hanging
around” a white Pontiac Grand Prix and that this vehicle “is registered to the suspect.” J.A.
111. It also noted the witness’s physical descriptions of the suspects, and that the
eyewitness saw them “walk in front of his business and down to where the victim business
was located” and “pull masks over their faces and enter the business.” Id. This information
is sufficient for a finding of probable cause. See United States v. Ortiz, 669 F.3d 439, 444
(4th Cir. 2012) (“Probable cause is a flexible standard that simply requires a reasonable
ground for belief of guilt and more than bare suspicion.” (cleaned up)). Thus, the district
court didn’t err in denying Belk’s motion for a Franks hearing.
C.
Next, we find no error in the district court’s decision to admit the out-of-court and
in-court identifications. The photo lineup from which the witness identified Belk wasn’t
9
USCA4 Appeal: 20-4551 Doc: 61 Filed: 12/22/2022 Pg: 10 of 15
impermissibly suggestive. And even if it were, the witness’s in-court identification of Belk
was reliable.
Because Belk didn’t object to the identification at trial, we again review for plain
error. Banks, 29 F.4th at 174.
To prove that an out-of-court identification is inadmissible, the defendant must first
establish “that the photographic lineup procedure was impermissibly suggestive.” United
States v. Wilkerson, 84 F.3d 692, 695 (4th Cir. 1996). A procedure is impermissibly
suggestive “if a positive identification is likely to result from factors other than the
witness’s own recollection of the crime.” Satcher v. Pruett, 126 F.3d 561, 566 (4th Cir.
1997). If the defendant meets this burden, we consider whether the identification was
“nevertheless reliable in the context of all the circumstances.” United States v. Saunders,
501 F.3d 384, 389–90 (4th Cir. 2007).
Belk’s challenge fails at the first step. We see no characteristics of an impermissibly
suggestive lineup. The photo array included six photos of African-American men, all with
relatively short hair. Although Belk’s hair was longer than four of the other five, the
difference wasn’t significant. And while there was variation in skin tone, it wasn’t
substantial, nor was Belk on either extreme. Some photos had brighter lighting and others
had darker lighting than Belk’s photo, but there was nothing that made Belk’s photo stand
out. See id. at 390 (“The risk of suggestiveness comes when one photo stands out.”). Nor
was there any sign that Belk’s photo was taken at a different time or place than all others
in the lineup, and all were cropped as headshots. See id. (“The fact that [the defendant’s]
photo differed significantly from the others as a group could have suggested to a viewer
10
USCA4 Appeal: 20-4551 Doc: 61 Filed: 12/22/2022 Pg: 11 of 15
that [his] photo was taken at a different time and place than the rest.”). And each person,
including Belk, was only in the lineup once. See Simmons v. United States, 390 U.S. 377,
383 (1968) (explaining that the danger of an incorrect identification increases “if the police
display to the witness . . . the pictures of several persons among which the photograph of a
single [] individual recurs”). Given the above, we see no evidence that the out-of-court
photo lineup was impermissibly suggestive.
Although we need not examine the second step, the in-court identification was also
reliable. On this issue, we consider several factors, including
(1) the witness’s opportunity to view the suspect at the time of the crime; (2)
the witness’s degree of attention at the time; (3) the accuracy of the witness’s
initial description of the suspect; (4) the witness’s level of certainty in
making the identification; and (5) the length of time between the crime and
the identification.
Saunders, 501 F.3d at 391.
The witness saw Belk in daylight, before Belk put on a ski mask, and identified him
in the photo lineup later that day. And the witness’s description of Belk was accurate.
Although Belk points to minor deviations between the description and reality—such as a
slight difference in height and hairstyle—we don’t demand perfection. See, e.g., United
States v. Lewis, 719 F. App’x 210, 217 (4th Cir. 2018) (unpublished) (finding that the
witness’s identification was “relatively consistent” with how the defendant appeared the
night of the crime when the description “matche[d] how [the defendant] appeared on the
video of the show-up procedure”).
Although the witness was only “75% sure” of his photo identification, this alone
doesn’t shatter reliability, given that the witness conveyed a high level of certainty. Belk
11
USCA4 Appeal: 20-4551 Doc: 61 Filed: 12/22/2022 Pg: 12 of 15
also argues the prosecution “manipulated” the witness’s in-court identification when he
showed an exhibit photo of Belk “as he appeared in the courtroom” and left the photo up
during the in-court identification. Appellant’s Br. at 33–34. Although these factors may
cut against reliability, they’re not dispositive. Additionally, Belk’s counsel didn’t object
when these issues arose.
Lastly, Belk correctly notes that suggestive out-of-court procedures can taint in-
court identification. See Neil v. Biggers, 409 U.S. 188, 198 (1972). But given our
conclusion that the photo lineup was innocuous, we need not consider if it polluted any
later testimony.
We affirm the district court’s evidentiary rulings.
D.
Lastly, Belk asks us to overturn his conviction for possession with intent to
distribute a controlled substance analogue (Count Four). His argument is threefold. First,
he asserts that the expert witness’s testimony wasn’t sufficient evidence for the jury to have
found that the substance was a controlled substance analogue. Second, he claims the
government didn’t prove he “intended” to distribute the substance for human consumption.
Third, he contends that the government didn’t present sufficient evidence to satisfy the
knowledge element of the crime. We agree with Belk’s third argument.
Although we review the denial of a motion for judgment of acquittal de novo, a
jury’s guilty verdict must be upheld if, “viewing the evidence in the light most favorable
to the government, substantial evidence supports it.” United States v. Wolf, 860 F.3d 175,
194 (4th Cir. 2017) (cleaned up). “Substantial evidence is evidence that a reasonable finder
12
USCA4 Appeal: 20-4551 Doc: 61 Filed: 12/22/2022 Pg: 13 of 15
of fact could accept as adequate and sufficient to support a conclusion of a defendant’s
guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.” Id. (cleaned up). A defendant contending that there was
insufficient evidence to support his guilty verdict “must overcome a heavy burden,” as
“reversal for insufficient evidence is reserved for the rare case where the prosecution’s
failure is clear.” Id. (cleaned up).
To convict Belk of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance
analogue, the government had to prove that Belk
(1) distributed a substance that had the chemical structure of an analogue and
the actual, intended, or claimed physiological effects of an analogue; (2)
intended that the substance be used for human consumption; and (3) knew
either the legal status of the substance, or the chemical structure and
physiological effects of that substance.
McFadden, 823 F.3d at 223.
The government easily established the first element. At trial, an expert witness
testified that the substance officers found was N-Ethylpenylone, an “analogue” of two
Schedule I substances (pentylone and cathinone). When asked whether N-Ethylpentylone
is substantially similar to pentylone and cathinone, she said yes. Although the expert didn’t
directly testify that the substance had a chemical structure substantially similar to pentylone
and cathinone, the jury could reasonably infer so based on her answers.
Elements two and three require us to determine aspects of Belk’s mental state: his
intent and knowledge. The government can prove mens rea using circumstantial evidence,
including “a defendant’s concealment of his activities, evasive behavior with respect to law
enforcement, knowledge that a particular substance produces a ‘high’ similar to that
produced by controlled substances, and knowledge that a particular substance is subject to
13
USCA4 Appeal: 20-4551 Doc: 61 Filed: 12/22/2022 Pg: 14 of 15
seizure at customs.” McFadden v. United States, 576 U.S. 186, 192 n.1 (2015). Although
pieces of such evidence may be ambiguous, a jury may take them “in context and evaluate[]
as to whether they in fact contribute to scienter.” United States v. Ali, 735 F.3d 176, 189
(4th Cir. 2013).
With this in mind, and viewing the evidence most favorably towards the
government, we find substantial evidence of intent to distribute for human consumption.
The substance was wrapped into several small packages, and a detective testified he had
“seen narcotics packaged in this manner.” J.A. 598. Cathcart also testified that she thought
the substance was “crack cocaine,” and that Belk had given her and her brother crack
cocaine previously. J.A. 778, 782, 794. And the expert witness testified that this type of
substance was “sold on the street and people ingest them.” J.A. 624. Any reasonable jury
could infer that the individualized packaging, Belk’s previous actions, and the typical
practice of people buying this substance to ingest established Belk intended to distribute
for human consumption.
But the government’s case fails on the third element—the scienter requirement. The
government had two pathways to prove its case. It could prove Belk “knew that the
substance [was] some controlled substance—that is, one actually listed on the schedules or
treated as such by operation of the Analogue Act—regardless of whether he knew the
particular identity of the substance.” McFadden, 823 F.3d at 223 (cleaned up). Or the
government could show that Belk “knew the specific analogue he was dealing with, even
if he did not know its legal status as an analogue.” Id.
14
USCA4 Appeal: 20-4551 Doc: 61 Filed: 12/22/2022 Pg: 15 of 15
Even looking at the record in the most favorable light to the government, there isn’t
substantial evidence to uphold Belk’s conviction. The government presented no evidence
that Belk knew the substance was controlled or that he knew its “chemical structure and
physiological effects.” Id. Cathcart’s testimony that she believed the substance was drugs
isn’t enough. The government neglected to ask her why she believed the substance was
drugs, connect the drugs found on her to the substance in Belk’s car, or establish any other
trace of evidence to reveal Belk’s knowledge. This is the rare case in which the failure of
proof is clear.
Thus, we vacate the judgment as to Count Four, and remand with instructions that
the district court enter a judgment of acquittal on that count and resentence accordingly.
See United States v. Hickman, 626 F.3d 756, 773 (4th Cir. 2010) (ordering resentencing
when vacating a conviction due to insufficient evidence).
We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are
adequately presented in the materials before this court and argument would not aid the
decisional process.
AFFIRMED IN PART, VACATED IN PART, AND
REMANDED FOR RESENTENCING
15