United States v. Aaron Polk

United States Court of Appeals
For the Eighth Circuit
___________________________
No. 12-1303
___________________________
United States of America
lllllllllllllllllllll Plaintiff - Appellee
v.
Aaron William Polk
lllllllllllllllllllll Defendant - Appellant
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Appeal from United States District Court
for the District of Nebraska - Lincoln
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Submitted: November 16, 2012
Filed: May 17, 2013
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Before SMITH, BEAM, and GRUENDER, Circuit Judges.
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SMITH, Circuit Judge.
A jury found Aaron William Polk guilty of one count of conspiracy to
manufacture and possess with intent to manufacture and distribute 1,000 or more
marijuana plants, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A)(vii), and 846.
At sentencing, the district court1 denied Polk safety-valve relief under 18 U.S.C.
§ 3553(f) and U.S.S.G. § 5C1.2(a)(5) and sentenced Polk to 120 months'
imprisonment, the statutory minimum. On appeal, Polk first argues that insufficient
evidence exists that he intentionally joined the conspiracy and that it was reasonably
foreseeable to him that the conspiracy involved 1,000 or more marijuana plants.
Second, he asserts that the district court abused its discretion in not excluding certain
evidence because the government committed a discovery violation. Third, he
maintains that the district court abused its discretion in limiting his cross-examination
of a cooperating witness. Finally, he claims that the district court erroneously denied
him safety-valve relief. We affirm.
I. Background
On March 5, 2010, members of the Lincoln, Nebraska Police Department
(LPD) executed a search warrant on a house located at 5210 North 11th Street,
Lincoln, Nebraska ("N. 11th St."). As officers approached the home, they smelled a
strong odor of marijuana. Kevin Belton, a resident, opened the front door. When the
door opened, the marijuana odor intensified. Inside the home, officers found Polk in
an office area on the first floor. The office area's windows were covered with black
trashbags. The office area contained marijuana paraphernalia. Officers also located
approximately ten space heaters on the first floor of the home. And, in the
workout/storage room, officers found boxes containing Polk's personal items and an
open box containing marijuana. In the kitchen, also located on the first floor, officers
recovered a key to the locked basement door in a kitchen island drawer. They also
found a one-gallon ziplock baggie filled with marijuana, additional loose marijuana,
and a Tupperware container filled with marijuana buds in kitchen island drawers.
1
The Honorable Richard G. Kopf, United States District Judge for the District
of Nebraska.
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In the basement, officers discovered several makeshift rooms used as a
marijuana grow operation. Three rooms contained plants in different stages of growth,
while another room contained the electrical system and timers. Large fans suspended
from the ceiling ventilated the rooms through large silver tubing that went through
holes cut through the ceiling of the basement, continued through the closet of the first
floor workout room, and exited the first floor through holes cut through the ceiling
and into the home's attic area. The grow lighting system was rigged to a series of
ballasts that were powered by electrical lines connected directly to the exterior power
cables, fed through holes drilled through a basement exterior wall, and attached to an
illegal circuit breaker board. A large window in the basement was covered.
Officers seized 685 "actively growing plants" and 120 potted root stems. In
addition, they seized several more very large black trashbags filled with harvested
marijuana rooted stems removed from the pots. In addition to the marijuana plants
and stems, officers seized 28 four-foot metal lamp shades each containing a 1,000-
watt mercury light bulb; 28 corresponding electrical ballasts; venting fans; silver duct
tubing; gallons of fertilizer; and gardening equipment.
Belton, the renter of the N. 11th St. residence, met and became friends with
Polk in 2001. In 2007, Belton began working with Polk and his company, AW
Properties, a real estate rental business that purchased properties to rent or renovate
and sell. AW Properties also leased properties from third parties with an option to
purchase the properties. It would then sublease the property to another party to whom
it would also offer an option to purchase the home.
Polk introduced Belton to Jeff Duponte, the owner of an unfinished home at
the N. 11th St. address. In March 2009, Polk arranged for Belton to rent the home
from Duponte, who resided in California. Once Belton moved into the house, Polk
was there on a daily basis. Polk had an office for AW Properties in the front bedroom
of the home.
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Approximately one month after Belton moved into the N. 11th St. home, Chien
Nguyen approached him about installing a marijuana grow operation. Belton agreed
to let Nguyen install the grow operation.
Nguyen and Polk originally met around June 2005 when Polk sold Nguyen a
house on Normal Boulevard in Lincoln, Nebraska ("Normal Boulevard"). The two
began socializing, and Nguyen confided in Polk that he was growing marijuana in the
basement of his home. Nguyen told Polk that he needed to find another house to grow
marijuana in that had an unfinished basement and an attached garage because his
current home was unsuitable for growing marijuana. Nguyen wanted an unfinished
basement so that he would have more room to grow marijuana. He wanted an attached
garage so that he could move plants and dirt inside his house without his neighbors
seeing him.
Polk agreed to find a house for Nguyen that satisfied his requirements. On
January 10, 2006, Polk, through AW Properties, leased 2720 North 81st Street,
Lincoln, Nebraska ("N. 81st St.")—a home with an unfinished basement and an
attached garage—from Lorraine Prusa of Golden Investments. The monthly rent was
$1,380.00, and the lease included an option to purchase the property. At the time of
the lease, Polk told Prusa that he was planning to sublease the property.
Polk brought Nguyen pictures of the house on N. 81st St., telling Nguyen that
"[t]his house would be great for it." Nguyen understood Polk to mean that the house
would be great for growing marijuana. Polk told Nguyen that the rent was $2,000 per
month and that Nguyen could have the house for three years. Nguyen did not sign a
lease. When Nguyen moved in, he paid Polk $5,000, pursuant to Polk's instructions.
Nguyen did not question Polk regarding what the extra $3,000 was for. Shortly after
moving in, Nguyen installed a marijuana grow operation.
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Nguyen paid Polk $2,000 in cash every month for the house on N. 81st St.,
although the payment that Polk made to Golden Investments was substantially less.
Sometimes Nguyen was late paying the rent. Nguyen would inform Polk that he was
waiting for money from the sale of the marijuana. On a couple of occasions, Nguyen
would tell Polk that he was "waiting for [his] harvest, and after [his] harvest [he]
could pay [Polk]." Polk never questioned what Nguyen meant by "harvest," and Polk
was agreeable to waiting for payment. Polk would sometimes ask Nguyen "when
there would be a harvest so [he] c[ould] get the rent." Polk also knew that Belton
began helping Nguyen with the harvests at the marijuana grow operation at N. 81st
St.
In 2007, Nguyen went to jail after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor charge of
possession with intent to deliver marijuana. Prior to going to jail in July 2007,
Nguyen had approximately five harvests at the N. 81st St. home. He was having
harvests every two months, the first of which occurred in "early summer late fall of
2006." He harvested at least 200 plants per harvest. When Nguyen learned that he was
going to jail, he shut down the marijuana grow operation at N. 81st St. After his
release from jail in approximately November 2007, Nguyen resumed his marijuana
grow operation at the N. 81st St. home. He had four harvests of approximately 200
plants per harvest after his release from jail.
Nguyen knew that he would have to move out of the N. 81st St. home by 2009.
As a result, he made plans to expand his operation. Nguyen told Polk that he needed
another house when the lease expired, and Polk informed Nguyen that he had a
"better house" with the same owner who would not "check the house." Polk knew that
Nguyen needed the house for his marijuana grow operation and that it needed to have
an unfinished basement and attached garage. The new home that Polk found for
Nguyen was located at 2620 Norman Circle, Lincoln, Nebraska ("Norman Circle").
Before Nguyen ever saw the Norman Circle home, Nguyen paid Polk $11,000 earned
from his marijuana grow operation because Polk "said that's what he needs." Nguyen
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liked the house and the location, but he had to wait until the current residents moved
out before he could move in and start growing marijuana.
Prusa of Golden Investments entered an agreement with the owners of the
Norman Circle home to rent the property. Polk learned that Prusa had the Norman
Circle property for rent and told Prusa that he was interested in renting it under the
terms of a lease with the option to purchase. By June 28, 2008, Polk had signed the
written contract with Golden Investments in which he agreed to pay $1,650 monthly
rent beginning July 1, 2008, with an option to purchase the home. Nguyen moved into
the Norman Circle home between August and September 2008 after Polk told him it
was okay to move in. Nguyen did not sign a lease for the home. He began his
marijuana grow operation shortly after moving in.
Even though Nguyen had the Norman Circle home, he continued to operate the
N. 81st St. marijuana grow operation until January 2009, paying rent to Polk for both
houses. Upon the expiration of the lease, Nguyen and Belton began cleaning the N.
81st St. home. During this time, Polk came to the home to check on their progress. At
that time, the basement contained "[a] whole bunch of pots around, a bunch of dirt
around, . . . fifty to seventy to a hundred plants laying around . . . , small plants,
maybe like five or seven inches tall, . . . just . . . laying . . . there." Polk was mad
because he was scheduled to show the home soon and did not think that Nguyen and
Belton could finish cleaning the home in time. Polk then asked Prusa for additional
time to clean up the home. She agreed to extend the lease for another month. After
Nguyen moved out, the basement floor still bore water-ring stains from the numerous
large pots that had contained the marijuana plants.
The marijuana grow operation at Norman Circle was larger than the one at N.
81st St. Nguyen paid Polk cash for the rent at Norman Circle. As rent came due, Polk
would ask Belton when the next harvest would occur so that he could know when to
expect his money. Prior to law enforcement discovering the marijuana grow operation
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at Norman Circle on March 6, 2010, Nguyen had eight harvests of 600 plants per
harvest. When officers executed the search warrant on March 6, 2010, they seized
202 live plants and 429 potted stemmed root balls.
After Belton had moved into the N. 11th St. home in 2009, Nguyen talked to
Polk about starting a marijuana grow operation at the home. Nguyen inquired whether
Belton would be "cool" with Nguyen growing marijuana at the home and whether
Nguyen could trust Belton. Polk assured Nguyen that he could trust Belton and that
Belton "was cool." Nguyen approached Belton with the offer, and Belton agreed
because he was in need of money. Other people were also involved in setting up the
marijuana grow operation, tending to the plants, and harvesting the marijuana. As the
plants neared maturity, the smell of marijuana became so strong that others in the
neighborhood noticed it. Polk often commented about the odor, saying "that if you
knew what the smell was, you would know what was going on here."
Nguyen began paying the $2,000 per month rent for N. 11th St. As with the
other marijuana grow operations, to harvest the marijuana, the plants were cut down
and mechanically processed. The machine used to harvest the plants could be heard
on the first floor, as could the fans used to vent the grow rooms. Nguyen harvested
the marijuana plants "four or five times before [he] got busted." Each harvest
involved "five, six hundred" marijuana plants. That total did not include the 685 live
plants seized from the home on March 5, 2010.
As part of their business recordkeeping, Belton and Polk maintained lists of
properties that AW Properties owned or rented. They also used the records to obtain
bank loans. Although Nguyen made monthly cash payments, neither N. 81st St. nor
Norman Circle ever appeared on the property lists showing that they had been rented.
Likewise, there were no written leases between Nguyen and AW Properties for the
residents on N. 81st St. or Norman Circle, although renters of Polk's other rental
properties all signed leases. The utilities for N. 81st St. and Norman Circle were in
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Polk's name even though his common practice with other tenants was to have the
utilities placed in the tenant's name.
Polk was charged with one count of conspiracy to manufacture and possess
with intent to manufacture and distribute 1,000 or more marijuana plants, in violation
of §§ 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A)(vii), and 846. The jury found Polk guilty. Polk then
filed motions for judgment of acquittal and a new trial. The district court denied both
motions. Prior to sentencing, Polk filed a motion for safety-valve eligibility pursuant
to 18 U.S.C. § 3553(f), and the government filed an objection. At sentencing, the
court denied Polk safety-valve relief, concluding that Polk "has not complied with
prong five of [U.S.S.G. §] 5C1.2(a)." The court concluded that Polk's "written
statement and oral statement contradict[ed] the evidence presented at trial, most
specifically the statement[s] of [Nguyen] and Belton that they had conversations with
the defendant that fully inculpated the defendant in illegal endeavors." The court
sentenced Polk to the statutory minimum of 120 months' imprisonment.
II. Discussion
On appeal, Polk first argues that insufficient evidence exists that he
intentionally joined the conspiracy and that it was reasonably foreseeable to him that
the conspiracy involved 1,000 or more marijuana plants. Second, he asserts that the
district court abused its discretion in not excluding certain evidence because the
government committed a discovery violation. Third, he maintains that the district
court abused its discretion in limiting his cross-examination of a cooperating witness.
Finally, he claims that the district court erroneously denied him safety-valve relief.
1. Sufficiency of the Evidence
"We review the sufficiency of the evidence de novo, viewing evidence in the
light most favorable to the government, resolving conflicts in the government's favor,
and accepting all reasonable inferences that support the verdict." United States v.
Miller, 698 F.3d 699, 702 (8th Cir. 2012) (quotation and citation omitted).
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a. Conspiracy
"To establish that a defendant conspired to distribute drugs under
21 U.S.C. § 846, the government must prove: (1) that there was a
conspiracy, i.e., an agreement to distribute the drugs; (2) that the
defendant knew of the conspiracy; and (3) that the defendant
intentionally joined the conspiracy." United States v. Rolon-Ramos, 502
F.3d 750, 754 (8th Cir. 2007) (quoting United States v. Jiminez, 487
F.3d 1140, 1146 (8th Cir. 2007)). "An agreement to join a conspiracy
need not be explicit but may be inferred from the facts and
circumstances of the case." United States v. Slagg, 651 F.3d 832, 840
(8th Cir. 2011) (citations and internal quotation omitted). The
government is not required to show a discrete, identifiable
organizational structure. Id. (citing United States v. Banks, 10 F.3d
1044, 1054 (4th Cir. 1993); United States v. Baker, 855 F.2d 1353, 1357
(8th Cir. 1988)). Moreover, a "single conspiracy may exist even if the
participants and their activities change over time, and even if many
participants are unaware of, or uninvolved in, some of the transactions."
Id. (quoting United States v. Longs, 613 F.3d 1174, 1176 (8th Cir.
2010)).
United States v. Espinoza, 684 F.3d 766, 776 (8th Cir. 2012).
Polk does not contest that sufficient evidence exists that there was a conspiracy
and that he knew of the conspiracy. Instead, he argues that the government failed to
prove that he "agreed with others to manufacture and distribute marijuana" because
no evidence exists that he "participated in manufacturing, harvesting, or distribut[ing]
. . . the marijuana." But "[g]uilt may exist even when the defendant plays only a minor
role and does not know all the details of the conspiracy." United States v. Perez-
Tosta, 36 F.3d 1552, 1557 (11th Cir. 1994). "[A] drug conspiracy may involve
ancillary functions (e.g., accounting, communications, strong-arm enforcement), and
one who joined with drug dealers to perform one of those functions could be deemed
a drug conspirator." United States v. Garcia-Torres, 280 F.3d 1, 4 (1st Cir. 2002).
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"[A] variety of conduct, apart from selling [drugs], can constitute participation in a
conspiracy sufficient to sustain a conviction." United States v. Burgos, 94 F.3d 849,
859 (4th Cir. 1996). Therefore, Polk need not have actually manufactured, harvested,
or distributed the marijuana to be a member of the conspiracy. See, e.g., United States
v. Garfinkle, 842 F. Supp. 1284, 1289 (D. Nev. 1993) ("Defendant need not have
actually personally manufactured or distributed or possessed [drugs] to be a member
of a conspiracy to do the same.").
A reasonable jury could infer from the evidence that Polk was an active
participant in the marijuana grow operations, as he obtained and rented homes
according to Nguyen's specifications to sustain the operations. After renting the
homes to Nguyen, Polk would inquire when the harvests were occurring so that he
would know when Nguyen would pay the rent. And, although Nguyen was making
monthly cash payments, neither N. 81st St. nor Norman Circle ever appeared on the
Polk's property lists showing that Polk had rented the homes to Nguyen. There were
no written leases between Nguyen and Polk or AW Properties for N. 81st St. or
Norman Circle, although renters of Polk's other properties all signed leases. The
utilities for North 81st St. and Norman Circle also continued in Polk's name, although
the common practice with the other tenants of AW Properties was to have the utilities
placed in the tenant's name.
The evidence also showed that, as to the N. 81st St. home, Polk commented to
Nguyen that it would be great for growing marijuana. When Nguyen moved into the
home, he paid Polk $5,000 as Polk requested and never questioned the purpose for
the extra $3,000. Nguyen paid Polk $2,000 in cash every month for the home even
though Polk's payments to Golden Investments were substantially less. And, Polk
insisted that Nguyen pay him $11,000 for the Norman Circle home before Nguyen
ever saw it. Finally, Polk maintained an office at the N. 11th St. home containing a
marijuana grow operation. Polk was instrumental in Nguyen recruiting Belton to
establish a marijuana grow operation at N. 11th St., informing Nguyen that he could
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trust Belton. Nguyen began paying Polk $2,000 per month for N. 11th St. after
establishing the marijuana grow operation.
In arguing that the government failed to show that he intentionally joined the
conspiracy, Polk attacks the credibility of Nguyen and Belton. But "[w]e do not weigh
the evidence or assess the credibility of the witnesses. The jury has the responsibility
of resolving conflicts or contradictions in testimony, and we resolve any credibility
issues in favor of the verdict." United States v. Ali, 616 F.3d 745, 755 (8th Cir. 2010)
(internal citations omitted).
In sum, we conclude that sufficient evidence establishes that Polk intentionally
joined the conspiracy.
b. Reasonable Foreseeability
Polk also argues that insufficient evidence exists that it was reasonably
foreseeable to him that the conspiracy involved 1,000 or more marijuana plants. "A
defendant is liable for actions of a conspiracy that were reasonably foreseeable to
him, unless he affirmatively withdraws from the conspiracy." United States v.
Marquez, 605 F.3d 604, 611 (8th Cir. 2010). Despite not actually planting or selling
the marijuana, Polk's familiarity with the marijuana grow operations enabled him to
reasonably foresee the amount of marijuana that the conspiracy produced. Polk was
involved in a five-year conspiracy. He knew the size of the basements that Nguyen
used to manufacture the marijuana and that the operation was large enough to permit
Nguyen to make cash payments of $2,000 per month plus the "finder's fees" that Polk
demanded for finding Nguyen houses suitable for marijuana grow operations. Based
on the most conservative estimate, Nguyen's testimony shows that the conspiracy
harvested approximately 9,000 marijuana plants from the three properties.
Furthermore, large amounts of marijuana were recovered in the kitchen of the N. 11th
St. home and in the very rooms that Polk used.
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Therefore, we conclude that sufficient evidence supports a finding that Polk
could reasonably foresee that the conspiracy involved 1,000 or more marijuana plants.
2. Discovery
On March 15, 2010, the district court ordered that "[w]ithin fourteen (14) days
of this date, counsel shall confer and accomplish discovery in accordance with
NECrimR 16.1 and Fed.R.Crim.P. 16. The United States Attorney shall disclose
Brady v. Maryland (and its progeny) material as soon as practicable."
The case proceeded to trial on September 26, 2011. During trial, Polk's counsel
informed the court of the existence of a report about an interview of Nguyen from
September 16, 2011, in which Nguyen discussed pre-indictment activity. Polk's
counsel stated his belief that the government had provided him with the most recent
interview. The court asked counsel whether there was anything "particularly
surprising" to him, and counsel responded that there was. Counsel explained that "[i]t
was about a conversation that [Nguyen] claims to have had with Aaron Polk while he
was living in a residence on Normal Boulevard in 2005 . . . where he said that he was
growing marijuana in the basement." According to counsel, this information was
"something new that [he] had never seen before." Counsel alleged that, for the first
time, Nguyen "started talking about a conversation that he had with Aaron Polk in
2005." Counsel indicated that he wanted to interview Nguyen. The court agreed, as
it "want[ed] . . . to provide [Polk's counsel] with an opportunity to . . . interview
Chien Nguyen regarding that statement." The court wanted to "ameliorate [any]
surprise" by providing counsel the opportunity to interview Nguyen before he
testified, "particularly if there's any argument about whether it's outside the timeframe
of statute of limitations."
The next day, Polk's counsel interviewed Nguyen and learned that Nguyen was
"going to say the conversation happened in 2005 on Normal Boulevard" as opposed
to "2007 at North 81st." Counsel could not determine whether the statement was
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outside of the scope of the statute of limitations but stated that it was outside the
indictment's scope. Counsel asserted that the statement "was a total surprise." The
court replied, "[I]t doesn't surprise you that Nguyen was going to testify that he had
conversations with your client about acquiring grow houses for him?" Counsel
responded that he knew that Nguyen was going to claim that Polk acquired houses to
be used for growing marijuana but that Nguyen was now going to testify that it
happened on an earlier date. The court questioned what harm Polk suffered because
of the difference, and counsel responded:
Because it's now prior to the first house that he says he acquired through
Aaron Polk, the one on North 81st Street, and before it was while he was
already in the North 81st Street house, so I think it's clearly prejudicial.
It adds another house to his claim that wasn't there before.
The court stated its belief that prejudice would result to Polk if this was the first
time that Nguyen was "com[ing] up with 81st [S]treet as part of this conspiracy."
After an extensive exchange with counsel in which each gave their views on when
Nguyen told investigators that he acquired the N. 81st St. house to grow marijuana,
the court stated its conclusion that Polk received adequate notice "that Nguyen was
going to say that the North 81st Street house was purchased as a consequence of
Polk's desire to assist Nguyen in finding a home that was suitable for growing
marijuana." The court explained that "the premise that the 81st Street home was
facilitated for purposes of growing marijuana had been provided to [Polk] on"
January 27, 2011. Although the court acknowledged that the January 2011 report "as
transcribed by [the] [o]fficer . . . is to some degree ambiguous, particularly about
when this conversation took place," the court was "satisfied that[] it's fair to conclude
from this statement that the 2720 North 81st Street was—that Nguyen was saying that
home was purchased with Polk's help, because Polk . . . knew that Nguyen was going
to be growing dope there." The court declined to exclude the testimony. The court
recognized Polk's continuing objection based on surprise and improper variance.
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On appeal, Polk asserts that the primary witness against him—Nguyen—was
permitted to testify over Polk's objection about a conversation that Nguyen claimed
to have had with Polk. Polk argues that the district court erroneously failed to exclude
that testimony, as it was not timely provided in discovery, resulted in unfair surprise
at trial, and changed a key piece of evidence in the alleged conspiracy.
We review for abuse of discretion a district court's decision
regarding the exclusion of evidence as a sanction for governmental
discovery violations. United States v. Pherigo, 327 F.3d 690, 694 (8th
Cir. 2003). If an actual discovery violation exists, the sanction will be
upheld or reversed based on "(1) whether the Government acted in bad
faith and the reason(s) for delay in production; (2) whether there is any
prejudice to the defendant; and (3) whether any lesser sanction is
appropriate to secure future Government compliance." Id.; see, e.g.,
United States v. Sandoval-Rodriguez, 452 F.3d 984, 989–90 (8th Cir.
2006) (finding no discovery violation and then assuming a violation to
discuss the three factors).
United States v. Altman, 507 F.3d 678, 680 (8th Cir. 2007).
Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 16(a)(2) provides:
Except as Rule 16(a)(1) provides otherwise, this rule does not authorize
the discovery or inspection of reports, memoranda, or other internal
government documents made by an attorney for the government or other
government agent in connection with investigating or prosecuting the
case. Nor does this rule authorize the discovery or inspection of
statements made by prospective government witnesses except as
provided in 18 U.S.C. § 3500.
(Emphases added.)
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In turn, § 3500(a)–(b) provides:
(a) In any criminal prosecution brought by the United States, no
statement or report in the possession of the United States which was
made by a Government witness or prospective Government witness
(other than the defendant) shall be the subject of subp[o]ena, discovery,
or inspection until said witness has testified on direct examination in the
trial of the case.
(b) After a witness called by the United States has testified on direct
examination, the court shall, on motion of the defendant, order the
United States to produce any statement (as hereinafter defined) of the
witness in the possession of the United States which relates to the
subject matter as to which the witness has testified. If the entire contents
of any such statement relate to the subject matter of the testimony of the
witness, the court shall order it to be delivered directly to the defendant
for his examination and use.
(Emphases added.)
"Reports, memoranda, or other internal government documents created by a
government agent in connection with the investigation or prosecution of the case are
immune from discovery." United States v. Robinson, 439 F.3d 777, 779–80 (8th Cir.
2006) (quotations, alteration, and citations omitted). "A federal criminal defendant
generally has no right to know about government witnesses prior to trial." Altman,
507 F.3d at 680 (citing 18 U.S.C. § 3500; Fed. R. Crim. P. 16(a)(2); Sandoval-
Rodriguez, 452 F.3d at 990).To comply with due process, the government need only
"disclose all material or potentially exculpatory evidence before the trial ends." Id.Here, a government agent created the September 16, 2011 report in connection
with the investigation of conspiracy to distribute marijuana. "[T]he agent's notes [do
not] qualify as Rule 16 material because [they] constitute the agent's impression of
his interview with [Nguyen], not a statement by [Nguyen]." See United States v.
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Malone, 49 F.3d 393, 396 (8th Cir. 1995). Moreover, the government disclosed the
September 16 report to Polk three days later on September 19, 2010. Following the
disclosure, Polk had seven days prior to trial to prepare for Nguyen's testimony, and
the court provided Polk's counsel with the opportunity to—and Polk's counsel did—
interview Nguyen about material contained in the September 16 report. See Altman,
507 F.3d at 680 ("As it was, the defense had at least four full days prior to trial to
prepare to meet Cyrus's testimony, and thus the district court abused its discretion by
excluding Cyrus's testimony as untimely disclosed."). Therefore, we hold that the
district court did not abuse its discretion by declining to exclude Nguyen's testimony
stemming from the September 16, 2011 police interview of Nguyen because no
discovery violation occurred.
3. Cross-examination
Polk next contends that the district court erred in limiting his counsel's cross-
examination of Nguyen regarding a police interview unrelated to the present case.
During cross-examination, Polk's counsel asked Nguyen the following question:
"Although none of the statements that you gave in this case were recorded, you did
give a statement in 2006 that was recorded? Do you remember that?" (Emphasis
added.) The government objected based on relevancy. The court sustained the
objection. Out of the jury's presence, the court inquired about "the recorded statement
in 2006." Polk's counsel replied:
[Nguyen] gave a recorded statement to an officer who arrested him on
September 16, 2006, for the grow that he was conducting at 33rd and X
Street and it gives us an example of how this witness answers questions
when he's being questioned by a police officer.
When a police officer asks him a question, he asks the police
officer am I supposed to say yes or no? That's his answer. He asks the
police officer to tell him what to say.
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The court then asked for "some context" as to when the statement was taken, by
whom, and where. Polk's counsel responded:
[Nguyen] was in custody. It was Officer Tucker of the Lincoln Police
Department.
Officer Tucker's question was, after advising him of his rights,
knowing your rights in this matter, everything I just read to you, are you
willing to answer some questions or make a statement to me now?
And his answer was, "Am I supposed to say yes or no?"
The officer said, "You are supposed to say yes or no."
Chien [Nguyen] said, "Yes, right?", asking the officer if that was
the right answer.
And then Chien [Nguyen] said, "I am supposed to say yes, right?"
That's just an example of it.
The court concluded that the statement was not relevant and, even if it were, it was
unfairly prejudicial explaining:
It doesn't have anything to do with this case. It has to [do] with
the vagaries of administering the Miranda rights to a non-native English
speaker and I don't think it meaningfully bears on his credibility so the
objection is sustained.
Polk contends that the district court erroneously limited his cross-examination
of Nguyen, preventing him from discrediting Nguyen and resulting in a violation of
Polk's right of confrontation under the Sixth Amendment. According to Polk, the
September 16, 2006 interview "was the only available example [he] could use to
demonstrate how Nguyen responds to police questions" because the government did
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not record any of Nguyen's four interviews in the present case. Polk claims that the
district court's ruling "restricting Polk's examination of Nguyen deprived Polk of an
opportunity to provide the jury with an accurate portrayal of Nguyen's credibility as
a government witness."
The Confrontation Clause provides that "[i]n all criminal
prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right . . . to be confronted with
the witnesses against him." U.S. Const. amend. VI. Although the Sixth
Amendment guarantees a defendant an opportunity for effective
cross-examination of witnesses, that right is not unfettered. See United
States v. Dale, 614 F.3d 942, 956–57 (8th Cir. 2010), cert. denied, ___
U.S.___, ___, 131 S. Ct. 1814, 179 L. Ed. 2d 774, 775 (2011); United
States v. Wipf, 397 F.3d 677, 682 (8th Cir. 2005) ("The United States
Supreme Court has emphasized that 'the Confrontation Clause
guarantees an opportunity for effective cross-examination, not
cross-examination that is effective in whatever way, and to whatever
extent, the defense might wish.'" (quoting Delaware v. Fensterer, 474
U.S. 15, 20, 106 S. Ct. 292, 88 L. Ed. 2d 15 (1985) (per curiam))).
"[D]istrict courts 'retain wide latitude insofar as the Confrontation
Clause is concerned to impose reasonable limits on such
cross-examination based on concerns about, among other things,
harassment, prejudice, confusion of the issues, the witness'[s] safety, or
interrogation that is repetitive or only marginally relevant.'" Dale, 614
F.3d at 956 (quoting Delaware v. Van Arsdall, 475 U.S. 673, 679, 106
S. Ct. 1431, 89 L. Ed. 2d 674 (1986)). To state a viable Confrontation
Clause challenge to the district court's decision to limit
cross-examination, the defendant must establish "that a reasonable jury
might have received a significantly different impression of a witness's
credibility had counsel been permitted to pursue the proposed line of
cross-examination." Id. at 957 (emphasis added). A trial court's decision
to limit cross-examination will not be reversed unless there has been a
clear abuse of discretion and a showing of prejudice to the defendant.
See United States v. Love, 329 F.3d 981, 984 (8th Cir. 2003).
United States v. Petters, 663 F.3d 375, 381–82 (8th Cir. 2011).
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Here, the district court imposed a reasonable limit on Polk's cross-examination
of Nguyen because of marginal relevance and potential prejudice. First, as Polk
admits on appeal, the September 16, 2006 recorded statement was wholly unrelated
to the present conspiracy. Second, Polk's counsel wanted to cross-examine Nguyen
on his answers during this unrelated Miranda rights advisement, not about his
substantive answers about marijuana distribution. Third, Polk has failed to prove that
allowing his counsel to cross-examine Nguyen on his answers to this interview would
have provided the jury with a significantly different view of Nguyen or his credibility.
The record reflects that Polk's counsel cross-examined Nguyen about his prior
criminal history, his cooperation with the government to obtain a lighter sentence, his
status as a drug user, and his prior inconsistent statements. As a result, we conclude
that the district court did not err in limiting the cross-examination of Nguyen
regarding a police interview in an unrelated matter.
4. Safety-Valve Eligibility
Prior to sentencing, Polk had written a statement, which he claimed was a
truthful and complete disclosure of all the information and evidence about the
conspiracy. He also gave a safety-valve interview to Sergeant William Koepke of the
LPD. Polk offered his written statement and a copy of the audio recording of the
safety-valve interview as evidence that he had complied with all the safety-valve
provisions.
During the sentencing hearing, Sergeant Koepke explained why he did not
believe that Polk "was presenting a completely truthful statement to [him]." He noted
that "Polk would dissect the question and attempt to hang his hat on a certain aspect
of that question." As an example, he cited Polk's refusal to "acknowledge the fact that
he knew Mr. Nguyen was living at Turtle Creek apartments," not at the houses that
Nguyen had rented from Polk. Sergeant Koepke expressed his belief that Polk was
"being evasive." He identified "nonverbal clues" as evidence of evasiveness, pointing
out that Polk's counsel had to direct him to "answer the question." Sergeant Koepke
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also identified inaccuracies in Polk's written statement. For example, Polk claimed
"that Chien Nguyen was living at 2750 Apple," and Sergeant Koepke was unable to
corroborate the truthfulness of that claim. "Officers showed the occupant that lived
there a photo of Mr. Chien Nguyen," and the occupant "said he had lived there for
two years and he hadn't observed him." Additionally, Prusa never identified "Polk as
being a manager for her, for the North 81st Street property." And, contrary to Polk's
claim "that there are text messages from Chien Nguyen regarding apologizing about
Norman Circle," no such text messages were ever found. Sergeant Koepke also
discovered that Polk was untruthful in claiming "that he was held for 46 hours on the
weekend before he was allowed out of his cell and able to use the phone." After
reviewing Polk's written statement, Sergeant Koepke did not believe that it "was a
truthful statement of Mr. Polk's involvement and all knowledge he had regarding the
offense." Sergeant Koepke also testified that, following his interview with Polk, he
did not believe that Polk had provided a truthful statement about his participation in
the offense and all information known to him "based on the information that
[Sergeant Koepke] had from the trial, that [he] had from the investigation."
Following testimony, the court recessed to listen to the recording of the safety-
valve interview. After listening to the recording, the district court denied Polk's
safety-valve motion, explaining:
I deny the safety valve motion because the defendant has not
complied with prong five of United States Sentencing Guideline
[§] 5C1.2(a).
Specifically the defendant falsely denied his knowledge that
Chien [Nguyen] and Belton were in a large scale marijuana growing
operation which he, the defendant, was aiding by providing middle-class
homes where marijuana could be grown without fear of discovery.
Why do I believe the defendant isn't truthful? Two examples are
illustrative, although I could give many more.
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During the safety valve interview when asked, "What did you
think Chien [Nguyen] was doing?"
The defendant answered, "I didn't think about it."
Given the defendant's superior intellectual ability and his business
acumen such an answer, to put it bluntly, is ridiculous.
As a further example, the defendant's written statement and oral
statement contradicts the evidence presented at trial, most specifically
the statement[s] of Chien [Nguyen] and Belton that they had
conversations with the defendant that fully inculpated the defendant in
illegal endeavors.
I believe that Chien [Nguyen] and Belton told the truth, and I
further believe the defendant's denial to be untruthful. I therefore deny
the motion.
On appeal, Polk argues that the district court erroneously denied him safety-
valve relief because it incorrectly rejected his safety-valve statement as not credible.
"We review the district court's application of § 5C1.2 de novo and its
factual findings for clear error." United States v. Jackson, 552 F.3d 908,
909 (8th Cir. 2009) (per curiam).
The safety valve provision under section 5C1.2 "applies to
first-time non-violent drug offenders who meet certain requirements."
Deltoro-Aguilera v. United States, 625 F.3d 434, 437 (8th Cir. 2010).2
2
We have previously explained that
[t]he safety valve requires that: (1) the defendant does not have more
than one criminal history point; (2) the defendant did not use violence
or a credible threat thereof or possess a dangerous weapon in the
commission of the crime; (3) the offense did not result in anyone's death
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The only requirement at issue is whether, "not later than the time of the
sentencing hearing, [Polk] . . . truthfully provided to the Government all
information and evidence [Polk] ha[d] concerning the offense." USSG
§ 5C1.2(a)(5).
"Defendants have the burden to show affirmatively that they have
satisfied each requirement for the safety valve, including whether
truthful information and evidence have been given to the government."
United States v. Alvarado-Rivera, 412 F.3d 942, 947 (8th Cir. 2005) (en
banc); see United States v. Razo-Guerra, 534 F.3d 970, 974 (8th Cir.
2008) ("[Defendant] bore the burden at the sentencing hearing of
establishing each of the five requirements for safety valve relief
. . . .[T]he Government had no burden to put on any evidence concerning
[defendant's] eligibility for safety valve relief."). Eligibility must be
demonstrated by a preponderance of the evidence. United States v.
Sanchez, 475 F.3d 978, 980 (8th Cir. 2007).
Garcia, 675 F.3d at 1094 (second, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth alterations
in original).
Here, the district court did not clearly err in its assessment that Polk failed to
truthfully provide to the government all information and evidence that Polk had
concerning the offense. As the district court observed, Polk never admitted to
participating in the conspiracy, which is contrary to the jury's verdict and trial
or serious injury; (4) the defendant was not an organizer, leader,
manager, or supervisor of others in the offense; and (5) not later than the
time of the sentencing hearing, the defendant has truthfully provided to
the government all information and evidence the defendant has
concerning the offense.
United States v. Garcia, 675 F.3d 1091, 1094 n.3 (8th Cir. 2012) (quotation ad
citation omitted).
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evidence. Sergeant Koepke's testimony explaining why Polk was untruthful, along
with the district court's own review of the recording of the safety-valve interview,
provides a sound basis for the district court's denial of the motion.
III. Conclusion
Accordingly, we affirm the judgment of the district court.
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