United States v. Miguel-Pascual

608 F. Supp. 2d 83 (2009)

UNITED STATES of America,
v.
Daniel MIGUEL-PASCUAL, Defendant.

No. 09-249-2.

United States District Court, District of Columbia.

April 20, 2009.

Angela S. George, U.S. Attorney's Office, Washington, DC, for United States of America.

Rudolph Acree, Washington, DC, for Defendant.

MEMORANDUM & ORDER

ROYCE C. LAMBERTH, Chief Judge.

Now before the Court is the government's oral motion to hold defendant Miguel-Pascual without bond pending action by the grand jury. The Court conducted a hearing on the matter on April 20, 2009. At the hearing, the Court heard testimony from Special Agent Timothy Ervin of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and held that probable cause existed for the arrest of the defendant. The Court also heard the government's oral motion for detention pending action by the grand jury. Upon consideration of the oral motion, and the arguments and proffer of evidence introduced in the hearing, the Court finds that no condition or combination of conditions will reasonably assure the safety of the community were the defendant to be released. See 18 U.S.C. § 3142(e). Accordingly, the government's motion is GRANTED and the Court ORDERS that the defendant be detained without bond pending action by the grand jury.

I. THE GOVERNMENT'S PROFFER AND EVIDENCE

At the April 20, 2009 hearing, the government elicited testimony from Special Agent Timothy Ervin of the FBI and made factual proffers. Special Agent Ervin testified as follows:

On and before April 13, 2009, Ervin was conducting a narcotics investigation with the help of a confidential informant. The informant arranged to meet a man named Danilo Roman-Monroy in a Kentucky Fried Chicken parking lot to complete a narcotics transaction. Ervin parked behind the informant's car in his own unmarked vehicle so that he could conduct surveillance in the parking lot. The confidential informant's car was equipped with audio and video surveillance, and Special Agent Ervin was also conducting separate video surveillance. Ervin testified that shortly after the confidential informant arrived in the parking lot, a black Nissan Xterra pulled into the lot. Roman-Monroy got out of the Xterra and approached the informant's car. Roman-Monroy sat in the front passenger seat and then made a phone call. Approximately one minute after the phone call, the defendant, Daniel Miguel-Pascual, got out of the Xterra and approached the informant's vehicle with a black plastic sack. Miguel-Pascual sat in the back seat with the black plastic sack and handed the sack up front. The informant then unwrapped the sack and examined it on the console. Special Agent Ervin testified that the informant was told to use a prearranged signal if the transaction involved a large amount of cocaine so that officers could move in and arrest the individuals involved. The signal was for the informant to exit his vehicle and open his trunk, which the informant did after observing what was in the bag. Officers then moved in and arrested the defendant and Roman-Monroy. The substance was later field tested and determined to be 1,054 grams of cocaine. Furthermore, Roman-Monroy gave a statement, after he was given Miranda warnings in Spanish, and stated that Miguel-Pascual agreed to deliver the black plastic sack from the Xterra to the informant's vehicle in exchange for $500.

II. DISCUSSION

The Bail Reform Act, 18 U.S.C. § 3141 et seq., dictates that a defendant may be detained pending judicial proceedings where the government carries its burden of establishing "that no condition or combination of conditions will reasonably assure the appearance of the person as required and the safety of any other person and the community." Id. at § 3142(e), (f). The government first must establish one of the predicates: (1) that, beyond a preponderance of the evidence, defendant poses a risk of flight, United States v. Xulam, 84 F.3d 441, 443 (D.C.Cir.1996); or (2) that, by clear and convincing evidence, defendant has been shown to pose a risk to the safety of any person or the community. 18 U.S.C. § 3142(f); United States v. Peralta, 849 F.2d 625, 626 (D.C.Cir.1988). The court must then determine that the same evidence leads to the conclusion that no condition or conditions of release will reasonably protect against the risk that has been found. Among the factors a court should consider are "the nature and circumstances of the offense charged, including whether the offense is a crime of violence," whether the offense involved a firearm, and several other factors. 18 U.S.C. § 3142(g)(1). Courts also should consider the weight of evidence against the defendant, the history and characteristics of the defendant, and the nature and magnitude of the danger to the community or individual persons if the defendant should be released. Id. at § 3142(g)(2)-(4).

A. Danger to the Community

The government has carried its burden of establishing, by clear and convincing evidence, that defendant Miguel-Pascual is a danger to the community.

First, the Court examines the nature and circumstances of the offense. The facts and evidence obtained during the hearing indicate that Miguel-Pascual assisted in the distribution of more than 1,000 grams of crack cocaine, a schedule II controlled substance. The offense is serious, and carries a maximum term of imprisonment of ten years or more. See 18 U.S.C. 3142(f)(1)(C). The weight of the evidence against the defendant is strong. The government has video, audio, and eyewitness surveillance of Miguel-Pascual delivering the cocaine to the informant. Miguel-Pascual sat in the informant's vehicle approximately 2 feet away from the center console when the informant inspected the cocaine for purchase on the console. Roman-Monroy also gave a statement following his arrest that provides strong circumstantial evidence that Miguel-Pascual knew of his involvement in the illegal scheme because he was to be paid $500 for his role in delivering the sack. Accordingly, the Court concludes that the alleged offense is serious and that the government's evidence of the offense is strong.

The history and characteristics of Miguel-Pascual also do not weigh in favor of release. The defendant is an illegal alien and was in the country illegally even before he was arrested for the instant offense.

After considering that the alleged offense is serious, that the government's evidence is strong, and that the history and characteristics of Miguel-Pascual do not weigh in favor of release, the Court concludes that Miguel-Pascual's release would pose an unreasonable danger to the community despite any conditions that could be placed on him during his release.

B. Risk of Flight

The Court has also determined that, by a preponderance of evidence, Miguel-Pascual poses a risk of flight. The defendant did not proffer that he has any ties to the community, and he is an illegal alien. Accordingly, there is a significant risk that he would flee the jurisdiction were he to be released.

III. CONCLUSION

After consideration of the proffered evidence and the factors set forth in 18 U.S.C. § 3142(g), the Court finds that detention of the defendant is appropriate in this case pending action by the grand jury. The Court also finds that the defendant's release, under any conditions, would pose an unreasonable danger to the community. Accordingly, it is hereby

ORDERED that the government's motion for detention pending action by the grand jury is GRANTED; it is further

ORDERED that the defendant continue to be detained without bond; it is further

ORDERED that defendant shall be afforded reasonable opportunity for private consultation with counsel.

SO ORDERED.