Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2-12-2003

Abstract

Defendant-appellant Hector Gonzalez appeals from an order of the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut (Underhill, J.) denying a motion by Gonzalez to dismiss on double jeopardy 176*176 grounds so much of a sixteen-count indictment filed in the District of Connecticut as charges him with two counts of narcotics conspiracy ("Connecticut Indictment"). In Count Twelve, Gonzalez was one of a number of named defendants, along with "others known and unknown to the Grand Jury" charged with conspiracy to "possess with intent to distribute 1000 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of heroin." In Count Thirteen, Gonzalez and a number of other named defendants "and others known and unknown to the Grand Jury" are charged with conspiracy to "possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine base or `crack.'"

In an indictment previously filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Gonzalez was charged in a two-count indictment ("New York Indictment"), along with two named co-defendants, with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and attempting to possess with intent to distribute cocaine. Gonzalez entered a plea of guilty to the conspiracy count of that indictment, pursuant to a written agreement dated November 13, 1997 with the office of the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York. The District Court, faced with the motion to dismiss Counts Twelve and Thirteen of the Connecticut Indictment for double jeopardy as a consequence of the New York Indictment and plea, entered the order denying dismissal subject of this appeal. The District Court determined that the heroin conspiracy charged was distinct from the earlier indictment. As to the cocaine conspiracy charged, the District Court reasoned that, although the same conspiracy was charged in the New York Indictment, the Government did not know and could not reasonably have known of the facts supporting the Connecticut Indictment when the New York Indictment was filed. We affirm the order as to both of the counts subject of the District Court's ruling but for reasons different from those given by the District Court in regard to the cocaine conspiracy charged.

Comments

320 F.3d 173 (2003)

UNITED STATES of America, Appellee,

v.

Frank ESTRADA, also known as The Terminator, also know as Big Dog, also known as "Mustard"; Edward Estrada, also known as French Fry, also know as Susan Kock Fry, Isaias Soler, also known as Eso, also known as "Dog"; Nelson Carrasquillo; William Rodriguez, also known as Billy Rodriguez, also known as William Gomez, also known as Billy Gomez, also known as Billy the Kid; Felix DeJesus, also known as Dino; Charles DeJesus, also known as Chino; Eddie Lawhorn, also known as Fat Boy; Yamarr Shipman, also known as Country; also known as Pak Chong Mar; Michael Hilliard, also known as Mizzy; Pablito Cotto; Rosario Cotto, also known as Sato; Benito Rosario; Ricardo Rosario, also known as "Q"; Jermaine Jenkins, also known as "Fats"; Makene Jacobs, also known as Madee; Joseph Butler, also known as Pee Wee; Viviana Jiminez; Kelvin Vereen, also known as Nino; Daniel Herredia, also known as D-Nice; Felipe Santana, also known as Omar Soto; Tamarius Maner, also known as Trigger; Gloria Vargas; Victor Cruz, 174*174 also known as Casper; Enrique Martinez, also known as Ricky Zapata; Carmen Coto, also known as "CC," Defendants, Hector Gonzalez, also known as June Bug, Defendant-Appellant.

Docket No. 02-1173.

United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit.

Argued: November 8, 2002.

Decided: February 12, 2003.

New York Law School location: File #3131, Box #146

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