Opinion
S9 03 Cr. 1256 (JFK).
January 3, 2007
For the United States of America: MICHAEL J. GARCIA, United States Attorney for the, Southern District of New York, New York, New York, Of Counsel: Joshua A. Goldberg, Assistant United States Attorney.
For the Defendant: Aubrey Lees, New York, New York.
OPINION and ORDER
Background
Defendant Victor Lorenzano moves for:
(i) a judgment of acquittal pursuant to Rule 29 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure; and
(ii) a new trial pursuant to Rule 33 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure.
Lorenzano was charged by indictment with a total of ten counts. Count One charged him with participating in a conspiracy from at least in or about 1995 through in or about 2001 to commit armed robberies and attempted armed robberies of persons engaged in narcotics trafficking and/or commercial activities that affected interstate commerce, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1951. Counts Two, Three, and Five each charged particular Hobbs Act robberies, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1951 and 2. Counts Six, Seven, and Nine each charged him with using, carrying and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to particular robberies, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c)(1)(A)(ii) and 2. Count Ten charged Lorenzano with participating in a conspiracy from at least in or about 1995 through in or about late 2001 to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms and more of cocaine and one kilogram and more of heroin, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846, 812, 841(a)(1), and 841(b)(1)(A). Counts Eleven and Twelve each charged Lorenzano with money laundering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1956(a)(1)(B)(i) and 2.
Trial against Lorenzano and a co-defendant Ramon Reyes began on June 1, 2005. On June 29, 2005, the jury convicted Lorenzano of all counts, except for Count Twelve, the second money laundering count. The co-defendant Ramon Reyes was acquitted by the jury.
THE EVIDENCE AT TRIAL
The evidence against Lorenzano was overwhelming. It established that he was a long-time member of a vicious and violent armed robbery crew that targeted mainly drug dealers. From 1995 through 2001, the crew committed dozens of armed robberies in New York City. They stole cocaine and heroin worth millions of dollars using violence, intimidation, and torture to accomplish their ends.
Lorenzano was a main member of the crew and one its most dangerous members. During robberies, Lorenzano brandished loaded firearms, "locked down" victims, searched apartments, and pistol-whipped victims. When one victim was unwilling to disclose the whereabouts of a drug stash, he stabbed the victim in the leg with a large knife, causing the victim to bleed heavily. An accomplice had to fashion a tourniquet to stem the bleeding.
The evidence showed that Lorenzano participated in many robberies, attempted robberies, and burglaries. Four were specifically set forth in the indictment.
They were:
(1) The May 7, 1996 burglary of a narcotics stash apartment in the vicinity of 170th Street and Audubon Avenue in Manhattan. Lorenzano was a lookout for the burglary. Three accomplices were arrested during this burglary.
(2) The October 30, 1998 armed robbery at a bakery wholesaler on East 180th Street in the Bronx. Lorenzano displayed a gun and stood guard over bakery workers during the robbery. He threatened to kill them if they tried to set off an alarm.
(3) The March 14, 2000 armed robbery in the Crystal House apartment building, located at Matthews and Lydig Avenues in the Bronx. This was the robbery in which Lorenzano stabbed a victim in the thigh with a large knife. (supra).
(4) The May 18, 2000 armed robbery of passengers inside a livery cab near 228th Street and Kingsbridge Avenue in the Bronx. Lorenzano and his accomplices stole over 30 kilograms of cocaine during this robbery. They then stole the cab and set it on fire.
There was also evidence of a fifth charged robbery in which the crew stole 40 kilograms of cocaine in or about early 2000 from individuals in an apartment at 177th Street and Amsterdam Avenue in Manhattan. Lorenzano was to participate in this robbery, but he arrived late. However, he received a share of the robbery proceeds.
The Government called twenty-three witnesses at trial. Five were long-time associates of Lorenzano who each participated in several robberies with him. There were also victims of Lorenzano's robberies, law enforcement officers who responded to robberies and collected crime scene evidence, an NYPD detective who took part in court-ordered searches of accomplices' residences and vehicles, and an ATF Special Agent who conducted surveillance of Lorenzano prior to his arrest. He testified about Lorenzano's post-arrest statements. There was a car dealership representative who provided documents related to a new vehicle that Lorenzano purchased with a large cash payment using robbery proceeds, and a witness who reviewed extensive phone records detailing connections between Lorenzano and his co-conspirators.
The Government also introduced many seized firearms and ammunition, including six firearms that were found at one of Lorenzano's prior residences, tools used during robberies which included radios, walkie-talkies, scanners, cable ties, handcuffs, a bulletproof vest, crowbars, and crime scene photographs. Evidence of fake identification of Lorenzano and seized notebooks reflecting disbursements of stolen drugs to Lorenzano and others following successful robberies were also introduced.
DISCUSSION
The Government argument that the motion is untimely is rejected and the Court will address the merits of the various parts of the motion.
There are two separate matters raised by this motion. First, Lorenzano claims that he was deprived of his right to be present during all material stages of his trial when the Court conducted interviews of a juror outside of his presence. He further claims he was denied effective assistance of counsel because his trial attorney allegedly failed to advise him of what happened during those interviews. (See Lorenzano Decl. Nov. 9, 2006.) Second, Lorenzano challenges the Court's jury instructions regarding the interstate commerce element of the Hobbs Act robbery charges and argues that the Government failed to prove that element beyond a reasonable doubt.
Apparently, the first claim is brought under Rule 33 and the second is under Rule 29 insofar as it relates to the sufficiency of the evidence.
It is Hornbook law that in considering a motion for acquittal under Rule 29 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, the Court must view the evidence "in the light most favorable to the government." United States v. Zagari, 111 F.3d 307, 327 (2d Cir. 1997); accord United States v. Torres, 901 F.2d 205, 216 (2d Cir. 1990). "'All reasonable inferences are to be resolved in favor of the prosecution.'" United States v. Rodriguez, 702 F.2d 38, 41 (2d Cir. 1983) (quoting United States v. Artuso, 618 F.2d 192, 195 (2d Cir. 1980)). "The verdict will be sustained unless no rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt." Zagari, 111 F.3d at 327 (internal quotation omitted).
Rule 33 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure "authorizes a district court to grant a new trial 'if required in the interest of justice.'" United States v. Locascio, 6 F.3d 924, 949 (2d Cir. 1993) (quoting Fed.R.Crim.P. 33). "[M]otions for a new trial are disfavored in this Circuit," United States v. Gambino, 59 F.3d 353, 364 (2d Cir. 1995), and should not be granted unless, after evaluating all of the evidence, the district court is left with a "real concern that an innocent person may have been convicted." United States v. Sanchez, 969 F.2d 1409, 1414 (2d Cir. 1992); accord United States v. Ferguson, 246 F.3d 129, 134 (2d Cir. 2001). There is no such concern here.
Rule 33 requires the Court to examine the entire record of the trial in determining whether the verdict was a manifest injustice. See Ferguson, 246 F.3d at 134 ("The district court must examine the entire case, take into account all facts and circumstances, and make an objective evaluation"). The rule permits the granting of the extraordinary relief of a new trial only when "letting a guilty verdict stand would be a manifest injustice." Id. (citing Sanchez, 969 F.2d at 1414).
The defendant bears the burden of demonstrating that a new trial is warranted. United States v. Sasso, 59 F.3d 341, 350 (2d Cir. 1995). He has not met that burden. I. LORENZANO WAS NOT DEPRIVED OF THE RIGHT TO BE PRESENT AT ALL MATERIAL STAGES OF HIS TRIAL
Lorenzano argues that the Court conducted interviews of a juror outside of his presence. This took place first during jury selection and then prior to deliberations. Lorenzano claims that had he been present during these interviews, he would have objected to allowing the juror to serve and then moved to excuse him prior to deliberations. The claims are without merit. Lorenzano was present during all material stages of his trial, including jury selection. To the extent he was not present during some of the interviews of a particular juror, he waived his right to be present. If he should have been present during such interviews, any error was harmless.
A. Interview During Jury Selection
Jury selection took place on June 1 and June 2, 2005. The Court asked prospective jurors whether the expected length of the trial would cause any of them serious hardship. (V.D. 8.) Jurors who raised their hands in response to this question were asked to come to sidebar. Counsel for the defendants and the Government were present at sidebar, but the defendants were not. Neither defendant nor their counsel objected to the method of jury selection or the fact that jurors were invited to the sidebar to answer certain questions without the defendant being present.
"V.D." refers to the page of the minutes during voir dire examination of jurors.
Relating to the inquiry about hardship because of the length of the trial, Juror Number 22, Vincent Guzman, answered that he was starting a new job in "about two weeks" as a state "police" officer in the New York State Office of Mental Health and that he was concerned that serving on the jury might interfere with his new job. (V.D. 42.) The Court assured Guzman that the Court would write a letter to Mr. Guzman's superior and tell him that Guzman could not be excused. Mr. Guzman replied, "Okay" and was not excused. (V.D. 42.)
Further information about the case was given to the jurors and they were asked more questions about their ability to serve. Parts of this section of jury selection were also held at sidebar, without objection. In answer to a question about whether any prospective juror had any close friends or relatives in law enforcement, Guzman said in open court that his brother was a correctional officer for New York State corrections at Sing Sing. (V.D. 69.) The Court later asked Mr. Guzman, again in open court, "we know you are about to take a job with the state. What is your educational background?" Mr. Guzman then explained that he had an "associate's in business administration." (V.D. 107.) Mr. Guzman then provided additional information about himself, including where he lived and his marital status.
Later in the voir dire, the Court inquired if any jurors had ever been arrested or convicted of a crime. Mr. Guzman approached the sidebar and said that he had once been charged with criminal mischief as a result of an altercation arising from an earlier job as a security officer. (V.D. 114.) He made clear that this would not affect his ability to serve.
After the parties exercised their peremptory challenges, Mr. Guzman was not challenged and was then empaneled as Juror Number 10.
B. Interview Before Jury Deliberations
Summations were heard on June 27, 2005. After the arguments, the Court gave the first half of its jury instructions before breaking for the day. (Tr. 2104.) On the morning of June 28, 2005, the Court advised the parties that on the evening of June 27, 2005, the Court had received a message from a juror who said that another juror — Mr. Guzman — had made a comment about an outburst by Lorenzano that occurred during the Government's summation. (Tr. 2107-08.) In response to this message, the Court conducted an inquiry in the robing room with the attorneys for both defendants and the Government present. Defendants were not present during this inquiry. No objection was voiced to this procedure.
"Tr." refers to the page of the Trial Transcript.
The Court first interviewed the juror who had reported the alleged comment by Mr. Guzman. According to this juror, during a break after Lorenzano's outburst, Mr. Guzman was standing with another juror and said something to the effect of "'He must be' — something — 'because he got so defensive.'" The juror said that he could not remember "what he said though." (Tr. 2109.)
The Court next spoke to Mr. Guzman, who said that he remembered Lorenzano's outburst, but that he did not make any comments to any other jurors about the outburst. (Tr. 2111-12.) Mr. Guzman said that he was "definitely" sure that he had not made any comments. (Tr. 2111-12.)
The Court then interviewed the juror to whom Mr. Guzman had allegedly spoken. This juror also remembered Lcrenzano's outburst, but said that neither Mr. Guzman nor anyone else had made any comments about it. (Tr. 2113-14.) All three jurors assured the Court that neither Lorenzano's outburst nor whatever had been said about the outburst would have any impact on their ability to be fair and impartial in the case. (Tr. 2110, 2113, 2115.)
Following the interviews, the Court asked the parties whether anyone had an application. The Government said that it would not object if Mr. Guzman was removed. (Tr. 2115.) After conferring, both defense counsel advised the Court that they wanted to "keep" Mr. Guzman. Lorenzano's counsel pointed out that both Mr. Guzman and the juror that he had allegedly spoken to were "unequivocal [that] nothing was discussed at all." (Tr. 2116.) Defense counsel added that the first juror who reported the alleged conduct may have "misunderstood the context of a comment," and that "the comment may not have been in fact directed at Mr. Lorenzano's statement during [the Government's] summation." (Tr. 2116.)
The Court agreed to leave Mr. Guzman on the jury. (Tr. 2117-18.) The Court noted that both Mr. Guzman and the juror he allegedly spoke to denied the incident, and that the first juror simply may have been mistaken. In the end, the Court concluded that even if something had been said it did not amount to "anything." (Tr. 2118.) Having decided this issue, the Court returned to open court to complete its jury instructions.
Defendant Lorenzano's trial counsel, Jeremy Schneider, filed an affirmation in connection with this motion. Mr. Schneider is an experienced, able trial lawyer. His affirmation, dated November 16, 2006, states at paragraphs 2, 4 and 5:
2. . . . Throughout the trial, I discussed all major decisions with Mr. Lorenzano and kept him informed as to developments in the case. Generally speaking, this included information about what occurred at sidebars and in the robing room. At no point during trial did I believe that I was having difficulty communicating with Mr. Lorenzano or that he was dissatisfied with my representation of him.
4. I understand that Mr. Lorenzano has raised an issue regarding the fact that Juror Number 10, Vincent Guzman, at one point stated that he was starting a job in law enforcement with the New York State Office of Mental Health. I do not specifically remember if I discussed this fact with Mr. Lorenzano, but I believe that I would have. I also believe that this would have been a factor that I would have considered and discussed with Mr. Lorenzano and co-counsel in deciding whether to try to excuse Mr. Guzman. Although I do not remember the specific reasons why the defense decided not to use a peremptory challenge on Mr. Guzman, I believe that we made a strategic decision to keep him on the jury. I do not remember Mr. Lorenzano ever stating that he wanted to remove Mr. Guzman from the jury.
5. I recall that an issue arose involving Mr. Guzman prior to jury deliberations, regarding a comment that Mr. Guzman had allegedly made to another juror about an outburst by Mr. Lorenzano during the Government's summation the day before. I also remember that the Court conducted an interview of Mr. Guzman and two other jurors in the robing room to address the issue. I do not recall specifically whether I spoke to Mr. Lorenzano about these interviews after they were completed, but I believe that I would have spoken to him based on my standard practice and my positive relationship with Mr. Lorenzano at the time. Mr. De Marco (counsel for the co-defendant) and I agreed for strategic reasons to object to Mr. Guzman's removal from the jury. I do not recall Mr. Lorenzano ever objecting to Mr. Guzman's continued presence on the jury.
Mr. Schneider's affirmation is entirely credible and the Lorenzano Declaration of November 9, 2006, to the degree it questions Mr. Schneider's conduct, is without merit.
Lorenzano's allegation that he did not know what Mr. Guzman said during the interviews is highly questionable. Concerning the statements during jury selection, it is a real stretch to believe that Lorenzano did not know about Mr. Guzman's future employment. The Court in open court referred to the fact that Mr. Guzman was "about to take a job with the state." (V.D. 107.) Lorenzano had ample time to consult with counsel during jury selection, and he participated in all aspects of jury selection, including the exercise of peremptory challenges. The reasonable inference is that Lorenzano was informed of Mr. Guzman's employment status. Likewise, it is simply not credible that trial counsel failed to advise Lorenzano about what had happened in the robing room prior to jury deliberations, when Lorenzano had been sitting in the Courtroom during the juror interviews and presumably would have asked defense counsel about the reason for the delay. This conclusion is clearly in accord with the Schneider affirmation. Moreover, present defense counsel sought, and the Court, on September 29, 2006 granted, an examination of Lorenzano by a psychiatrist for sentencing purposes. In his report of October 26, 2006, Dr. Lawrence Segal found that Lorenzano shows "indications of pathological lying" and "being conning and manipulative."
Counsel does not specifically recall whether he informed Lorenzano about Mr. Guzman's statements, but his general recollection is that he kept Lorenzano informed about developments in the case, including what happened at sidebars and in the robing room. (Schneider Aff. ¶ 2.) Trial counsel remembers that Lorenzano was involved in the jury selection process and that he conferred with Lorenzano regarding potential jurors and how the defense should use its peremptory challenges. (Schneider Aff. ¶ 3.) Although Mr. Schneider does not specifically recall discussing Mr. Guzman's job with Lorenzano, he believes that he would have had such a discussion and that Mr. Guzman's employment would have been a factor to consider and discuss with Lorenzano in deciding whether to try to excuse Mr. Guzman. (Schneider Aff. ¶ 4.) In the end, defense counsel decided to keep Mr. Guzman on the jury for strategic reasons. Perhaps Mr. Guzman's arrest for the altercation with the security officer entered into the decision.
Likewise, counsel does not specifically recall talking to Lorenzano about what happened in the robing room prior to jury deliberations. However, he believes that he would have spoken to Lorenzano about the issue raised by Mr. Guzman's alleged comments based on his standard practice and his positive relationship with Lorenzano at the time. (Schneider Aff. ¶ 5.). Defense counsel does not recall Lorenzano ever objecting to the decision to keep Mr. Guzman (Schneider Aff. ¶ 5.)
Although defense counsel has no specific recollection of what happened following the interviews of Mr. Guzman, his general recollection coupled with his standard practice and his relationship with Lorenzano supports the clear conclusion that Lorenzano was informed about these interviews.
There is no need for a hearing on this or any other issue. In any event, Lorenzano has failed to establish a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel.
A claim of ineffective assistance of counsel must: (1) demonstrate that counsel's representation fell below "an objective standard of reasonableness" under "prevailing professional norms"; and (2) "affirmatively prove prejudice" from counsel's allegedly defective performance. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687-88, 693-94 (1984); see Hernandez v. United States, 202 F.3d 486, 488 (2d Cir. 2000) ("Under theStrickland standard, a petitioner must establish both (1) that counsel made errors so serious that defendant was deprived of reasonably competent representation and (2) that counsel's deficient performance prejudiced the defense"). Both elements must be satisfied for a defendant to show that counsel "was not functioning as the 'counsel' guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment," and that the defendant was, as a result, deprived of a fair proceeding. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687.
In Strickland, the Supreme Court held that:
"Judicial scrutiny of counsel's performance must be highly deferential. It is all too tempting for a defendant to second-guess counsel's assistance after conviction or adverse sentence, and it is all too easy for a court, examining counsel's defense after it has proved unsuccessful, to conclude that a particular act or omission of counsel was unreasonable. A fair assessment of attorney performance requires that every effort be made to eliminate the distorting effects of hindsight, to reconstruct the circumstances of counsel's challenged conduct, and to evaluate the conduct from counsel's perspective at the time."Id. at 689 (citations omitted).
To meet the prejudice prong of Strickland, a defendant must show "a reasonable probability that, but for counsel's unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been different." Id. at 694. "'A reasonable probability is a probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome.'"Mayo v. Henderson, 13 F.3d 528, 534 (2d Cir. 1994) (quotingStrickland, 466 U.S. at 694). It is not enough to show merely that counsel's errors had "some conceivable effect" on the result, for "not every error that conceivably could have influenced the outcome undermines the reliability of the result of the proceeding." Id. at 693. There is no showing of any "conceivable effect" on the result here.
Here, Lorenzano has not shown any error by counsel, and certainly not one that caused him prejudice. The fact is that Mr. Guzman ultimately voted to acquit — with the rest of the jury — on all counts against Reyes and on one count against Lorenzano. This by itself proves that Mr. Guzman was not predisposed to favor the Government.
Lorenzano's claim that he would have objected to Mr. Guzman serving on the jury is contradicted by the fact that at least three other jurors with law enforcement connections were seated on the jury, without objection from Lorenzano. Specifically, Juror Number 7, Ms. Lopez, stated that her brother was a sergeant with the NYPD (V.D. 70-71), Juror Number 9, Ms. Antonaccio, said that she had a brother-in-law who had been a narcotics detective (V.D. 68-69), and Juror Number 3, Mr. Jordan, stated that he had a cousin who was an NYPD police officer (V.D. 72). Lorenzano did not object to any of these prospective jurors and there is no reason to believe that he would have objected to Mr. Guzman even if his factually questionable claim is accepted.
In open Court, Mr. Guzman also told the Court that his brother worked as a New York State correctional Officer. (V.D. 69.)
Lorenzano's claim of ineffective assistance of counsel fails. The motion under Rule 33 is denied in all respects.
II. THE COURT'S INSTRUCTIONS ON HOBBS ACT ROBBERY INTERSTATE COMMERCE
Lorenzano also challenges the Court's instructions on the interstate commerce element of Hobbs Act robbery.
In its charge, the Court instructed the jury that to convict Lorenzano of Hobbs Act robbery, the Government had to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant's "actions actually or potentially in any way or degree obstructed, delayed, or affected interstate commerce." (Tr. 2097.) The Court explained this element as follows:
The third element that the government must prove is that a robbery affected interstate or foreign commerce or, with respect to an attempted robbery, that interstate or foreign commerce would have been or potentially would have been affected in some way, even if the effect would have been slight or minor.
The requirement of showing an effect on interstate commerce involves only a minimal burden of proving a connection to interstate commerce, and it is satisfied by conduct that affects commerce in any way or degree. This requirement may be satisfied by a showing of a very slight effect on interstate commerce. Even a potential or subtle effect on commerce will suffice. It is not necessary for the government to prove that commerce was affected by a defendant's conduct. It is sufficient if the alleged robbery possibly or potentially would have affected interstate or foreign commerce.
It is not necessary for you to find that the defendant intended or anticipated that the effect of his own acts or the acts of his co-conspirators would be to affect interstate commerce or that the defendant or his co-conspirators had or shared a purpose that would affect commerce. All that is necessary is that the natural effect of the acts he conspired to commit would either actually or potentially affect interstate or foreign commerce.
Nor do you have to decide whether the effect on interstate commerce was or would have been harmful or beneficial to a particular business or commerce in general. The government satisfies its burden of proving an effect on commerce if it proves beyond a reasonable doubt any effect, whether harmful or not.
If you find beyond a reasonable doubt that the target of a robbery purchased or sold items that flowed in interstate commerce and that the money that the defendant conspired to take belonged to the target, then this element will have been met. Moreover, if you find that the defendant you are considering believed that the target of the robbery purchased or sold items that flowed in interstate commerce, then this item will be satisfied even if the defendant's belief ultimately proved incorrect. In other words, even if the target of a robbery was not in fact engaged in interstate commerce, this element will be satisfied if at the time of the robbery the defendant intended to commit a robbery that would have or potentially could have affected interstate commerce.
When considering this element, it is important for you to know that commerce affected or potentially affected need not be lawful. Activities affecting or potentially affecting unlawful interstate activity, such as drug dealing and trafficking, fall within the purview of the statute. Indeed, the United States Congress has determined that all illegal drug dealing, even when purely local in nature, has a substantial effect on interstate commerce. Thus, if you find that the object of the robbery was to obtain illegal drugs or money earned from the sale of drugs, you may find this element satisfied.
(Tr. 201-03 (emphasis added.))
Lorenzano argues that the portion of the charge underlined was clearly erroneous because it, in effect, "was a directed verdict on a critical finding that a jury must determine." Lorenzano relies on United States v. Gomez, No. 99 Cr. 740, 2005 WL 152970 (S.D.N.Y. June 28, 2005), a ruling by Judge McKenna.
In Gomez, Judge McKenna found the instruction improper because it "'removed from the jury at least a portion of the jurisdictional element.'" Id. at *11 (quoting United States v. Vasquez, 267 F.3d 79, 88 (2d Cir. 2001)). In reaching this conclusion, however, Judge McKenna did not recognize that the Second Circuit specifically upheld the challenged instruction inUnited States v. Fabian, 312 F.3d 550, 558 (2d Cir. 2002) (quoting instruction and holding that "the jury instruction was proper"). More recently, Judge Lynch expressly rejected the decision in Gomez and upheld the propriety of the challenged instruction. See United States v. Robles, No. 04 Cr. 1036, 2006 WL 988249, at *1 (S.D.N.Y. Apr. 13, 2006). I agree with Judge Lynch.
The claim that the Government failed to "present any evidence to prove that the robberies had any connection to interstate commerce" (Lorenzano Br. 5) is overcame by the evidence, the testimony and documents presented at trial.
The Government proved that the defendant's targeted narcotics dealers — an industry that by definition affects interstate commerce, see, e.g., Fabian, 312 F.3d at 555. Further, there was specific proof establishing the interstate commerce element with regard to the robbery of the bakery on October 30, 1998. The Government presented proof that the bakery shipped products to 48 states (Tr. 955), and received materials from wholesales and distributors, including companies located outside New York State (Tr. 958). The owner of the bakery explained that the bakery shipped goods as far away as Texas and California. (Tr. 959.) Invoices further showed that the bakery's business affected interstate commerce through transactions with suppliers and customers in out-of-state locations such as New Jersey, Florida, and Maryland. (Tr. 960-61; Gov't Ex. 182).
The Government also presented proof of an effect on interstate commerce from the drug robberies. For example, for the March 14, 2000 robbery at Crystal House in the Bronx, the Government presented proof that the victims of the robbery sold drugs not just in New York, but also in New Jersey. (Tr. 1224.)
There was more than sufficient evidence to establish an effect on interstate commerce. See United States v. Wilkerson, 361 F.3d 717, 730 (2d Cir. 2004), United States v. Perrotta, 313 F.3d 33, 36 (2d Cir. 2002), United States v. Jamison, 299 F.3d 114, 121 (2d Cir. 2002).
On December 8, 2006, defense counsel raised an additional issue relating to this motion. The communication was received on December 12, 2006 and responded to by the Government. In this addendum, Lorenzano argues that under Crawford v. Washington, 541 U.S. 36 (2004), his Sixth Amendment rights were violated because Wilfredo Perez Geneo, the man stabbed in the leg in the Crystal House robbery of March 14, 2000, was not called as a witness. See supra p. 4. This argument is meritless. No statements by Geneo were introduced at trial and Crawford does not require the Government to call any particular witness. Crawford applies to testimonial statements received for the truth of the matter asserted. Nothing like that occurred here.
Lorenzano's motion for a judgment of acquittal, pursuant to Rule 29, or a new trial, pursuant to Rule 33, is denied in its entirety.
Sentence is set for January 16, 2007 at 10:15 a.m. There will be no adjournments of sentence.