UNITED STATES v. HOWARD, 504 F.2d 1281 (8th Cir. 1974)

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, APPELLEE, v. EUGENE WESLEY HOWARD, APPELLANT.

Nos. 73-1856, 73-1857.United States Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit.Submitted May 15, 1974.
Decided October 29, 1974.

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Robert G. Duncan, Duncan Russell, Gladstone, Mo., for appellant.

Wilbur H. Dillahunty, U.S. Atty., Little Rock, Ark., for appellee.

Appeal from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas.

Before GIBSON, Chief Judge, VOGEL, Senior Circuit Judge, and WEBSTER, Circuit Judge.

WEBSTER, Circuit Judge.

[1] Eugene Wesley Howard was convicted on four counts of willfully and knowingly transferring and delivering counterfeit twenty-dollar Federal Reserve Notes, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 473; on one count of knowingly possessing such counterfeit currency, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 472; and on one count of

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unlawfully carrying a firearm during the commission of a federal felony, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(2). In this appeal he challenges the introduction of allegedly prejudicial evidence at trial as well as several of the trial court’s[1]
instructions to the jury. Having carefully reviewed the trial transcript and the arguments advanced on appeal, we affirm.

[2] The Facts
[3] Appellant Howard was introduced to the owner of the Mid-State Printing Co. by Michael Gocke, a former printer at the plant. Howard bought the plant in November, 1972, financing the purchase with money he borrowed from one Bill Carter, a self-proclaimed gambler and narcotics user with a long record of felony convictions. On January 18, 1973, while the building was allegedly being cleaned and prepared for printing, Howard guided Secret Service Agents Saitta and Howlett through the plant at their request. Howard agreed to notify the agents if he discovered any indications of counterfeiting at Mid-State, but he denied knowing Carter when the agents inquired about their possible acquaintance.

[4] In early March of 1973, Carter, who was then on probation for violation of the Firearms Act, agreed to cooperate with the Secret Service and, while wearing an electronic taping device, approached Howard for the purpose of purchasing counterfeit currency from him. Carter had a series of such meetings with Howard and on at least two occasions bought a considerable quantity of counterfeit twenty-dollar Federal Reserve Notes from Howard. During one meeting, Carter was accompanied by Agent Saitta, who had adopted the undercover disguise of a prospective purchaser of additional counterfeit notes. Ultimately, Howard gave Saitta the key to a motel room where 12 counterfeit notes as well as 12 counterfeit Arkansas drivers’ licenses were hidden. After taking these samples supposedly for inspection purposes, Saitta agreed to purchase $200,000 worth of the counterfeit currency and 6,000 licenses. As planned, Howard delivered the money and licenses to Saitta at a shopping center parking lot, whereupon Howard was arrested as he was reaching for a loaded pistol in his belt.

[5] Following his arrest, Howard was taken to the local Secret Service office where he agreed to accompany several agents to his mother’s house in Lonoke where additional money was hidden. The search of that house disclosed well over $400,000 worth of counterfeit twenty-dollar bills and approximately 6,000 counterfeit Arkansas drivers’ licenses. The following day, agents found trash barrels containing scraps of counterfeit money and burned printing plates after searching with a warrant the property near Howard’s office in North Little Rock. According to the testimony of one of Howard’s employees, he had hauled these trash barrels from the Mid-State plant upon Howard’s direction.

[6] Howard was charged with four separate deliveries of counterfeit currency, two to Carter and two to Saitta. He was also charged with selling and possessing the counterfeit money hidden at his mother’s house and with unlawfully carrying a firearm during the delivery of the money at the parking lot.

[7] Evidence of Other Crimes
[8] Howard’s first assignment of error relates to the admission into evidence of testimony concerning the counterfeit Arkansas drivers’ licenses. Howard argues that he was not standing trial for any offense involving the licenses and that such evidence of other crimes improperly prejudiced his case.

[9] While evidence of other criminal activity is generally inadmissible to show that the accused is an individual of bad

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character with a propensity to commit the crime charged, such evidence may be received for several narrowly defined and exceptional purposes, e.g., to show intent or motive. Umbaugh v. Hutto, 486 F.2d 904 (8th Cir. 1973), cert. denied, 416 U.S. 960, 94 S.Ct. 1978, 40 L.Ed.2d 311 (1974). Another such exception permits the introduction of evidence of other criminal activity to complete the story of the crime on trial by proving its immediate context or the “resgestae.” McCormick, Evidence 448 (2d ed. 1972). Thus, this Circuit has upheld the admission of such evidence where it is “part and parcel” of the crime charged. United States v. Cochran, 475 F.2d 1080, 1082
(8th Cir.), cert. denied, 414 U.S. 833, 94 S.Ct. 173, 38 L.Ed.2d 68 (1973). See also United States v. Weatherford, 493 F.2d 248 (8th Cir. 1974).

[10] The evidence in question here clearly fits this latter category. The record shows that Howard offered to sell to undercover agent Saitta the counterfeit drivers’ licenses together with the counterfeit currency; in both the motel room where samples of the counterfeit had been secreted and in Howard’s mother’s house where substantial quantities of counterfeit were hidden, drivers’ licenses were found in addition to the currency. Under these circumstances, we hold the evidence concerning the licenses to have been properly admitted. Moreover, Judge Henley’s instruction to the jury[2] properly explained the use to which such evidence may be put. We find no error here.

[11] Howard’s Volunteer Defense
[12] When Howard took the stand at trial, his primary defense was that his entire course of conduct had been based upon his desire to cooperate with the government by locating and identifying the perpetrators of the counterfeiting scheme. He claimed that he adopted the role of “volunteer” soon after he led the Secret Service agents through the Mid-State plant and that he had “set up” a series of counterfeit deals in an effort to apprehend the “big people” involved in the operation. On appeal, he argues that as a result of his good motives, he lacked the requisite criminal intent for conviction. Nonetheless, it is certainly clear from Howard’s testimony that all of the acts for which he was convicted were done intentionally, and we therefore reject Howard’s contentions.

[13] “Noble motives and pure thoughts cannot bar the conviction of one who admits intentional action which violates the proscriptions of a statute declaring that action criminal * * *.” United States v. Ragsdale, 438 F.2d 21, 26 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 403 U.S. 919, 91 S.Ct. 2231, 29 L.Ed.2d 696 (1971). This principle is supported by ample authority. See United States v. Mitchell, 463 F.2d 187, 191 (8th Cir. 1972), cert. denied, 410 U.S. 969, 93 S.Ct. 1449, 35 L.Ed.2d 705 (1973); United States v. Malinowski, 472 F.2d 850, 856 (3d Cir.), cert. denied, 411 U.S 970, 93 S.Ct. 2164, 36 L.Ed.2d 693 (1973); United States v. Owens, 415 F.2d 1308, 1315 (6th Cir. 1969), cert. denied, 397 U.S. 997, 90 S.Ct. 1138, 25 L.Ed.2d 406 (1970).

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[14] Judge Henley’s instructions properly set forth the essential elements of the offenses charged and correctly reflected the standards against which the jury had to test Howard’s volunteer defense.[3]

[15] The Firearms Charge
[16] Howard has raised a question of first impression in assigning error to Judge Henley’s charge to the jury concerning the offense defined by 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(2). That statute provides in part that

[w]hoever * * * carries a firearm unlawfully during the commission of any felony for which he may be prosecuted in a court of the United States shall, in addition to the punishment provided for the commission of such felony, be sentenced to a term of imprisonment for not less than one year nor more than ten years.

[17] Howard’s challenge focuses on the meaning of the word “unlawfully,” as employed in the statute. Judge Henley instructed the jury that the word referred to that which is illegal under Arkansas law. He continued:

You are instructed that under the relevant Arkansas statute it is a misdemeanor for any person to wear or carry in any manner whatever as a weapon any pistol, provided that the Arkansas statute is not to be so construed as to prohibit any person from carrying such pistols as are used in the Army or Navy of the United States when carried uncovered and in the hand, and provided further that the statute is not to be construed as prohibiting the carrying or wearing of a pistol by a person while he is on a journey or on his own premises.[4]

[18] Howard contends that this instruction should have instead referred to that which is illegal under federal law. As a result, he argues, he was denied both due process of law and equal protection of the laws, for he was convicted of a crime not punishable under the laws of the United States.[5]

[19] We disagree. After extensive research into the legislative history of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(2), we conclude that “unlawfully” was intended to refer to the carrying of a gun which is prohibited by any law — be it a state law, a federal statute, or a municipal ordinance.[6]

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[20] The purpose of the amendment to H.R. 17735, which ultimately became 18 U.S.C. § 924(c),[7] was “to persuade the man who attempted to commit a federal felony to leave his gun at home.” 114 Cong.Rec., 90th Cong., 2d Sess. 22231 (1968). See also
United States v. Melville, 309 F. Supp. 774, 777 (S.D.N.Y. 1970). To effectuate this purpose, the statute creates a separate offense for the carrying of a gun during the commission of a federal felony and, at least in the case of second and subsequent violations, imposes a mandatory penalty that is consecutive to that assessed for the commission of the underlying federal felony. United States v. Sudduth, 457 F.2d 1198 (10th Cir. 1972) see United States v. Gerard, 491 F.2d 1300 (9th Cir. 1974). During the debates which took place prior to the law’s enactment, however, several Congressmen expressed concern that H.R. 17735, as it had been originally proposed, might impose such additional penalties upon policemen or licensed carriers of firearms who, while legally carrying such weapons, committed federal felonies See 114 Cong.Rec., supra, at 21788-89, 21792, 22231, 22235, 22237. The word “unlawfully,” inserted following “carries,” was intended to obviate this possible problem.[8]

[21] Congress’ concern for policemen and licensees is indicative of its intention to strengthen the deterrent effect of the statute while exempting from its reach not only those who might legally carry guns under federal law, but also those who might do so under the authority of state or local laws.[9] Thus, we infer that the meaning of “unlawfully” is broad enough to encompass that which is in violation of any firearms law.

[22] Applying these conclusions to the instant case, we find Judge Henley’s instruction to have been proper. While he might have given the jury additional instructions on federal or local firearms laws, he was not bound to do so. Moreover, unlike in United States v. Ramirez, 482 F.2d 807 (2d Cir.), cert. denied sub nom. Gomez v. United States, 414 U.S. 1070, 94 S.Ct. 581, 38 L.Ed.2d 475 (1973), there are no evidentiary problems in this case.[10] The Arkansas statute referred to in Judge Henley’s instruction[11] is broad enough to encompass

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the carrying of a firearm by any individual in any manner, with certain narrowly defined exceptions. The undisputed evidence that Howard was carrying a pistol concealed in his belt during the delivery of the counterfeit to Agent Saitta was sufficient to support his conviction on the firearms charge.[12]

[23] In so holding, we reject Howard’s contention that this construction of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(2) unconstitutionally permits a federal court to convict him for violating a state statute. While the statute requires that the carrying of the firearm must itself be unlawful, United States v. Ramirez, supra, 482 F.2d at 815, a violation of a state firearms law (or any other firearms law) is only one element of the offense defined by 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(2). The other essential element is the concurrent commission of a federal felony, which — as Congress intended — brings the offense within the jurisdiction of the federal courts See United States v. Melville, supra, 309 F. Supp. at 777-778 See also 114 Cong.Rec., supra, at 22231 et seq.

[24] Prejudicial Evidence
[25] Howard’s final assignment of error calls to our attention certain testimony, exhibits, remarks by the prosecution and comments by the trial judge which, he contends, were cumulatively so prejudicial that a new trial is required. Our examination of these matters leads us to a different conclusion.

[26] Only one of these challenges merits detailed discussion. Howard argues that tapes of his conversations with Bill Carter, recorded by a device secretly worn by Carter and introduced into evidence by the government lacked a proper foundation, were barely audible, and contained obscene language which unduly prejudiced the jury. The record shows that the prosecution laid a proper foundation for the admission of the tapes through the testimony of Bill Carter and of Agents Saitta and Howlett. While counsel for the defense objected to the introduction of the tapes as illegally obtained evidence,[13] no objections concerning their foundation or authenticity were interposed.

[27] Because parts of the recordings were barely audible, only certain portions of the tapes were played before the jury. Howard alleges that this selective playing of the tapes by the prosecution constitutes prejudicial error. We disagree. The defense counsel was advised that he could play any tapes not played by the prosecution. Moreover, as we stated on a previous occasion,

* * * the fact that certain portions of a tape recording are inaudible does not necessarily render the entire tape inadmissible. That question is addressed to the sound discretion of the trial court.
United States v. Skillman, 442 F.2d 542, 552 n. 8 (8th Cir.), cert. denied, 404 U.S. 833, 92 S.Ct. 82, 30 L.Ed.2d 63 (1971).

[28] We find no abuse of that discretion here. See also United States v. Jacobs, 451 F.2d 530, 541-542 (5th Cir. 1971), cert. denied, 405 U.S. 955, 92 S.Ct. 1170, 31 L.Ed.2d 231 (1972).

[29] The balance of the claimed errors, including the profanities on the tapes,[14] the remarks of the prosecutor and those of the trial judge, do not rise to the level of reversible error, even when considered on a cumulative basis.

[30] Affirmed.

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