USA v. Charles Jackson

Filing

NOT PRECEDENTIAL OPINION Coram: FISHER, CHAGARES and JORDAN, Circuit Judges. Total Pages: 10. Judge: CHAGARES Authoring.

Case: 13-4771

Document: 003112083833

Page: 1

Date Filed: 09/23/2015

NOT PRECEDENTIAL
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT
_____________
No. 13-4771
_____________
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
v.
CHARLES E. JACKSON, a/k/a JAMES RUSSELL BRAME a/k/a RASOUL,
Charles E. Jackson,
Appellant
_____________
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
(No. 2:10-cr-00388)
District Judge: Honorable Cynthia M. Rufe
Submitted Pursuant to Third Circuit LAR 34.1(a)
September 16, 2015
Before: FISHER, CHAGARES, and JORDAN, Circuit Judges.
(Filed: September 23, 2015)
____________
OPINION*
____________
CHAGARES, Circuit Judge.

This disposition is not an opinion of the full Court and pursuant to I.O.P. 5.7 does not
constitute binding precedent.
*

Case: 13-4771

Document: 003112083833

Page: 2

Date Filed: 09/23/2015

Charles E. Jackson appeals his conviction and sentence for various cocaine
distribution offenses. In particular, he asserts that evidence of prior drug transactions was
improperly admitted under Federal Rule of Evidence 404(b), that his right to a fair trial
was violated by the District Court’s refusal to grant a continuance while new counsel
familiarized himself with the facts of Jackson’s case, and that the Government
improperly offered an opinion as to his guilt in opening and closing statements.1 For the
following reasons, we will affirm the District Court’s judgment of conviction and
sentence.
I.
We write solely for the parties and therefore recite only the facts necessary to our
disposition. Jackson was indicted on June 16, 2010, for drug distribution and possession
offenses — specifically, distribution of cocaine, possession of cocaine with intent to
distribute, and conspiracy to distribute cocaine. The Government also filed an
information charging Jackson with two prior drug felony convictions pursuant to 21
U.S.C. § 851.
The pretrial phase of Jackson’s case was extensive, and he went through several
attorneys before ultimately proceeding pro se on his pretrial motions. After numerous
delays, many of them attributable to Jackson, trial was scheduled for December 4, 2012.
On November 29, 2012, Jackson informed the court that he intended to retain new

1

Jackson also raises two sentencing arguments to ensure they are preserved for further
review, but he properly recognizes that they are foreclosed by our current precedent.
Jackson Br. 47–53.
2

Case: 13-4771

Document: 003112083833

Page: 3

Date Filed: 09/23/2015

counsel, Harry Feinberg. The District Court, frustrated with what it regarded as extended
delays caused by Jackson, informed him that trial would still begin on December 4, 2012,
and that Feinberg should be ready on that date if he intended to represent Jackson.
Feinberg entered an appearance on December 4, 2012, and requested a two-week
continuance, which the District Court denied, citing the lengthy delays, a potentially
unavailable Government witness, and a previously scheduled trial that would have
required putting off Jackson’s trial for more than the requested two weeks. The District
Court gave Feinberg the option of spending December 4th in the courtroom, with access
to all the case materials and the assistance of Jackson’s standby counsel, who was
familiar with the case, with the trial to begin on December 5th. Feinberg took this option
and reported to the District Court, on two occasions, that he was prepared to begin trial.
Jury selection began on the afternoon of December 5th.
The Government filed a motion in limine to admit certain evidence of prior drug
transactions involving Jackson and two of the Government’s proposed witnesses, to
which Jackson objected. The witnesses had participated with Jackson in the charged drug
crimes, as well as prior drug sales, and the Government contended that their testimony
was admissible to show knowledge, intent, and to explain why Jackson would have been
trusted with such a large volume of cocaine. The District Court found that the evidence
was admissible under 404(b) to “explain[] the relationship of the parties.” Appendix
(“App.”) 180. The District Court issued a jury instruction both at the close of the
witnesses’ testimony and at the close of trial to limit consideration of the 404(b)
evidence. The instruction essentially recited all proper purposes for considering the
3

Case: 13-4771

Document: 003112083833

Page: 4

Date Filed: 09/23/2015

evidence under Rule 404(b). Upon consideration of Jackson’s post-trial motions, the
District Court issued a more detailed statement of its reasons for admitting the evidence,
finding that the evidence was admissible to “show[] knowledge and intent to distribute
significant amounts of cocaine in transactions with the same people . . . and . . . to explain
the relationship among the parties to the transaction charged in the indictment.” App.
1145.
The prosecutor, in her opening and closing remarks, made statements asking the
jury to “tell the defendant you are a drug dealer and you are guilty,” App. 477, and stating
that “[w]e are long overdue for Mr. Jackson to finally hear that he is guilty, and I am
asking you to tell him.” App. 1000. Jackson contends that these remarks constituted an
improper injection of the prosecutor’s personal belief about his guilt into the proceedings
and that they implied a troubled history to the proceeding to which the jury was not privy.
Jackson was found guilty by the jury on all three counts on December 10, 2012.
No post-trial motions were timely filed. Eventually, Jackson’s counsel was granted leave
to withdraw and he was given court-appointed counsel. His court-appointed counsel filed
a motion for a new trial based on the allegedly improperly admitted evidence under Rule
404(b), which the District Court considered and denied on the merits. At sentencing, the
parties agreed that the correct advisory Sentencing Guidelines range was calculated as
324 to 405 months of imprisonment, and the District Court ultimately sentenced Jackson
to 330 months of imprisonment and ten years of supervised release.
Jackson timely appealed.
II.
4

Case: 13-4771

Document: 003112083833

Page: 5

Date Filed: 09/23/2015

The District Court had jurisdiction pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3231. We have
appellate jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291 and 18 U.S.C. § 3742(a). The District
Court’s decision not to grant a continuance is reviewed for abuse of discretion. United
States v. Olfano, 503 F.3d 240, 245 (3d Cir. 2007). “We normally review evidentiary
rulings for abuse of discretion, but we exercise plenary review over ‘whether evidence
falls within the scope of Rule 404(b).’” United States v. Smith, 725 F.3d 340, 344–45
(3d Cir. 2013) (quoting United States v. Green, 617 F.3d 233, 239 (3d Cir. 2010)).
Finally, we review Jackson’s claim of prosecutorial misconduct for plain error, because
he did not contemporaneously object to the prosecutor’s remarks. See Puckett v. United
States, 556 U.S. 129, 135 (2009).
III.
First, we consider Jackson’s argument that the District Court’s refusal to grant a
continuance amounted to a denial of his Fifth Amendment due process rights and his
Sixth Amendment right to counsel. He argues that the District Court’s refusal effectively
nullified his choice of Feinberg as counsel and impermissibly infringed his rights to a fair
trial and due process of law. The Government responds that any objection on this score
was waived by Feinberg’s attestations to the District Court that he was adequately
prepared for trial and, even if Jackson’s objection is not waived, that he fails to articulate
how the lack of a continuance prejudiced his defense.2

To the extent that Jackson is arguing that he was denied “a fair opportunity to obtain the
assistance of counsel of his choice to prepare and conduct his defense,” that
“constitutional mandate is satisfied so long as the accused is afforded a fair or reasonable
opportunity to obtain particular counsel, and so long as there is no arbitrary action
2

5

Case: 13-4771

Document: 003112083833

Page: 6

Date Filed: 09/23/2015

In considering a request for a continuance, the District Court should weigh “the
efficient administration of criminal justice, the accused’s rights, and the rights of other
defendants whose trials may be delayed as a result of the continuance.” Olfano, 503 F.3d
at 246. Moreover, a district court abuses its discretion by denying a continuance only
when its denial is “so arbitrary as to violate due process.” United States v. Irizarry, 341
F.3d 273, 305 (3d Cir. 2003).
The District Court was understandably concerned about the numerous delays in
bringing this case to trial, a concern that went to the efficient administration of justice.
For this reason alone, the District Court’s action was not arbitrary. Thus, we find that the
denial was not an abuse of discretion. In any case, Jackson does not even attempt to
show how his defense was impaired due to the denial of a two-week continuance.
Feinberg told the District Court repeatedly that he was ready to try the case, and by all
accounts did well, even earning praise from the District Court for an “amazing job.”
App. 1101. Jackson identifies no areas in which his counsel was unprepared or unable to
competently represent him, and thus no prejudice from any possible error the District
Court might have committed.
Jackson’s next argument is that the District Court improperly admitted evidence
of prior drug transactions under Federal Rule of Evidence 404(b). Rule 404(b) prohibits
the introduction of “[e]vidence of a crime, wrong, or other act” if that evidence is to be

prohibiting the effective use of such counsel.” United States ex rel. Carey v. Rundle, 409
F.2d 1210, 1215 (3d Cir. 1969). The record shows that Jackson had ample opportunity to
retain counsel of his choice, and the District Court's refusal to further postpone his trial
date was not arbitrary.
6

Case: 13-4771

Document: 003112083833

Page: 7

Date Filed: 09/23/2015

used to prove a person’s “character in order to show that on a particular occasion the
person acted in accordance with the character.” Fed. R. Evid. 404(b)(1). However, the
evidence “may be admissible for another purpose, such as proving motive, opportunity,
intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, absence of mistake, or lack of accident.”
Fed. R. Evid. 404(b)(2).
We have developed a four-part test for evaluating the introduction of evidence
under Rule 404(b). Evidence is admissible if it is “(1) offered for a proper purpose under
Rule 404(b)(2); (2) relevant to that purpose; (3) sufficiently probative under the Rule 403
balancing requirement; and (4) accompanied by a limiting instruction, if requested.”
United States v. Davis, 726 F.3d 434, 441 (3d Cir. 2013).3 The burden is on the
Government to show that the evidence is connected to a proper purpose, and the District
Court must provide reasoning that is “detailed and on the record” explaining why the
evidence is admissible. Id.

Some cases add a requirement to the first prong of the test that the purpose is “at issue,”
though others have not incorporated this requirement. Compare United States v. Brown,
765 F.3d 278, 291 (3d Cir. 2014) (holding that evidence must “be offered for a proper
non-propensity purpose that is at issue in the case”), and United States v. Caldwell, 760
F.3d 267, 277 (3d Cir. 2014) (holding that proponent of 404(b) evidence must “identify a
proper 404(b) purpose for admission . . . that is ‘at issue’ in . . . the case”), with Davis,
726 F.3d at 441 (not listing the “at issue” requirement as an element of the test), United
States v. Ciavarella, 716 F.3d 705, 728 (3d Cir. 2013) (same), and United States v. Smith,
725 F.3d 340, 344 (3d Cir. 2013) (same). The Supreme Court’s decision in Huddleston
v. United States, 485 U.S. 681 (1988), from which the four-part test is derived, does not
contain the “at issue” provision. In any event, the case against Jackson was based on
constructive possession and his intent to distribute the cocaine, so knowledge and intent
were at issue, and any difference in the test is not dispositive here.
3

7

Case: 13-4771

Document: 003112083833

Page: 8

Date Filed: 09/23/2015

The District Court found that the challenged evidence went to the non-propensity
purposes of showing Jackson’s knowledge and intent, as well as assisting the jury in
understanding the narrative of the facts leading up to the offenses for which Jackson was
indicted. We have, in the past, upheld the introduction of evidence of past distribution as
relevant to prove knowledge of the same or different drug in a later distribution trial. See
United States v. Givan, 320 F.3d 452, 461 (3d Cir. 2003) (“The evidence that Givan had
been convicted of distribution of cocaine makes Givan’s knowledge of the presence of
the heroin more probable than it would have been without the evidence.”). We have also
held that a defendant’s “participation in a prior drug conspiracy is probative of his
knowledge of, and relationship with a member of, a later drug conspiracy.” United States
v. Vega, 285 F.3d 256, 263 (3d Cir. 2002). And we have held that evidence of past
distribution is relevant to prove intent to distribute in a later distribution trial, even to the
extent of admitting prior convictions as well as uncharged conduct. See United States v.
Lee, 573 F.3d 155, 166–67 (3d Cir. 2009) (holding that prior drug trafficking conviction
was admissible to prove intent to distribute).
Moreover, we have held that the Government has some latitude to introduce
404(b) evidence to “allow[] the jury to understand the circumstances surrounding the
charged crime.” Green, 617 F.3d at 247; see also United States v. O’Leary, 739 F.2d
135, 136 (3d Cir. 1984) (agreeing with the Government that the need “to show the
background of the charges [and] the parties’ familiarity with one another” were purposes
under Rule 404(b) (quotation marks omitted)); United States v. Simmons, 679 F.2d 1042,
1050 (3d Cir. 1982) (concluding that providing the jury with “necessary background
8

Case: 13-4771

Document: 003112083833

Page: 9

Date Filed: 09/23/2015

information” was a proper purpose under Rule 404(b)). Jackson’s strategy at trial was to
suggest that the two testifying witnesses attempted to pin everything on him so as to limit
their criminal exposure; the Government was entitled to explain the relationship that
Jackson had with those witnesses to provide context to their testimony. Also, because the
full amount of cocaine was never recovered, the Government was within its rights to
explore the escalating quantities to provide circumstantial evidence that Jackson was
dealing with a relatively large weight on this occasion.
Thus, we hold that the evidence was admitted for a proper purpose under Rule
404(b) and that it was relevant to that purpose. The District Court explained why the
evidence was admissible on the record in a sufficiently thorough manner, both at the time
of its ruling on the Rule 404(b) motion and, in a more detailed fashion, in its order
denying Jackson’s post-trial motions. Though undoubtedly prejudicial, the evidence’s
probative value was not “substantially outweighed by a danger of . . . unfair prejudice.”
Fed. R. Evid. 403. And, though it perhaps could have been clearer, the District Court
gave a proper limiting instruction, both at the time of the testimony and in the final jury
charge.
Finally, Jackson argues that some of the prosecutor’s comments showed her
personal belief about Jackson’s guilt and impermissibly suggested the existence of the
lengthy pretrial litigation history between Jackson and the Government to which the jury
was not privy. Jackson did not contemporaneously object to the allegedly improper
arguments and thus our review is for plain error. See Puckett, 556 U.S. at 135. Applying
that standard, we affirm unless there is “(1) an error; (2) that is plain; (3) that affects
9

Case: 13-4771

Document: 003112083833

Page: 10

Date Filed: 09/23/2015

substantial rights; and (4) which seriously affects the fairness, integrity, or public
reputation of judicial proceedings.” United States v. Tai, 750 F.3d 309, 313–14 (3d Cir.
2014). “Meeting all four prongs is difficult[.]” Puckett, 556 U.S. at 135. If an appellant
meets the prongs, we may “in [our] discretion grant relief.” United States v. Salahuddin,
765 F.3d 329, 337 (3d Cir. 2014) (quotation marks omitted).
Here, even assuming there was error, it was not plain. “The prosecutor is entitled
to considerable latitude in summation to argue the evidence and any reasonable
inferences that can be drawn from that evidence.” United States v. Werme, 939 F.2d 108,
117 (3d Cir. 1991). The prosecutor made statements such as “this man’s a drug dealer.
The evidence will show [that] he’s a drug dealer.” App. 476–77. The purpose of the
opening and closing statements are, respectively, to outline what the evidence will show
and has shown and argue for the inferences the Government wishes the jury to draw from
that evidence. In a case where the Government has charged the defendant with drug
distribution, the statements that the evidence will show that the defendant is a drug dealer
do not cross the line into impermissibly stating the prosecutor’s belief in the defendant’s
guilt, certainly not to the extent that the error is plain and seriously affected the fairness,
integrity, or public reputation of the proceeding. See Puckett, 556 U.S. at 135. We
therefore find this argument to be without merit.
IV.
For the foregoing reasons, we will affirm the District Court’s judgment.

10