Libretti v. Woodson
Filing
38
Memorandum of Opinion and Order granting defendant's Motion to dismiss (Related Doc # 29 ) plaintiff's 5th amended complaint.Judge Dan A. Polster(C,KA)
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF OHIO
EASTERN DIVISION
JOSEPH V. LIBRETTI, JR.,
Plaintiff,
vs.
STEVEN WOODSON,
Defendant.
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CASE NO. 1:13 CV 932
JUDGE DAN AARON POLSTER
MEMORANDUM OF OPINION
AND ORDER
Before the Court is Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss Plaintiff’s Fifth Amended Complaint
(“Motion”). (Doc #: 29.) For the reasons to follow, the Court GRANTS the Motion.1
I.
On March 18, 2011, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Plaintiff Joseph
V. Libretti, Jr. with one count of conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute, and to
distribute, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine from on or about January 2010 through and
including the date the indictment was issued. Twelve days later, on March 30, 2011, Defendant
(and now-retired DEA Agent) Steven Woodson procured a warrant to search Libretti’s Ohio
residence and safe deposit box for contraband, evidence and/or fruits of the charged crime. On
January 26, 2012, following a jury trial, Libretti was found “not guilty.”
1
Also pending is a document entitled “Plaintiff’s Motion to Strike Defendant’s Reply to
Plaintiff’s Brief in Opposition to Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss; and Motion for Leave to Conduct
Discovery.” (Doc #: 36). For reasons expressed in this Memorandum of Opinion and Order and in
Defendant’s opposition brief (Doc #: 36), Plaintiff’s Motion is DENIED.
More than one year later, on March 28, 2013, Libretti filed this civil action against
Woodson. Pursuant to Bivens v. Six Unknown Fed. Narcotics Agents, 403 U.S. 388 (1971),
Libretti seeks monetary damages from Woodson on the basis that he violated Libretti’s Fourth
Amendment right to be free from unreasonable searches. Specifically, Libretti contends that
probable cause did not exist to justify the search; the warrant authorized a broader search than
was reasonable; and the seizure of property exceeded the scope of the warrant. Woodson now
seeks dismissal of the Fifth Amended Complaint (“the Complaint”) on the basis that he is
entitled to qualified immunity.
II.
Under the doctrine of qualified immunity, government officials performing discretionary
functions are shielded from civil liability if their conduct does not violate clearly established
statutory or constitutional rights of which a reasonable person would have known. Pearson v.
Callahan, 555 U.S. 223, 231 (2009) (citing Harlow v. Fitzgerald, 457 U.S. 800, 818 (1982)). To
determine whether a government official is entitled to qualified immunity, a court must decide
whether the official violated a constitutional right and whether the right was clearly established.
Saucier v. Katz, 533 U.S. 194, 202 (2001), overruled in part on other grounds by Pearson, 555
U.S. at 227. The Sixth Circuit has held that the district court may use discretion in deciding
which question to address first. Moldowan v. City of Warren, 578 F.3d 351, 375 (6th Cir. 2009).
Because qualified immunity is an immunity from suit rather than a mere defense to
liability, a ruling on that issue should be made early in the proceedings so that the costs and
expenses of trial are avoided where the question of immunity is dispositive. Saucier, 533 U.S. at
2000. When qualified immunity is invoked, it is the plaintiff’s burden to demonstrate that the
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defendant is not entitled to immunity. See Davenport v. Causey, 521 F.3d 544, 550 (6th Cir.
2008).
Libretti’s Bivens claim is based on a violation of the Fourth Amendment. The Fourth
Amendment provides that no search warrant shall issue absent probable cause. United States v.
Jackson, 470 F.3d 299, 306 (6th Cir. 2006) (citing U.S. CONST. AMEND. IV.) “Probable cause is
defined as reasonable grounds for belief, supported by less than prima facie proof but more than
mere suspicion.” Id. (quoting United States v. Bennett, 905 F.2d 931, 934 (6th Cir. 1990)). It is
found where there is a fair probability that contraband or evidence of a crime will be found in the
place to be searched. Id. (citing United States v. Jenkins, 396 F.3d 751, 760 (6th Cir. 2005)
(citing United States v. Bowling, 900 F.2d 926, 930 (6th Cir. 1990)). The court must judge search
warrant affidavits based on the totality of the circumstances, rather than line-by-line scrutiny. Id.
(citing United States v. Woosley, 361 F.2d 924, 926 (6th Cir. 2004)). “Review of the sufficiency
of the evidence supporting probable cause is limited to the information presented in the four
corners of the affidavit.” Id. (citing United States v. Frazier, 423 F.3d 526, 531 (6th Cir. 2005).
The magistrate judge’s determination of probable cause is afforded great deference. Id. (citing
United States v. Allen, 211 F.3d 970, 973 (6th Cir. 2000).
III.
As an initial matter, Libretti contends that Woodson’s attachment of the search warrant
and the affidavit in support of the warrant to his Rule 12(b)(6) motion necessarily converts the
motion into a Rule 56 motion for summary judgment, and seeks discovery to respond to that
motion.
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Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(d) provides that Rule 12(b)(6) motions to dismiss must be treated as
summary judgment motions and resolved under Rule 56 where matters outside the pleadings are
presented, and not excluded, by the court. Greenberg v. Life Ins. Co. of Virginia, 177 F.3d 507,
514 (6th Cir. 1999). As with most rules, however, there is a long-established exception.
Under certain circumstances, . . . a document that is not formally incorporated by
reference or attached to a complaint may still be considered part of the pleadings.
See 11 JAMES WM. MOORE, et al., MOORE’S FEDERAL PRACTICE § 56.30[4] (3d
ed. 1998). This occurs when “a document is referred to in the complaint and is
central to the plaintiff’s claim. . . .” Id. In such event, “the defendant may submit
an authentic copy to the court to be considered on a motion to dismiss, and the
court’s consideration of the document does not require conversion of the motion
to one for summary judgment.” Id.; see, e.g., Weiner v. Klais & Co., 108 F.3d 86,
89 (6th Cir. 1997). . . .
Id. (parenthetical omitted).
Because the search warrant and affidavit in support are referenced in the Complaint and
central to the Bivens claim, and because the Court’s probable-cause review is limited to the
information presented in the four corners of the affidavit, it is unnecessary to convert the within
motion to one for summary judgment.
IV.
A.
Libretti argues that the affidavit in support of the search warrant contained false
averments – and that without the false averments, the affidavit lacked probable cause.
Specifically, Libretti asserts that the averment that he had transferred in excess of $250,000 to a
person/entity in Canada is false, and also that Woodson falsely claimed that a substance known
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as “Spice” was a controlled substance.2
A party may only challenge the veracity of an affidavit if that party can make a
substantial showing that the affiant knowingly, intentionally, or with reckless disregard for the
truth, included a false statement, and the false statement was necessary to a finding of probable
cause. Mays v. City of Dayton, 134 F.3d 809, 815 (6th Cir. 1998) (citing Franks v. Delaware,
438 U.S. 154, 155 (1978)). If the false statement is not material to the probable-cause finding,
there is no Fourth Amendment violation. Mays, 134 F.3d at 815. Misrepresentations can be
based on omissions as well as affirmative misrepresentations. Id. Omissions must also be
critical to the finding of probable cause to be material. Id. If, however, probable cause exists
after excising the alleged false statements or adding the omissions, the defendant is entitled to
qualified immunity. United States v. Cummins, 912 F.2d 98, 101 (6th Cir. 1990).
The Court finds that, absent the alleged misrepresentations, there was still probable cause
to believe that evidence of criminal activity would be located at Libretti’s Ohio residence or in
his safe deposit box.
In the subject affidavit, Woodson averred that he had been a special agent for the DEA
since 1992, and prior to that he was employed as a special agent with the Wyoming Division of
Criminal investigation for 6 years and served as a police officer for 5 years. (Woodson’s
Affidavit is located at Doc #: 29-2 at 9-26.) Based on his 20-plus years of experience, he
observed, among other things, that drug-traffickers generally:
2
It is noteworthy that, although Libretti challenges Woodson’s averment that he transferred
in excess of $250,000 to a person/entity in Canada, he is silent regarding Woodson’s averment that
his review of Libretti’s bank records corroborated Breeden’s assertion that Libretti directed him to
deposit the proceeds from the May 2010 drug transaction into Libretti’s account.
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•
place assets in names other than their own but over which they continue to maintain
control;
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maintain books, records, receipts, airline tickets, prepaid credit card and other documents
relating to the distribution of controlled substances;
•
use computers to maintain records, notes, emails, etc. of their enterprise;
•
conceal the proceeds and contraband from their enterprise in their residences;
•
travel to purchase and distribute controlled substances;
•
maintain addresses and telephone numbers of their associates in computers, cell phones
or other electronic media;
•
take pictures of themselves and their associates;
•
use safes to store contraband or currency; and
•
use cell phones to communicate with members of their organization and to orchestrate
trafficking.
(Woodson Aff. ¶ 3.)
With regard to Libretti specifically, Woodson averred that the following information had
been obtained pursuant to an ongoing investigation of methamphetamine-trafficking in the
District of Wyoming, which included the use of various investigative techniques including
confidential sources, witness interviews, surveillance, court-authorized pen registers, a federal
grand jury, and court authorized telephone intercepts:
•
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation
conducted an investigation into the drug-trafficking activities of Libretti. The
investigation revealed that he had frequently used safe deposit boxes, accounts in other
individuals’ names, and other methods to conceal the location, source, etc. of Libretti’s
drug proceeds.3 That investigation resulted in Libretti pleading guilty and serving a 203
Libretti argues that the averment in this sentence should not be considered by this Court
because it amounts to nothing more than rumors and gossip. (See Opp. Br. at 5; Doc #: 34-1 at 3.)
Not so. This fact has long been a matter of public record. See Libretti v. United States, 516 U.S.
29, 32-33 (1995). See also Huff v. First Energy Corp., No. 5:12 CV 2583, 2013 WL 5234224, at
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year sentence for operating a Continuing Criminal Enterprise. Libretti was released on
May 6, 2008.
•
In 2010, Woodson was personally involved in the investigation of methamphetaminetrafficking in the District of Wyoming during which a federal court had authorized
intercepts of various telephones. The intercepts revealed that, on or about May 19, 2010,
two individuals named Breeden and Herrick traveled to Phoenix, Arizona to obtain
methamphetamine which was to be transported back to Colorado and Wyoming for redistribution.
•
On May 21, 2010, agents conducting surveillance stopped Breeden and Herrick near
Cheyenne, Wyoming – resulting in the seizure of massive amounts of pure/actual
methamphetamine. During subsequent interviews of Breeden, he advised that he had
purchased the methamphetamine in Phoenix, Arizona from Libretti – which information
was later corroborated by Herrick. Information obtained from the U.S. Probation and
Parole Office revealed that Libretti, who was on supervised release for his CCE
conviction, had obtained authorization from the Office to travel to Phoenix, Arizona at
this time.
•
Breeden also advised that Libretti had instructed him to deposit the proceeds from the
drug transaction directly into Libretti’s Wells Fargo Account. A review of Libretti’s
subpoenaed bank records corroborated Breeden’s statement that he deposited the drug
proceeds in Libretti’s account.
•
In June 2010, agents executed a search warrant at Libretti’s residence in Casper,
Wyoming – which search resulted in, among other things, the seizure of U.S. currency
concealed in the heat ducts of Libretti’s residence.
•
Information received from U.S. Probation and Libretti’s bank accounts suggested that he
was not reporting all legitimate sources of income to his probation officer.
•
On March 18, 2011, the federal grand jury for the District of Wyoming returned an
indictment charging Libretti with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to
distribute, 50 grams of more of methamphetamine actual from January 2010 through
March 18, 2011.
•
Based on the foregoing investigation, his training and experience, and his familiarity with
Libretti, Woodson believed that Libretti was involved in the distribution of controlled
substances; he was using various methods to conceal the proceeds obtained therefrom;
*6 (N.D.Ohio Sep. 17, 2013) (federal courts may consider matters of public record without
converting a Rule 12(b)(6) motion into a Rule 56 motion) (citations omitted). This factual
allegation is relevant to the probable-cause determination because it reflects Libretti’s modus
operandi for storing/concealing evidence common to the drug trade.
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and evidence and/or fruits of this crime would be found at his residence, on his computer,
and in his bank, travel, telephone, and credit card records reflecting the purchase and/or
location of assets and U.S. currency.
(Woodson Aff. ¶ 5-15.)
The Court finds that these unchallenged averments, separate and independent from the
averments Libretti claims were false,4 support a finding of probable cause to search Libretti’s
Ohio residence and safe deposit box for fruits or evidence of drug-trafficking. While Woodson
was not required to establish probable cause that Libretti committed a specific crime in order to
establish probable cause for the search warrant, the indictment against Libretti returned a few
days earlier in Wyoming in fact did so. Aronson v. City of Akron, 116 F.3d 804, 814 (6th Cir.
1997) (indictment constitutes prima facie evidence of probable cause); Woodyard v. County of
Essex, 514 Fed.Appx. 177, 183 (3rd Cir. Mar. 5, 2013) (grand jury indictment constitutes prima
facie evidence of probable cause to prosecute); United States v. Loud Hawk, 474 U.S. 302, 322
n.6 (1968) (an indictment constitutes a formal assertion of probable cause). Woodson was only
required to demonstrate a fair probability that the specific items to be searched for and seized
would be found on the property to which entry was sought. Frazier, 423 F.3d at 532 (citing
Zurcher v. Stanford Daily, 436 U.S. 547, 556 (1978)).
*
*
*
Libretti argues that Woodson omitted facts from his affidavit which were material to the
probable-cause determination. As previously noted, misrepresentations can be based on
omissions as well as misrepresentations. Mays, 134 F.3d at 815. However, “material omissions
4
Again, the allegedly false misrepresentations are Woodson’s averments that Libretti
had transferred in excess of $250,000 to a person/entity in Canada false, and that the
substance known as Spice was a controlled substance.
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are less likely to present a question of impermissible official conduct than affirmative
falsehoods.” United States v. Merrell, 330 Fed.Appx.556, 560 (6th Cir. 2009) (citing United
States v. Martin, 920 F.2d 393, 398 (6th Cir. 1990) and United States v. Atkin, 107 F.3d 1213,
1217 (6th Cir. 1997)). “This is because an allegation of omission ‘potentially opens officers to
endless conjecture about investigative leads, fragments of information, or other matter that
might, if included, have redounded to [a criminal] defendant’s benefit.’ ” Id. (citing Martin, 920
F.2d at 398). Furthermore, affidavits don’t have to be perfect and they don’t have to provide
every specific piece of information to be upheld. Hale v. Kart, 396 F.3d 721, 725 (6th Cir. 2005)
(citing Allen, 211 F.3d at 976)).
The omissions Libretti asserts were material and which he claims Woodson intentionally
omitted fall largely within two categories. The first category consists of information relating to
the reliability and veracity of Breeden and Herrick.5 Among other things, Libretti complains that
Woodson failed to assert in his affidavit the fact that Breeden told several lies to law
enforcement agents after his arrest (Comp. ¶ 67); Breeden and Herrick had been smoking
methamphetamine when they drove to and from Arizona (id. ¶¶ 69, 70); Herrick did not identify
Libretti as the source of the drugs until after an agent showed him a picture of Libretti (id. ¶ 68);
in his testimony before the grand jury, Breeden testified that he obtained the drugs from Libretti
at a shopping mall in Phoenix that apparently does not exist (id. ¶ 71); Breeden was discharged
from military services after six months based on a diagnosis of personality disorder (id. ¶ 81);
5
It is noteworthy that Libretti questions the veracity of Breeden and Herrick when their
statements implicate him in drug-trafficking, then suggests that their omitted exculpatory
statements are believable and would have affected the probable-cause determination. (Compare
Compl ¶¶ 67, 69, 70, 81, 82, 89 with ¶¶ 31, 32, 65, 68.)
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and Breeden had a propensity to make false statements and exaggerations (id. ¶ 82); Herrick had
a propensity to make false statements (id. ¶ 83).
The fact that Breeden and Herrick were caught red-handed with massive amounts of
methamphetamine put the court on notice as to their questionable character. Because they
admitted their involvement in drug-trafficking, however, their account “becomes even more
credible.” See Hale, 396 F.3d at 725. See also United States v. Harris, 403 U.S. 573, 583
(1971) (“People do not lightly admit a crime and place critical evidence in the hand of the police
in the form of their admissions.”) Furthermore, the motives of an informant to lie are not critical
to the probable cause analysis. See Martin, 920 F.2d at 398 (rejecting the argument that a
criminal defendant was entitled to a Franks hearing because the affiant failed to state that his
principal informant was a person of questionable character and where the information provided
by the informant had already led to the defendant’s indictment). Nonetheless, Breeden’s
identification of Libretti as the source of methamphetamine was later corroborated by Herrick,
and Woodson corroborated the information provided through sources other than Herrick (e.g.,
Libretti’s bank records).
The second category relates to Libretti’s claim that Woodson failed to perform a proper
funds-tracing analysis. At best, this omission may support a conclusion that Woodson should
have performed a more thorough investigation before procuring a search warrant. Badillo v.
Stopko, Civil Action No. 11-4815 (JEI/JS), 2012 WL 2339759, at *4-5 (D.N.J. Jun. 19, 2012).
But without more, it is insufficient to support a Fourth Amendment claim. Id. See also United
States v. Thoms, No. 3:10-cr-069-JWS-JDR, 2011 WL 87337, at *3 (D.Alaska Jan. 11, 2011)
(“An officer seeking a search warrant has no obligation to conduct a thorough investigation as to
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an alleged crime before seeking a search warrant to obtain evidence of the crimes being
investigated.”) (citations omitted). And, “[a] failure to investigate more thoroughly or a failure
to provide the court with more information that might better illuminate the situation is, at most,
negligence.” United States v. Doan, No. 05-CR-179-S, 2006 WL 5866677, at *2 (W.D.Wis.
Mar. 13, 2006).
*
*
*
Libretti argues that there was no probable cause to search his safe deposit box. But
Woodson averred that, based on his training and experience, drug dealers often use safes and
other such items to store illicit drugs, currency and other assets; during the investigation of
Libretti’s criminal activity which resulted in his prior conviction for operating a criminal
enterprise, he frequently used bank safe deposit boxes to store proceeds; he maintained a safe
deposit box in Ohio in March 2011; and he had just been indicted for a drug-trafficking
conspiracy that allegedly continued from January 2010 to March 18, 2011. The Court finds that
these facts establish probable cause to search the safe deposit box.
*
*
*
Libretti’s argument that the search warrant was supported by stale information, and that
probable cause had dissipated after the June 2010 search, is premised upon the erroneous
conclusion that law enforcement officials were seeking to search his Cleveland residence and
safe deposit box for evidence of the single drug transaction that occurred in May 2010. He
repeatedly ignores the fact that, at the time the search warrant issued, a federal indictment had
just been returned charging him with engaging in ongoing drug-trafficking between January
2010 and March 2011. Furthermore, the information predating June 2010 was not stale because
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it showed how he had concealed his drug proceeds (i.e., his modus operandi) in conducting his
previous drug-trafficking enterprise.
Additionally, the cases Libretti cites to support this argument, including a 1925 case from
the Ninth Circuit involving the unlawful sale of jackass brandy during prohibition – are all
distinguishable from this case because they involved repeated searches of the same premises
pursuant to a single search warrant.
As one example, in United States v. Keszthelyi, 308 F.3d 557 (6th Cir. 2002), officers
executed a warrant to search the defendant’s residence for contraband or evidence of drugtrafficking and found nothing. The next day, an officer who did not participate in the search
went to that residence without obtaining a new warrant, searched the premises, and found a vial
of cocaine hidden behind the stove. Three days later, the officers returned to the premises yet
again but with a second search warrant, executed that warrant, and again found nothing. The
defendant filed a motion to suppress the fruit of the warrantless search because, absent a new
warrant, probable cause to find evidence of contraband had dissipated. The government argued
that the search on the second day was a “reasonable continuation” of the search executed on the
first day; thus, there was no Fourth Amendment violation. The court found that the warrantless
search was not a reasonable continuation of the original search – but declined to suppress the
evidence because of its conclusion that the officers executing the search pursuant to the second
warrant would have inevitably discovered the evidence found during the unlawful search.
Unlike Keszthelyi and the other cases cited by Libretti, the search of his Ohio residence
occurred nine months after the search of his Wyoming residence, it was executed pursuant to a
second warrant, and it was procured after a federal grand jury determined there was probable
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cause to indict Libretti for engaging in drug-trafficking between January 2010 and March 2011.
See United States v. Remble, No. 1:05-CR-113-001, 2006 WL 462451, at *3 (S.D.Ohio Feb. 22,
2006) (indictment for alleged probable participation in a drug-trafficking crime is sufficient
probable cause to search a criminal defendant’s residence because drug dealers are likely to
conceal evidence where they live); United States v. Apker, 705 F.2d 293, 303 (8th Cir. 1983),
abrogation on other grounds recognized by Wabun-Inini v. Sessions, 900 F.2d 1234 (8th Cir.
1990) (return of indictment by grand jury is sufficient probable cause to issue a search warrant).
For all these reasons, the Court concludes that Libretti has failed to establish a constitutional
violation.
B.
Libretti argues that the affidavit is unconstitutionally overbroad because it fails to limit
the description of things to be searched by relevant dates. The search warrant authorized the
seizure of the following items related to Libretti’s alleged involvement in the distribution of
methamphetamine:
Books, records, receipts, notes, ledgers, and other documents relating to the
manufacturing, transporting, ordering, purchasing, obtaining and/or distributing
controlled substances.
Financial documents, including but not limited to . . . safe deposit records, safe
deposit keys, bank records, . . . checking account records,” . . . and other items
evidencing the obtainment, concealment and/or expenditure of money.
Records, including but not limited to, . . . vehicle titles, . . . records showing
occupancy of the premises . . . Records of family members including but not
limited to the names of siblings and other relatives.
Photographs and/or video recording including but not limited to photographs
and/or video recordings of co-conspirators, assets and/or controlled substances.
Proceeds of unlawful activity . . .
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Computers, computer storage medium, including but not limited to, hard drives,
computer disc, computer cds, memory sticks and removable storage, which are
instrumentality of a crime.
All records relating to violations of drug trafficking offenses and/or conspiracy to
do the same, including any information related to sources of controlled
substances, including names, addresses, phone numbers, e-mail addresses, web
sites, or any other identifying information, lists of customers and related
identifying information, any information regarding travel. The terms “records”
and “information” include all the foregoing items of evidence in whatever form
and by whatever means they may have been created or stored, including any
electrical, electronic, or magnetic form (such as any information on an electronic
or magnetic form (such as any information on an electronic or magnetic storage
device, thumb drives, including floppy diskettes, hard disks, zip disks, CDROMs, optical disks, backup tapes, memory sticks, as well as printouts or
readouts from any magnetic storage device).
(Doc #: 29-2, Ex. A.)
For a warrant to be valid under the Fourth Amendment, it must “particularly describ[e]
the place to be searched and the persons or things to be seized.” U.S. CONST. AMEND. IV. The
degree of specificity required in a search warrant depends on the crime involved and the types of
items sought. United States v. Blakeney, 942 F.2d 1001, 1026-27 (6th Cir. 1991) (citing United
States v. Henderson, 848 F.2d 1374, 1383 (6th Cir. 1988), cert. denied, 488 U.S. 1005 (1989)).
The use of a generic term or a general description is not per se violative of the Fourth
Amendment. Id. (citing United States v. Cook, 657 F.2d 703, 733 (5th Cir. 1981)). “When a
more specific description of the items to be seized is unavailable, a general description will
suffice.” Id. at 1027 (citing Cook, 657 F.2d at 733)
The main case Libretti cites to support his contention that the warrant violated the Fourth
Amendment because it did not contain date restrictions is United States v. Ford, 184 F.3d 566
(6th Cir. 1999). Ford, however, supports Woodson’s position.
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In Ford, defendants were convicted of operating an illegal gambling business, money
laundering, and tax evasion. The Sixth Circuit held that the degree of specificity required in a
search warrant depends on what information is reasonably available to the police in a particular
case. Id. at 575 (citation omitted). A general description may suffice when the police can supply
no better information, but fails when a narrower description is available. Id. The court
distinguished between the affidavit language supporting a search for documents relating to the
tax charge, versus the affidavit language supporting a search for evidence and/or fruits of
gambling. The court determined that those portions of the warrant relating to financial
documents significantly predating the licensure of the defendant’s gambling operation were
insufficiently particular to withstand Fourth Amendment scrutiny. Ford, 184 F.3d at 576-77.
However, the court found that those portions of the warrant limiting the search to the fruits and
evidence of gambling were sufficiently particular to survive Fourth Amendment analysis. Id. at
578. The court explained, “Even though those portions do not contain a time limitation, their
subject-matter limitation (fruits and evidence of gambling) fulfills the same function as a time
limitation would have done, by limiting the warrant to evidence of the crime described in the
affidavit.” Id. See also United States v. Harmon, No. 3:05 CR 113, 2006 WL 3913439, at *13
(E.D.Tenn. Apr. 4, 2006) (finding that the failure to limit broad descriptive terms by relevant
dates inconsequential where the subject-matter limitation (fruits and evidence of drug-trafficking
activities) fulfilled the same function as a time limitation would have done); State v. McCreary,
Nos. 2009 CR 0259, 2008 CR 0370, 2011 WL 382757, at * (Ohio App. 6 Dist. Feb. 8, 2011)
(Ford does not stand for the proposition that the failure to restrict broad descriptive terms to
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known, relevant dates automatically renders a warrant invalid – explaining “it is only where such
terms are not limited by time or subject matter that the warrant will be held invalid.”)
Because the warrant in the instant case contains a subject-matter limitation (fruits and
evidence of drug-trafficking), its failure to contain a time limitation does not violate the Fourth
Amendment. Ford, 184 F.3d at 576-78.
C.
Libretti contends that the property seized by the officers conducting the search exceeded
the scope of the warrant. “A search does not become invalid merely because some items not
covered by a warrant are seized.” Marcels v. Twp. of Redford, 693 F.3d 589, 602 (6th Cir. 2012)
(citing United States v. Lambert, 771 F.2d 83, 93 (6th Cir. 1985). An otherwise valid search
becomes a constitutionally impermissible general search only where the searching officers
exhibit a flagrant disregard for the limitations of a search warrant. See Lambert, 771 F.2d at 93.
Courts have found that an officer flagrantly disregards the scope of a search warrant where the
officer exceeds the scope of the warrant in the places to be searched rather than the items seized.
Walker v. Georgia, 4467 U.S. 39, 43 n.3 (1984) (emphasis added).
Libretti asserts that Woodson improperly seized, among other things, photographs,
computer storage devices, data storage medium, instruction forms for tax returns, newspaper
articles, case printouts, and various correspondence. (Comp. ¶ 8.a.) However, the search
warrant issued by the magistrate judge specifically allowed for the seizure of documents,
photographs, computer storage devices, all records relating to violations of drug-trafficking
offenses, car titles, and financial documents. (See supra, at 12-13.) Libretti also complains that
the seizure of legal herbs from his residence violated the Fourth Amendment. It is undisputed
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that a substance suspected to be Spice was seized from Libretti’s property. Although subsequent
laboratory analysis determined that the substance seized was not an illegal form of Spice, the
seizure was certainly within the confines of things authorized to be seized pursuant to the
warrant.
Libretti cites numerous cases to support his position that Woodson’s seizure of property
outside the scope of the warrant violated his Fourth Amendment rights. Those cases are all
distinguishable because they involve seizure of property pursuant to the plain view doctrine. In
one case, for example, the court determined that the seizure of a rifle discovered in plain view
during the search of a residence for stolen jewelry and a television violated the Fourth
Amendment because it was not intrinsic evidence of a crime and could not be justified under the
plain view doctrine. United States v. Szymkowiak, 727 F.2d 95 (6th Cir. 1984). See also United
State v. Gray, 484 F.2d 352 (6th Cir. 1973) (holding the same where two rifles were seized during
the search of a premises for alcoholic beverages sold without a license); United States v. Beal,
810 F.2d 574 (6th Cir. 1987) (holding the same where two pen guns were seized during the
search of a residence for stolen furniture). None of these cases involved a warrant to search a
residence for contraband or evidence common to the drug trade.
Libretti complains that some of the items seized were not returned to him or not returned
in a timely manner. However, the Complaint does not allege that Libretti’s property was in the
custody and control of Woodson in his individual capacity, or that Woodson was the party
responsible for the return, alleged loss and/or destruction of his personal property. Ashcroft v.
Iqbal, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 1948 (2009) (“a plaintiff must plead that each Government-official
defendant, through his own individual actions, has violated the Constitution. Conner v. United
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States, No. 4:09 CV 2952, 2010 WL 1751950, at *2 (N.D.Ohio Apr. 30, 2010) (“Plaintiff cannot
establish the liability of any defendant absent a clear showing that the defendant was personally
involved in the activities which form the basis of the alleged unconstitutional behavior.”) (citing
Rizzo v. Goode, 423 U.S. 362, 371 (1976)). If a plaintiff fails to articulate facts indicating that a
constitutional violation has been committed by a specific individual defendant, the defendant is
entitled to qualified immunity. Siegert v. Gilley, 500 U.S. 226, 231 (1991).
V.
Based on the foregoing, the Court GRANTS Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss Plaintiff’s
Fifth Amended Complaint (Doc #: 29.)
IT IS SO ORDERED.
/s/ Dan A. Polster December 17, 2013
Dan Aaron Polster
United States District Judge
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