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United States v. Balistrieri, No. 71-CR-201 — Decision and Order (E.D. Wis. June 8, 1972)

Factual and Procedural Background

Six defendants are charged in a ten-count indictment. The first count alleges a conspiracy: (1) to conceal the "true ownership" of a retail liquor business known as the King's IV in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; (2) to file and cause to be filed certain special tax returns which were "not true and correct as to every material matter"; and (3) to file and cause to be filed certain individual income tax returns which were "not true and correct as to every material matter." The next six counts charge individual defendants (either Mr. DiGiorgio or Mr. Gaudesi) with subscribing to untrue special tax or income tax returns. The final three counts charge Frank Balistrieri with engaging in a retail liquor business without registering.

The defendants filed numerous, overlapping pretrial motions (including motions for bills of particulars, discovery and inspection, severance, production of grand jury materials, inquiry into grand jury proceedings, motions concerning electronic surveillance, and requests to authorize subsequent motions). The court's memorandum decides all pending motions except those seeking dismissal of the indictment, which will be reviewed separately.

Legal Issues Presented

  1. Whether the defendants are entitled to bills of particulars providing evidentiary details omitted from the indictment.
  2. What discovery and inspection the government must produce (including statements of alleged co-conspirators and prospective witnesses, criminal records, books/records the government intends to use, informer relationships, and Jencks Act materials) and the timing for production.
  3. Whether severance under Rule 14 should be granted for individual defendants (specifically Joseph P. Balistrieri and Angelo DiGiorgio).
  4. Whether the government must produce grand jury minutes or other grand jury materials in advance of trial (and if so, how far in advance).
  5. Whether the court should compel inquiry into the nature of any electronic or mechanical surveillance related to the indictment.
  6. Whether defendants may be authorized now to file subsequent motions that could be raised only after present motions are resolved.
  7. Whether the government must submit an affidavit concerning any comments made to the grand jury about defendants' invocation of the Fifth Amendment.

Arguments of the Parties

Defendants' Arguments

  • Some defendants sought bills of particulars to obtain evidentiary detail omitted from the indictment.
  • Defendant Angelo DiGiorgio argued he would be prejudiced by newspaper publicity surrounding co-defendant Frank Balistrieri and by the possibility that co-defendants might invoke the Fifth Amendment if called to testify for him, with counsel potentially commenting on their silence.
  • Movants alleged that five defendants were called before the grand jury and invoked the Fifth Amendment, suggesting the prosecutor may have urged the grand jury to infer guilt from that silence and seeking inquiry into whether the conspiracy count resulted from such improper inference.
  • Defendants sought production of grand jury votes/minutes and earlier production of Jencks Act materials (ten days before trial).

Government's Position

  • The government indicated it would voluntarily furnish some requested materials and would produce statements, reports, and grand jury testimony of witnesses it intends to call 24 hours prior to trial.
  • The government represented it had no Brady material to produce but would disclose any favorable evidence that came into its possession in the future.
  • The government filed a supplemental answer disclosing the fact of electronic surveillance, rendering that particular request moot.
  • The government did not concede a need for production of grand jury vote/minutes absent a specific showing of irregularity.

Table of Precedents Cited

Precedent Rule or Principle Cited For Application by the Court
Wong Tai v. United States, 273 U.S. 77, 47 S.Ct. 300, 71 L.Ed. 545 (1927) Usage of a bill of particulars — that it is not the proper vehicle for obtaining evidentiary detail. The court held that the information sought by defendants was evidentiary and therefore not appropriate for a bill of particulars, citing Wong Tai to support that conclusion.
United States v. DeCesaro, 54 F.R.D. 596 (E.D.Wis., decided Jan. 20, 1972) Support for limits on bills of particulars and severance analysis. Used to support the court's view that defendants were not entitled to evidentiary particulars and as authority in severance discussions for limited participation in the indictment.
United States v. Machi, 324 F. Supp. 153 (E.D.Wis. 1971) Illustration of scope/limitations of bills of particulars. Cited to reinforce that bills of particulars are not to be used for evidentiary disclosures.
United States v. Cullen, 305 F. Supp. 695, 700 (E.D.Wis. 1969) Procedure for disclosure of statements of alleged co-conspirators and witnesses (timing and scope). The court directed that the Cullen procedure be followed, requiring the government to produce statements/reports of co-conspirators and prospective witnesses 24 hours before trial.
United States v. Tanner, 279 F. Supp. 457, 468 (N.D.Ill. 1967) Production of books, records, and documents the government intends to use at trial. Cited to support requiring immediate inspection and copying of documents the prosecution intends to use at trial.
United States v. Ball, 49 F.R.D. 153 (E.D.Wis. 1969) Discovery of documents and materials necessary for defense preparation. Relied upon to justify ordering production of other books, records, and documents to be used by the government at trial.
Roviaro v. United States, 353 U.S. 53, 77 S.Ct. 623, 1 L.Ed.2d 639 (1957) Disclosure of informer's identity where disclosure is relevant and helpful to the defense or essential to a fair determination. The court ordered disclosure of the existence of any informer relationship and any promises/benefits made to prospective witnesses, citing Roviaro's relevance standard for disclosure.
Smith v. Illinois, 390 U.S. 129, 88 S.Ct. 748, 19 L.Ed.2d 956 (1969) Referenced in connection with informer's identity and related disclosure issues. Cited as a related authority in discussing disclosure obligations.
Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83, 83 S.Ct. 1194, 10 L.Ed.2d 215 (1963) Government obligation to produce exculpatory evidence. The government represented it had no Brady material; the court accepted that representation and did not grant the defendants' motion for Brady material based on the government's statement.
Costello v. United States, 350 U.S. 359, 76 S.Ct. 406, 100 L.Ed. 397 (1956) Indictment returned by a legally constituted grand jury may not be undermined without particularized basis; the foreman's signature is prima facie evidence of concurrence. Applied to deny the defendants' demand for grand jury vote/production absent a showing of irregularity.
United States v. Nasse, 432 F.2d 1293 (7th Cir. 1970), cert. denied 401 U.S. 938, 91 S.Ct. 928, 28 L.Ed.2d 217 (1971) Permissibility of charging multiple defendants in one indictment under Rule 8 when they participated in same transaction or series of transactions. Referenced to explain the permissive joinder of defendants and inform the severance analysis for Joseph P. Balistrieri.
Opper v. United States, 348 U.S. 84, 75 S.Ct. 158, 99 L.Ed. 101 (1966) General authority on severance and the trial court's discretion. Used to support the exercise of discretion in granting severance for Joseph P. Balistrieri.
United States v. Bornstein, 447 F.2d 742 (7th Cir. 1971) Severance jurisprudence and related discretion of the trial court. Cited in the context of severance to support the court's disposition to grant a separate trial to Joseph P. Balistrieri.
United States v. Kahn, 381 F.2d 824, 838 (7th Cir. 1967) Authority on severance and joinder considerations. Relied upon as part of the body of authority supporting severance for limited-participation defendants.
United States v. Sledge, 346 F. Supp. 485 (E.D.Wis. decided April 19, 1972) Authority on the prematurity of severance motions based on speculative prejudice (e.g., publicity). Applied to deny DiGiorgio's severance motion as premature and speculative regarding prejudice from publicity and co-defendants' invocation of the Fifth Amendment.
United States v. Moriarty, 327 F. Supp. 1045, 1050 (E.D.Wis. 1971) Procedure for challenging grand jury proceedings and requiring government affidavit when improper presence or conduct is alleged. The court required the government to submit an affidavit concerning whether the prosecutor made comments to the grand jury about inferences from witnesses' invocation of the Fifth Amendment, following the approach taken in Moriarty.

Court's Reasoning and Analysis

Bills of Particulars: The court concluded that the information sought by defendants via bills of particulars was evidentiary in nature and therefore not appropriate for a bill of particulars, relying on Wong Tai and other authorities. The court found that the indictment, together with information to be produced under its discovery rulings, would provide adequate detail to the defendants.

Discovery and Inspection: The court applied the procedure set forth in United States v. Cullen for statements of alleged co-conspirators and prospective witnesses, ordering production of those statements or summaries 24 hours before trial. The court further required immediate inspection and copying of books, records, and documents the government intends to use at trial (citing Tanner and Ball). The court ordered disclosure of any informer relationships and any promises or benefits made or implied to prospective witnesses, citing Roviaro. The court accepted the government's representation that it had no Brady material to produce at present but reiterated the government's obligation to disclose any favorable evidence that later comes into its possession.

Grand Jury Materials: The defendants sought grand jury votes/minutes and earlier production of Jencks Act materials. The court found no particularized need shown for production ten days in advance and relied on the government's agreement to produce statements and Jencks materials 24 hours before trial (and on Cullen) to deny more expansive relief.

Severance: Reviewing Rule 8 and relevant case law, the court exercised its discretion to grant a separate trial to Joseph P. Balistrieri because his participation was limited to the conspiracy count and concerned a single alleged overt act (a deposition statement). The court found that his limited participation created a justifiable concern about obtaining an independent determination of guilt or innocence. By contrast, the motion of Angelo DiGiorgio was denied as premature: his asserted prejudices (pretrial publicity and the speculative likelihood that co-defendants would invoke the Fifth if called to testify) could be addressed at voir dire and during trial, and the possibility of co-defendants' invoking the Fifth did not warrant severance at that stage.

Electronic Surveillance: Because the government had filed a supplemental answer disclosing the fact of electronic surveillance, the court deemed related motions moot.

Subsequent Motions: The court declined to grant blanket authorization to file subsequent motions now, reasoning that allowing such authorization could lead to prolonged motion practice and undue delay; subsequent motions, if filed, would be evaluated when presented.

Inquiry into Grand Jury Proceedings: Given allegations that the prosecutor may have commented to the grand jury about inferences to be drawn from witnesses' invoking the Fifth Amendment, the court required the government to submit an affidavit stating whether any such comments were made. The defendants' motion on this issue was denied without prejudice pending that affidavit.

Conclusion / Orders: Based on the foregoing analysis, the court entered a set of orders granting specific discovery requests (with timing), ordering disclosure of informer relationships and promises, granting Joseph P. Balistrieri's severance motion, requiring the government affidavit about grand jury comments, granting motions to adopt co-defendants' motions, and denying all other motions except those to dismiss (reserved for separate memorandum).

Holding and Implications

Holding:

  • GRANTED — Defendants' motions for discovery, inspection, and copying of: (1) statements of alleged co-conspirators and of the government's prospective witnesses; (2) the criminal records, if any, of the government's prospective witnesses; and (3) the books, records, and any other documents intended to be used by the prosecution at trial. These materials are to be produced per the timing and procedures described in the opinion (statements and reports 24 hours before trial; immediate inspection/copying for documents the government intends to use).
  • GRANTED — The government must disclose the existence of any informer relationship on the part of any prospective witness and whether any promise or benefits have been made or implied by the government to any prospective witness.
  • GRANTED — The motion for severance by defendant Joseph P. Balistrieri; he shall have a separate trial.
  • GRANTED — The defendants' motions to adopt the motions of their co-defendants.
  • ORDERED — The government must submit an affidavit regarding any comments made to the grand jury concerning inferences to be drawn from a witness' use of his Fifth Amendment privilege.
  • DENIED — All other motions of the defendants, except motions to dismiss, which the court will address in a separate memorandum.

Implications: The immediate effect is to require specified government disclosures (including co-conspirator/witness statements 24 hours before trial, production of documents the government intends to use at trial for inspection/copying, and disclosure of informer relationships), to provide a separate trial for Joseph P. Balistrieri, and to compel the government to clarify whether any grand jury comments were made regarding invocation of the Fifth Amendment. The opinion does not purport to establish new broad legal precedent beyond application of the cited authorities to the present pretrial motions.

This summary is based exclusively on the text of the provided opinion and does not add information beyond that opinion.

UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff, v. Frank BALISTRIERI et al., Defendants.

DECISION and ORDER

MYRON L. GORDON, District Judge.

The six defendants in this action are charged in the first count of a ten count indictment with a conspiracy (1) to conceal the "true ownership" of a retail liquor business, the King's IV, located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; (2) to file and cause to be filed certain special tax returns which were "not true and correct as to every material matter"; and (3) to file and cause to be filed certain individual income tax returns which were "not true and correct as to every material matter." Each of the next six counts of the indictment charges an individual defendant (either Mr. DiGiorgio or Mr. Gaudesi) with subscribing to an untrue special tax return or income tax return. The final three counts charge Frank Balistrieri with engaging in a retail liquor business without registering.

The defendants have filed numerous motions in connection with the indictment against them. Many of these motions are overlapping and, therefore, this memorandum will resolve such overlapping motions without identifying the moving party. Several defendants have expressly moved to adopt the motions filed by their co-defendants.

This decision will decide all of the pending motions except those which seek dismissal of the indictment; the latter motions will be reviewed in a separate memorandum.

BILLS OF PARTICULARS

The information sought in the defendants' motions for bills of particulars is evidentiary in nature and that is not the proper function of a bill of particulars. Wong Tai v. United States, 273 U.S. 77, 47 S.Ct. 300, 71 L.Ed. 545 (1927); United States v. DeCesaro, 54 F.R.D. 596 (E.D.Wis., decided Jan. 20, 1972); United States v. Machi, 324 F. Supp. 153 (E.D.Wis. 1971).

A bill of particulars may be used to provide a defendant with details of the alleged offense which are omitted from the indictment. See 8 Moore's Federal Practice ¶ 7.06[1] (1972). However, I believe that the indictment itself, plus the information received as a result of my ruling on the motions for discovery and inspection, will afford the defendants adequate data concerning the alleged offenses.

DISCOVERY AND INSPECTION

The defendants seek to inspect and copy certain materials and documents. The government has indicated that it will voluntarily furnish some of the requested materials and documents to the defendants but not others. It therefore appears that some of the defendants' demands are moot; the unresolved demands will be considered in this decision.

With reference to any statements of alleged co-conspirators or other witnesses whom the government expects to call to testify at the trial, the procedure to be applied is set forth in United States v. Cullen, 305 F. Supp. 695, 700 (E.D.Wis. 1969). It will also apply as to the summaries or reports made of any oral statements given by any alleged co-conspirator whom the government intends to call at the trial, and to the criminal records of any proposed government witnesses. Accordingly, the government will be directed to produce these statements or reports for the defendants' inspection and copying 24 hours before the start of the trial.

The government will also be required to make available for immediate inspection and copying the other books, records, and documents which it intends to use as evidence at the trial. All such documents are currently needed by the defendants in the preparation of their defenses. United States v. Tanner, 279 F. Supp. 457, 468 (N.D.Ill. 1967); 8 Moore's Federal Practice ¶ 16.05[4] (1972). See also United States v. Ball, 49 F.R.D. 153 (E.D.Wis. 1969).

The government must further divulge the existence of any informer relationship between any prospective witness and the government and must disclose any promises or benefits made or implied by the government to any prospective witness. In Roviaro v. United States, 353 U.S. 53, at page 60, 77 S.Ct. 623, at page 628, 1 L.Ed.2d 639 (1957), the Court stated:

"Where the disclosure of an informer's identity, or of the contents of his communication, is relevant and helpful to the defense of an accused, or is essential to a fair determination of a cause, the privilege must give way. In these situations the trial court may require disclosure and, if the Government withholds the information, dismiss the action."

Cf. Smith v. Illinois, 390 U.S. 129, 88 S.Ct. 748, 19 L.Ed.2d 956 (1969).

In response to the defendant's motions for the production of exculpatory material pursuant to Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83, 83 S.Ct. 1194, 10 L.Ed.2d 215 (1963), the government asserts that it has no such materials but will fulfill its obligation "if any favorable evidence comes into its possession in the future." In view of the government's representation, this motion of the defendants need not be granted.

The defendants seek the production of the grand jury vote, but there has not been a showing of any irregularity in the adoption or return of the indictment. The signature of the foreman on the face of the indictment is prima facia evidence that the proper number of grand jurors concurred in the finding of a true bill. An indictment returned by a legally constituted grand jury, like an information drawn by the prosecutor, if valid on its face, may not be undermined without more basis than the defendants have submitted in this case. Costello v. United States, 350 U.S. 359, 363, 76 S.Ct. 406, 100 L.Ed. 397 (1956). The defendants' showing on this matter is not sufficient to warrant either the granting of their motions or the court's requiring an affidavit from the United States on the subject.

SEVERANCE

The defendants Joseph P. Balistrieri and Angelo DiGiorgio have moved, pursuant to Rule 14, Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, for a separate trial in connection with the charges against them. The motion to sever should be granted as to Mr. Joseph P. Balistrieri and denied as to Mr. DiGiorgio.

The defendant Joseph P. Balistrieri is named only in the conspiracy count of the indictment with aiding the concealment of the "interest of Frank Balistrieri by falsely representing that Angelo DiGiorgio was the tenant of the premises known as 720 North Water Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin." The alleged overt act made in furtherance of this conspiracy is that he "stated in a deposition that defendant Angelo DiGiorgio was the tenant of the premises known as 720 North Water Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin."

Rule 8, Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, permits the government to charge multiple defendants in one indictment when the defendants are alleged to have participated in the same transaction or series of transactions. See United States v. Nasse, 432 F.2d 1293 (7th Cir. 1970), cert. denied 401 U.S. 938, 91 S.Ct. 928, 28 L.Ed.2d 217 (1971).

Because of the limited participation charged against Joseph P. Balistrieri in the indictment, I believe that he is justly concerned about the ability of the trier of fact to afford him an independent determination of his guilt or innocence. Motions to sever are committed to the sound discretion of the court and in my judgment, the better exercise of that discretion requires a separate trial for Mr. Joseph P. Balistrieri. Opper v. United States, 348 U.S. 84, 94, 75 S.Ct. 158, 99 L.Ed. 101 (1966); United States v. Bornstein, 447 F.2d 742 (7th Cir. 1971); United States v. Kahn, 381 F.2d 824, 838 (7th Cir. 1967); United States v. DeCesaro, 54 F.R.D. 596 (E.D.Wis. 1972).

The defendant DiGiorgio is named in the conspiracy count of the indictment as well as in counts II, III, IV, and V which allege the filing of false income tax or special tax returns. In support of his motion for a separate trial, Mr. DiGiorgio alleges that he will be prejudiced by newspaper publicity surrounding co-defendant Frank Balistrieri. He also points to the possibility that co-defendants may claim their fifth amendment privilege against self-incrimination if called by him to give testimony exculpating him; their refusal to testify, he argues, might be commented upon by counsel with the jury's attention directed to possible inferences to be drawn from their silence.

In my opinion, Mr. DiGiorgio's motion for severance is premature. The possibility of tainture of jurors by media publicity surrounding a co-defendant can be adequately explored at trial during the voir dire of prospective jurors. During the trial, measures can be taken to insure that the jurors remain free from taint. The possibility that co-defendants may claim their privilege against self-incrimination if called to testify by defendant DiGiorgio, or that counsel may have a duty to comment about their silence to the jury, is too speculative to warrant a separate trial for Mr. DiGiorgio. United States v. Sledge, 346 F. Supp. 485 (E.D.Wis. decided April 19, 1972). Even if severance were granted, a co-defendant might still refuse to waive his fifth amendment protections.

GRAND JURY MINUTES

The defendants ask that the government be compelled to produce the minutes of the grand jury together with materials authorized for discovery by the Jenck's Act, 18 U.S.C. § 3500, ten days before the scheduled start of trial. The government has indicated that it is willing to produce the statements, reports, and grand jury testimony of any and all witnesses they intend to call at the trial 24 hours prior to the start of the trial.

The defendants have neither alleged nor demonstrated a particularized need for these materials so far in advance of the trial. In the absence of such a showing, this court will follow the technique employed in United States v. Cullen, 305 F. Supp. 695, 700 (E.D.Wis. 1969). Since the government has agreed to produce these materials for the defendants' inspection and copying 24 hours before the start of trial, this motion need not be granted.

ELECTRONIC SURVEILLANCE

The defendants have moved the court for an order requiring the government to make inquiries of various law enforcement agencies and state whether there has been any electronic or mechanical surveillance which has contributed to the return of the instant indictment or to the subsequent development of this action. The government has now filed its supplemental answer to the defendants' motion and has set forth the fact of electronic surveillance. Accordingly, it appears that the defendants' motion concerning electronic or mechanical surveillance is now moot and need not be granted.

SUBSEQUENT MOTIONS

Several of the defendants have moved for formal authorization to file subsequent motions which, it is urged, could not be made until the present motions are resolved. The granting of this request would open the door to a prolonged motion practice and might unduly delay the disposition of this case. The motions will not be granted. If subsequent motions are in fact filed, the court will determine whether they merit comprehensive consideration, summary disposition, or complete rejection.

INQUIRY INTO GRAND JURY PROCEEDINGS

The movants want to determine whether the conspiracy count of the indictment is the product of substantive evidence presented to the grand jury. It is suggested that the indictment may have stemmed from the fact that five of the defendants claimed their fifth amendment privileges before the grand jury and that the attorney for the government may have commented that the defendants' silence was tantamount to an admission of guilt. In support of their motion, the defendants claim that five of the defendants were called before the grand jury for the sole purpose of causing them to invoke the privilege against self-incrimination so that such collective silence might be construed as evidence of conspiracy.

This issue is generally comparable to a challenge to an indictment which is bottomed on the assertion that improper persons were present with the grand jury during the time of its deliberations. When such a challenge was made, this court directed the government to submit an affidavit to the court concerning the matter. United States v. Moriarty, 327 F. Supp. 1045, 1050 (E.D.Wis. 1971). Similarly, in the instant case, the government will be required to submit an affidavit stating whether the attorney for the government made any comment to the members of the grand jury concerning any inference which could be drawn from the claiming of the fifth amendment privileges by the persons under investigation by the grand jury. If such response warrants it, defendants may resubmit their motion which at this time will be denied without prejudice.

Therefore, it is ordered that the motions for discovery, inspection, and copying of (1) the statements of alleged co-conspirators and of the government's prospective witnesses, (2) the criminal record, if any, of the government's prospective witnesses, and (3) the books, records, and any other documents intended to be used by the prosecution at the trial, be and hereby are granted.

It is also ordered that the government disclose to the defendants the existence of any informer relationship on the part of any prospective witness and whether any promise or benefits have been made or implied by the government to any prospective witness.

It is further ordered that the defendant Joseph P. Balistrieri's motion for severance be and hereby is granted.

It is further ordered that the government submit an affidavit regarding the nature of its comments, if any, to the grand jury concerning inferences to be drawn from a witness' use of his fifth amendment privileges.

It is further ordered that the defendants' motions to adopt the motions of their co-defendants be and hereby are granted.

It is further ordered that all other motions of the defendants, except their motions to dismiss, be and hereby are denied.

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UNITED STATES v. BALISTRIERI, (E.D.Wis. 1972)
(Jun 8, 1972)