United States v. Aviles-Colon

United States Court of Appeals
For the First Circuit

Nos. 05-1384
05-2039
05-2040

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Appellee,

v.

LUIS AVILÉS-COLÓN, JOSE J. GALIANY-CRUZ,
and JUAN CARRIÓN TORRES,

Defendants, Appellants.

APPEALS FROM THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF PUERTO RICO

[Hon. Jay A. Garcia-Gregory, U.S. District Judge]

Before

Lynch, Chief Judge,
Lipez and Howard, Circuit Judges.

David Abraham Silverman for appellant Avilés-Colón.
Jose E. Rivera-Ortíz for appellant Galiany-Cruz.
Linda Backiel for appellant Carrión Torres.
Julia M. Meconiates, Assistant United States Attorney, with
whom Rosa Emilia Rodriguez-Velez, United States Attorney, and
Nelson Pérez-Sosa, Assistant United States Attorney, were on brief,
for appellee.

July 31, 2008
 LIPEZ, Circuit Judge. An indictment alleged that

seventeen individuals conspired to distribute heroin, cocaine, and

marijuana between December 2000 and March 2003 at three drug points

in Coamo, Puerto Rico in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a) and 846.

Most of these individuals were also charged with possession of

firearms in furtherance of the conspiracy in violation of 18 U.S.C.

§§ 921(a)(3) and 924(c)(1). All but the three appellants here,

Juan Carrión Torres ("Carrión"), José Galiany-Cruz ("Galiany"), and

Luis Avilés-Colón ("Avilés"), pled guilty to the charges alleged in

the indictment. The appellants were tried jointly, and a jury

found each guilty on the conspiracy and firearms counts. The

appellants were later sentenced to lengthy prison terms.

The appellants each raise a number of challenges to their

convictions and sentences. After careful review of the record and

case law, we have found no reversible error with respect to either

Galiany or Avilés and therefore affirm their convictions and

sentences. However, we conclude that the government's failure to

disclose exculpatory evidence material to Carrión's defense, in

violation of Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83 (1963), requires us to

vacate his convictions and sentence.

I.

The evidence presented by the government in the

appellants' eight-day jury trial was provided primarily through the

testimony of three witnesses –- confidential informant Carlos

-2-
Bonilla Santos ("Bonilla"), cooperating co-defendant Carlos Iván

Torres-Martinez ("Torres"), and Special Agent Noel Gil ("Gil") of

the Federal Bureau of Investigations ("FBI"). The government also

introduced audiotapes of conversations among the co-conspirators

that Bonilla recorded during his undercover participation in the

conspiracy.

We begin by providing a brief general description of the

drug-trafficking conspiracy, as depicted by the witnesses'

testimony, and then recount in some detail particular evidence

provided by Bonilla and Torres. Throughout, the facts are conveyed

in the light most favorable to the verdict. United States v.

Rodriguez-Marrero, 390 F.3d 1, 6 (1st Cir. 2004).

A. General Description

Appellants were among seventeen individuals who operated

multiple drug points in Coamo, Puerto Rico, between December 2000

and March 2003.1 Appellant Galiany was the leader of the group,

known as the Cataño gang,2 and appellants Carrión and Avilés were

both identified as enforcers who protected the conspiracy's drug

business against rival gang members and helped the conspiracy

expand to new drug points, including those under the control of

1
Appendix 1 provides a roster of the individuals involved in
this case, which includes some of the co-defendants. Appendix 2
provides a timeline of the important events in the charged
conspiracy.
2
Cataño is a nickname used to refer both to Galiany and to
the gang that he ran.

-3-
rival gangs. Torres testified that he also worked as a runner,

delivering drugs to street-level sellers within the organization

and collecting money from those sellers. The conspirators would

buy large quantities of drugs, divide those drugs into smaller

packages, and then sell the repackaged drugs at their drug points.

Although the government's witnesses described

interactions between Carrión and other members of the conspiracy,

Carrión contended that he was, in fact, a rival of Galiany's gang

and thus not a member of the conspiracy charged in the indictment.

He presented no witnesses in his defense, but relied on challenges

to the credibility of Bonilla and Torres. Galiany defended himself

by trying to impeach Torres's testimony and arguing that Torres led

the conspiracy and was testifying against him to deflect

responsibility in the hopes of getting a lower sentence. He also

presented one witness in his defense. Avilés primarily argued that

there was insufficient evidence linking him to the conspiracy and,

like Carrión, he declined to offer any witnesses in his defense.

B. Specific Testimony

1. Bonilla

Bonilla, a former police officer, testified that he was

"pensioned honorably" from the Puerto Rico police force because of

injuries stemming from an incident in which he apprehended a gun-

wielding assailant attempting to rob his father's store. After his

retirement from the police force, he sold jewelry and operated a

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pawn shop out of his home in Coamo. Through this business, he

became familiar with members of the Cataño organization. Bonilla

first met Galiany in February 2001 when Galiany came to his home to

purchase paint and jewelry. He next saw Galiany when co-defendant

Jose Flores-Rivera ("Flores") arranged for Galiany to rent a car

from Bonilla. Bonilla encountered Galiany again in March 2001, in

a gray Acura with co-defendant Kelvin Torres-Ruiz ("Kelvin") and

"Juanito," whom he later identified as appellant Carrión. Kelvin

was driving, and "Juanito" was in the back seat holding two AK-47s.

Although it was night, Bonilla was able to clearly see the guns

because the car stopped near him and he shook hands with the three

men in the car. During this encounter, Galiany told Bonilla that

they were looking for "Cuquito," who controlled the Las Palmas drug

points, so that they could kill him.

Although Bonilla was not yet working as an FBI informant,

he reported the encounter to the FBI because he had a "relationship

of trust" with FBI Agent Digno Cartagena from his tenure on the

police force. Subsequently, Bonilla entered into a formal

relationship with the FBI to act as a confidential informant.3 He

agreed to wear a hidden tape recorder during some of his encounters

with people who were suspected of being members of Galiany's gang.

3
Bonilla also testified that shortly after he became an
informant for the FBI, Galiany asked him to come with him to
Carrión's home. Galiany wanted Bonilla to look at Carrión's stereo
equipment and tell him whether the equipment was of a good quality.
During that visit, Carrión was not at home.

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 In the course of his testimony, Bonilla explained that

Galiany controlled various Coamo drug points, including ones in La

Vega del Puente, San Luis, and Santa Ana, as well as a drug point

in Las Ollas, Santa Isabel. In March 2001, Bonilla visited the La

Vega del Puente point with Galiany and co-defendants Julio Mateo-

Espada ("Mateo") and Flores. When Galiany learned that the

conspiracy members at that point had no drugs on hand to sell,

Galiany, Mateo, Flores, and Bonilla went to Galiany's house to

process drugs. They mixed large blocks of heroin with unidentified

chemicals, divided the large blocks into smaller units, and then

packaged these smaller units in little pieces of colored paper.

Based on his experience as a police officer, Bonilla testified that

they were processing an eighth of a kilogram of heroin. At that

time, he saw several handguns and revolvers in Galiany's house.

Bonilla returned to Galiany's house on many occasions.

Several times he saw Avilés there, but did not engage with him. In

December 2001, Galiany took Bonilla to Avilés's house to collect

money, which Bonilla presumed was from drug sales, and to show

Bonilla a 30-06 Remington model rifle.

Four months later, on March 21, 2002, Galiany came to

Bonilla's house and gave him a bag with an Uzi in it, saying "Keep

this for me because the police is after me." After Bonilla

reported the incident to the FBI, the agents decided to stage an

arrest of Bonilla to protect his undercover status while enabling

-6-
them to seize the Uzi. Bonilla was then quickly released from

jail. When Galiany came by his house the next day, Galiany said,

"Man, if you are giving information to the FBI, don't tell them

anything about me. I mean, give me a break because I'm not doing

anything wrong and I have children." Bonilla told Galiany that he

was not working for the FBI. Galiany then said in reference to the

Uzi: "That's Juano's [Carrión's] and now I am responsible for it.

I have to respond for it."4

While on the stand Bonilla explained that he had been

able to record Galiany, Torres, and other gang members on several

occasions. These recordings were entered into evidence and Bonilla

described the contents of the recordings he made while in the

company of Galiany and his men. Several of these recordings,

including the ones described below, were played for the jury.

Since the recordings were in Spanish, the jury was provided with a

Spanish transcript and an English translation of the recordings.

In a recording made on February 6, 2002, Galiany discussed the

events leading up to his shooting of "Nelson," a rival drug

dealer.5 In a conversation recorded on February 27, 2002, Galiany

was trying to borrow money from Bonilla to purchase an AK-47.

4
This particular conversation between Bonilla and Galiany was
not recorded on tape nor were any of the aforementioned
conversations involving Bonilla.
5
The shooting of "Nelson" was not included in the indictment
as an overt act in furtherance of the conspiracy and the government
does not contend that we should view it as such on appeal.

-7-
Bonilla was reluctant to lend Galiany the money, but Galiany

explained that he would be able to repay Bonilla after he sold the

cocaine he had on hand. Galiany also discussed the quality of the

cocaine he was processing at the time, urging Bonilla to sample it.

In a recording from March 27, 2002, which was played on cross-

examination, Torres told Bonilla that "Juanito" (Carrión) and rival

gang member "Enrique" wanted to kill "Jose" (Galiany).6

2. Torres

Torres, the cooperating co-defendant, testified that he

was involved in packing and processing the drugs that were sold at

the drug points. Weekly, he processed about an eighth of a

kilogram of heroin, an eighth of a kilogram of cocaine, and a half

pound of marijuana. In addition, as an enforcer and a runner, he

transported drugs to the drug points and collected money from the

dealers. According to Torres, Galiany's gang controlled three drug

points in Coamo -- La Vega del Puente, San Luis, and Santa Ana.

Heroin was sold daily at La Vega del Puente, cocaine and marijuana

were sold at San Luis on Thursdays and Fridays, and cocaine was

sold those same two days at Santa Ana.

Torres testified that members of the conspiracy would

often carry firearms. Carrión had an Uzi pistol, Galiany owned a

Smith & Wesson nine millimeter gun and two pistols, and Avilés

6
Bonilla testified that he understood Torres to be referring
to Carrión when he said "Juanito" and Galiany when he said "Jose."

-8-
owned a Remington rifle. The firearms were necessary for

protecting and expanding the conspiracy's drug territory,

especially since the enterprise was often "at war" with rival drug

organizations.

Torres reported that at least three murders were

committed in furtherance of the conspiracy. Alexander Rivera

Maldonado ("Maldonado"), a member of the rival Las Palmas gang, was

shot on March 16, 2001. Torres testified that on that same day he

drove with Galiany to pick up Carrión, Avilés, and co-defendant

Flores in the La Flores Ward of Coamo. According to Torres,

Galiany told him that Carrión and Avilés had shot one of the Las

Palmas members while he was in a nearby car. Torres then drove

Galiany, Carrión, Avilés, and Flores to a river in Coamo so they

could wash off the gunpowder they had on themselves as a result of

the shooting. The next day, Galiany directed Torres to bring the

appellants back to Las Flores so that they could retrieve the

weapons that had been stashed alongside a river near the scene of

the shooting. Torres made that trip and then transported the group

back to Galiany's house, at which point Torres saw the weapons for

the first time. At Galiany's house, the appellants cleaned their

weapons while others packed drugs.7

7
Carrión and Avilés cleaned a .38-caliber nickel-plated
revolver and a .40-caliber pistol. At the scene of the shooting,
the police found four .40-caliber spent bullet cases.

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 The second murder occurred on September 16, 2001.

Galiany, Torres, Kelvin, and co-defendant Hector Reyes-Martinez

went to a birthday party attended by Las Palmas members with the

goal of avenging the recent murder of a member of Galiany's gang.

Kelvin shot at two Las Palmas members, killing Alex Torres Franco.

Each of the conspirators in Galiany's gang carried a weapon, but

the bullets found at the scene matched the type of revolver carried

by Kelvin.

The final murder described by Torres was that of rival

gang member Yamil Santiago Rodríguez ("Santiago"), which occurred

in either October or November 2001. Torres testified that Santiago

had been planning to kill Carrión. Wanting to protect Carrión,

Galiany called Torres and told him to kill Santiago if they found

him. Torres traveled to Santa Isabel with Avilés and co-defendant

Mateo in order to find Santiago. The three men were eating at a

restaurant in Santa Isabel when they encountered Santiago and

invited him to join them on their trip to Salinas. En route, they

stopped and got out of the car to urinate on the side of the road.

Santiago was standing in front of Torres, and Avilés signaled to

Torres that he should kill Santiago. Torres pulled out his

revolver and shot Santiago on the left side of his back. Then

Torres's revolver jammed, allowing Santiago to run into the woods.

Mateo, Avilés, and Torres ran after Santiago with Torres's revolver

that Mateo had managed to fix. They found Santiago, who had fallen

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to the ground, and Avilés snapped Santiago's neck. Torres said he

then went back to the car alone and, while he was waiting for

Avilés and Mateo, he heard another shot. Avilés and Mateo returned

to the car without Santiago and the three of them then drove back

to their respective homes.

3. Agent Gil

Gil became involved in the FBI's investigation of

Galiany's gang in August 2001. He solicited the cooperation of co-

defendant Torres and monitored conversations between confidential

informant Bonilla and some of the subjects of his investigations.

As the first witness to testify, Gil provided an overview of the

evidence to be presented with the aid of a chart depicting the

conspiracy's members and their respective roles. Carrión objected

to Gil's testimony and his chart, contending that Gil was simply

parroting information he had been given by Bonilla and Torres. The

government countered that objection by arguing it should be allowed

to offer testimony that reflected the conclusions of Gil's

investigation. The court overruled Carrión's objections and

allowed Gil's overview testimony.8

8
Puerto Rico Police Officers Alberto Giraud Vega ("Giraud")
and Charles Alvarado Dávila ("Alvarado") also testified. Giraud
testified that when he arrived at the scene of the March 16, 2001
murder of Maldonado, he saw a blue Toyota Camry with bullet holes
that had four .40-caliber spent bullet casings next to it. When
Giraud interviewed a woman who said that she had been in the Camry
during the earlier shooting, she provided a physical description of
the shooter that was consistent with Carrión's appearance. Giraud
also explained that on August 23, 2002, he was directed to the body

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 4. Defense Witness

At the close of the government's case, the three co-

defendants moved pursuant to Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 29

for a judgment of acquittal. The court denied each motion.

Galiany then called one witness -- his neighbor, the uncle of Alex

Torres Franco, the Las Palmas member who, according to Torres, had

been killed at a birthday party in September 2001. This witness

testified that he and Galiany were together for the entire time

between 8:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. on the day of that shooting. No

additional witnesses were offered by any of the appellants. Prior

to the jury deliberations, the appellants renewed their Rule 29

motions, which the court once again denied.

C. Guilty Verdicts and Sentences

On March 17, 2004, the jury found all three appellants

guilty on both counts, thereby concluding that the members of the

conspiracy had knowingly and intentionally possessed and

distributed at least five kilograms of cocaine, one kilogram of

heroin, and a detectable amount of marijuana. In sentencing the

of Santiago by members of the police force. According to Giraud,
the body had decomposed, the cranium had a bullet hole on the left
side of the head, and the corpse was surrounded by male clothing
and bullet casings from a .38-caliber revolver.
Alvarado's testimony pertained primarily to the murder of Alex
Torres Franco on September 16, 2001. Alvarado said that he was
called to an activity hall in Las Palmas where a Sweet 15 party had
been held prior to the shooting. Based on the location of a spent
bullet and the blood stains at the crime scene, Alvarado believed
that Torres Franco was outside of the activity hall when he was
shot.

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defendants, the district court took into account the murders

described by the witnesses, concluding that they were committed in

furtherance of the conspiracy. Thus, pursuant to the Sentencing

Guidelines, the court found that the base offense level for each

defendant was forty-three and that, accordingly, the applicable

Guidelines sentence was mandatory life imprisonment. See U.S.S.G.

§ 2D1.1.9 Because the defendants were sentenced after United

States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220 (2005), the district court treated

the Guidelines sentences as advisory rather than mandatory. United

States v. Jiménez-Beltre, 440 F.3d 514, 518 (1st Cir. 2006) (en

banc). With the Guidelines sentences as the starting point, the

district court made individualized assessments based on the factors

listed in 18 U.S.C. § 3553. Id. at 518-19. It concluded that each

of the appellants should be given a sentence below the Guidelines

sentence of life imprisonment.

Avilés, who had a Criminal History Category of I, was

sentenced to a term of 360 months on Count One, the drug conspiracy

charge, and a mandatory consecutive term of 60 months imprisonment

on Count Two, the firearms charge. Carrión, who had a Criminal

History Category of IV, was sentenced to a term of 480 months on

9
Guidelines §2D1.1(d)(1) states: "If a victim was killed
under circumstances that would constitute murder under 18 U.S.C. §
1111 had such killing taken place within the territorial or
maritime jurisdiction of the United States, apply § 2A1.1 (First
Degree Murder)." Section 2A1.1 states that the base offense level
for first degree murder is forty-three.

-13-
Count One and the mandatory consecutive term of 60 months on Count

Two. Galiany, as the leader of a criminal activity involving more

than five participants, was given a four-level upward adjustment

pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 3D1.1(a). Taking into account Galiany's

role as leader of the conspiracy, his Criminal History Category of

II, the Guidelines sentence of life imprisonment, as well as the §

3553 factors, the court sentenced Galiany to 600 months of

imprisonment for Count One and a mandatory consecutive term of 60

months of imprisonment for Count Two. The court imposed a five-

year term of supervised released on each defendant for Count One

and a concurrent three-year term of supervised release on Count

Two. The defendants now appeal their convictions and sentences.

II.

We begin with an assessment of Carrión's arguments on

appeal. Carrión challenges both the admissibility of certain

critical evidence and the sufficiency of the evidence used to

convict him. Before assessing his sufficiency challenge, we must

first assess his challenge to the admissibility of what the

government characterizes as admissible co-conspirator testimony.

Our resolution of this challenge affects the body of evidence we

evaluate in considering his sufficiency challenge.

A. Co-Conspirator Hearsay Exception

Carrión argues that portions of Bonilla's and Torres's

testimony were improperly admitted into evidence because they

-14-
contained inadmissible hearsay. Under Federal Rule of Evidence

801(d)(2)(E), out-of-court statements may be offered for the truth

of the matter asserted if the party offering the statements, here

the government, establishes by a preponderance of the evidence that

"a conspiracy embracing both the declarant and the defendant

existed, and that the declarant uttered the statement during and in

furtherance of the conspiracy." United States v. Bradshaw, 281

F.3d 278, 283 (1st Cir. 2002). To establish that a conspiracy

embracing both the declarant and the defendant existed, extrinsic

evidence is needed because "coconspirator statements are not deemed

self-elucidating."10 United States v. Piper, 298 F.3d 47, 52 (1st

Cir. 2002) (stating that the "the proponent [of the statement] must

present [extrinsic] evidence sufficient to delineate the conspiracy

and corroborate the declarant's and the defendant's roles in it").

Carrión identifies eight statements as inadmissible

hearsay on the ground that the government failed to establish the

conditions for admissibility by a preponderance of the evidence.

He objected to about half of the statements at the time they were

offered, but the court overruled his objections. At the close of

evidence, Carrión did not renew his objections.

10
However, we need not rely on extrinsic evidence when
considering whether the government has met its burden of
establishing that a statement was made during and in furtherance of
the conspiracy. Piper, 298 F.3d at 52 (specifying that only the
"first half of this two-part requirement demands the introduction
of extrinsic evidence").

-15-
 We have previously explained that to properly preserve an

objection to the admission of evidence under the co-conspirator

hearsay exception, "a defendant must ordinarily object both when

the hearsay statements are provisionally admitted and again at the

close of all the evidence." United States v. Newton, 326 F.3d 253,

257 (1st Cir. 2003); see also United States v. Petrozziello, 548

F.2d 20, 23 (1st Cir. 1977). This second objection permits the

court to make its final Petrozziello determination.11 Carrión

claims he properly preserved his objections because he made a

timely and standing objection to the admission of such statements.

He further argues that in light of the court's denial of his Rule

29 motions, he did not need to request a Petrozziello determination

at the close of all of the evidence because to do so would have

been a "hollow formality."

We disagree. Our precedent clearly establishes that to

preserve a hearsay objection to the admission of a co-conspirator's

statement, the objection must be renewed at the close of all of the

evidence. United States v. Perez-Ruiz, 353 F.3d 1, 12 (1st Cir.

2003); Newton, 326 F.3d at 257. We therefore review admission of

11
If a defendant requests a Petrozziello determination -- a
decision as to whether it is more likely than not that the
declarant and the defendant were co-conspirators and that a given
statement was made in furtherance of a conspiracy -- the trial
court does not have to make its final determination until the close
of all of the evidence. Newton, 326 F.3d at 257. The trial court
can provisionally admit statements and then assess, once all of the
evidence has been presented, whether the government has met its
burden for admitting statements under Rule 801(d)(2)(E). Id.

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the challenged hearsay statements for plain error. United States

v. Colon-Diaz, 521 F.3d 29, 33 (1st Cir. 2008) (stating that we

review unpreserved errors for plain error). Under this standard,

we may reverse a defendant's conviction only if (1) an error

occurred, (2) the error was clear and obvious, (3) it affected the

defendant's substantial rights, and (4) it seriously impaired the

fairness, integrity, or public reputation of the proceedings.

Perez-Ruiz, 353 F.3d at 9.

We first assess whether the district court committed

plain error when it decided that there was sufficient extrinsic

evidence to support a finding by a preponderance of the evidence

that a conspiracy embracing both the declarants and Carrión

existed. Engaging in this case-specific inquiry, we find that

there was adequate evidence to support the district court's

determination that Carrión was conspiring with Torres and Galiany.

Bonilla testified that he saw Carrión in the back seat of Galiany's

car with two AK-47s. Torres testified that he drove a group

including Carrión from the scene of the Las Palmas shooting on

March 16, 2001 and then to retrieve their weapons the following

day. In addition, after they picked up their weapons, Torres

testified that he observed Carrión cleaning his guns at Galiany's

house while others were packing drugs. Collectively, this

testimony constituted adequate extrinsic evidence of Carrión's

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involvement in a conspiracy with Torres and Galiany to meet the

preponderance of the evidence standard.

We now turn to the eight statements that Carrión claims

should have been excluded from evidence as inadmissible hearsay to

determine if there was any plain error in the admission of these

statements as being made during and in furtherance of the

conspiracy.

1. Torres's statement at trial that Galiany let Carrión
stay stuck in jail even though "whenever Galiany needed Juan, Juano
never said no to helping shoot it out or to blast someone"

This statement cannot properly be characterized as

hearsay because Torres was not recounting an out-of-court

statement. When Torres was talking about "Juano" in jail, Torres

was merely testifying about his experiences in the conspiracy and

the generalized knowledge he acquired while in it. The statement

was admissible without reliance on any evidentiary exception. See

United States v. Flemmi, 402 F.3d 79, 93 n.21 (1st Cir. 2005)

(explaining that when a witness testifies from his own experience,

rather than recounting prior oral or written assertions, his

testimony is not hearsay).

2. Bonilla's testimony that Galiany told him in early
March 2001 that he, Carrión, and a co-defendant "were looking for
Cuquito from Las Palmas to kill him"

We have previously explained that "[i]t is immaterial

that the other person in the conversation, [Bonilla], . . . was not

a coconspirator but a government informant" as long as the

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testimony met Rule 801(d)(2)(E)'s foundational requirements.

Colon-Diaz, 521 F.3d at 36 n.3. In other words, it is only

necessary to show that Galiany was furthering the conspiracy when

he made this statement to Bonilla. Id. at 35-36; see also Piper,

298 F.3d at 53 (explaining that an alleged co-conspirator's

statements to an undercover DEA agent were admissible against the

defendant because the alleged co-conspirator thought he was

advancing the conspiracy by selling drugs to the undercover agent);

United States v. Flores-Rivera, 56 F.3d 319, 330 (1st Cir. 1995)

(explaining that the declarant's statement to an undercover agent

was admissible under Rule 801(d)(2)(E) because the declarant

thought the agent was a loyal co-conspirator and was sharing the

information because he wanted to promote the undercover agent

within the conspiracy).

Our precedent clearly establishes that informing co-

conspirators of the activities of the conspiracy's members furthers

the conspiracy. See United States v. Sepulveda, 15 F.3d 1161, 1180

(1st Cir. 1993) ("We think it is common ground -- and common sense

-- that the reporting of significant events by one coconspirator to

another advances the conspiracy."). Carrión does not challenge

this proposition. Instead, he argues that the statement from early

March 2001 is inadmissible because Galiany did not view Bonilla as

a co-conspirator at the time the statement was made. Carrión

contends that "it could hardly advance the objectives of the

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conspiracy to alert a former police officer, not part of the

conspiracy, to a planned murder." Therefore, according to Carrión,

the statement cannot be considered to be in furtherance of the

conspiracy on the ground that it served to keep its members

informed.

We reject Carrión's argument. As planned with the

police, Bonilla was posing as a co-conspirator. Working as a

merchant who regularly acted as Galiany's pawn broker, Bonilla

served a vital ancillary role to the conspiracy by providing

liquidity for material assets as well as providing needed goods.

See United States v. Garcia-Torres, 280 F.3d 1, 4 (1st Cir. 2002)

("[A] drug conspiracy may involve ancillary functions (e.g.,

accounting, communications, strong-arm enforcement), and one who

joined with drug dealers to perform one of those functions could be

deemed a drug conspirator."). Bonilla testified that in mid-March,

a few weeks after Galiany told him about his intent to kill

"Cuquito," Galiany invited Bonilla to accompany members of the drug

organization as they rode around to the various drug points

controlled by the organization and as they packed drugs at

Galiany's house. By that time, it is apparent that Bonilla was

regarded as a co-conspirator by Galiany. Galiany's sharing of

pertinent information with Bonilla in the beginning of March,

several weeks earlier, strongly indicates that even then Galiany

viewed Bonilla as a co-conspirator. Therefore, it was not plain

-20-
error for the district court to take that view of the evidence and

admit the statement under Rule 801(d)(2)(E).

3. Bonilla's testimony that Galiany said on March 21,
2002, the Uzi is "Juano's and now I am responsible for it. I have
to respond for it" and then demanded Bonilla "give him $3,000 for
the Uzi because it was Juano's"

Galiany had given an Uzi to Bonilla for safekeeping.

Bonilla and the FBI agents with whom he was working decided to have

the gun seized and to detain Bonilla overnight in order to give the

impression that Bonilla had been jailed for possessing the Uzi.

The day after Bonilla's release, March 21, 2002, Galiany came to

Bonilla's house and said that the Uzi was "Juano's" and he had to

respond for it. Galiany then demanded $3,000 from Bonilla to cover

the cost of replacing the Uzi. Galiany said to Bonilla that he

"had to get him $3,000 for the Uzi because otherwise Juano would

have killed" Galiany.

According to Carrión, Galiany suspected Bonilla of being

an informant, and the statement regarding the Uzi was made to harm

Carrión, Galiany's rival, rather than to further the conspiracy.

However, Carrión offers minimal support for this theory. It is

also possible that Galiany was demanding money from Bonilla to

replace Carrión's Uzi because Carrión, as an enforcer for Galiany's

conspiracy, needed a weapon to carry out his job. As the leader of

the conspiracy, Galiany may have felt responsible for replacing

Carrión's weapon by virtue of his role as the head of the

organization and therefore was furthering the conspiracy by making

-21-
this demand of Bonilla. Even if Galiany wanted to replace the Uzi

because he was fearful of Carrión, this does not necessarily weigh

against the characterization of Galiany and Carrión as co-

conspirators because co-conspirators can turn against each other

over the loss of a precious gun. Therefore, it was not plain error

for the district court to admit Bonilla's testimony recounting

Galiany's statements.

4. Torres's testimony that "once [Galiany] went to my
house to ask me for my car, to borrow my car to go shoot Joel
Moreno"

Carrión challenges the admissibility of this statement on

the ground that it was just "idle chatter" and not a statement that

furthered the conspiracy. We disagree. Although the government

does not allege that the shooting of Moreno was an overt act in

furtherance of the conspiracy, the attempt to kill a member of a

rival drug organization advances the conspiracy's interests.

Obtaining a car was an integral step in executing the rival.

Therefore, Galiany's request was in furtherance of the conspiracy

and admissible under Rule 801(d)(2)(E).

5. Torres's testimony that Galiany and three co-
defendants said that "they had found Joel Moreno and that they had
shot him"

This statement was made by Galiany and co-defendants

Flores, Roberto Torres-Ruiz, and Rafael Ortiz-Luna when they were

returning the car to Torres. Carrión argues that this statement

should not be admissible because Torres was not part of the

-22-
conspiracy at the time and because this statement involved

historical information and was also "idle chatter." However, the

facts indicate otherwise. We have previously established that

Torres was a co-conspirator for the purpose of 801(d)(2)(E). The

statements made by Galiany to keep Torres abreast of the

conspiracy's activities were in furtherance of the conspiracy. See

Sepulveda, 15 F.3d at 1180. As such, they can hardly be

characterized as "idle chatter."

6. Torres's testimony that Galiany said Carrión, Avilés,
and Flores had "shot one of the Las Palmas persons" when they had
"shot in a car jam . . . coming from a field day" and that Carrión
and Avilés "had gotten off the truck and they had shot the car up;"
Torres also said that he overheard Galiany, Carrión, Avilés, and
Flores discussing that they heard women inside the shot-up car.

According to Torres's testimony, this conversation took

place on March 16, 2001, the day that Maldonado, a member of Las

Palmas, was killed. Again, we have one co-conspirator informing

another co-conspirator of events important to the conspiracy.

Torres's testimony is admissible under Rule 801(d)(2)(E).

7. Torres's testimony that he was told by Galiany to take
Avilés, Carrión, Flores, and Galiany "to pick up the weapons that
had been used" in the shooting

On March 17, 2001, Galiany called Torres requesting that

he pick up Avilés, Carrión, and Flores at Avilés's home. Galiany

accompanied Torres and the other men as they went to retrieve the

weapons from the river in Coamo. This statement made by Galiany

was in furtherance of the conspiracy because Torres was being asked

to drive Avilés, Carrión, Flores, and Galiany to La Juaca to

-23-
retrieve weapons and then to bring the same group back to Galiany's

house. To accomplish this, Galiany had to tell Torres the reason

for their trip.

8. Torres's testimony that he heard Avilés, Carrión, and
Flores say that Flores had "picked up the weapons from the river
where [Flores] had left them"

This statement by Avilés, Carrión, and Flores was made

on March 17, 2001 while Torres was driving Galiany, Avilés,

Carrión, and Flores to Galiany's house after their stop at the

river. Like the earlier statements, this statement was properly

admitted because it was a statement that furthered the conspiracy

by keeping the various members informed of the conspirators'

activities.

In summary, we conclude that there was no plain error in

the admission of the co-conspirator testimony. With that issue

resolved, we turn to Carrión's challenge to the sufficiency of the

evidence, understanding that these co-conspirator statements

described by Bonilla and Torres are included in the evidence

subject to the sufficiency analysis.

B. Sufficiency of the Evidence

Carrión claims that the district court erred in denying

his Rule 29 motion for a judgment of acquittal because no

reasonable jury could find beyond a reasonable doubt that he agreed

to join the drug conspiracy alleged in the indictment. Carrión

argues that at most the evidence supports a finding that he worked

-24-
as a "hired gun" for Galiany rather than as a loyal member of the

conspiracy. We review the district court's denial de novo, viewing

the evidence in the light most favorable to the guilty verdict and

considering whether a reasonable factfinder could have found the

appellant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. United States v.

Irizarry, 404 F.3d 497, 503 (1st Cir. 2005).

Carrión emphasizes that there was no evidence of his

participation in any aspect of Galiany's drug conspiracy because he

did not obtain, sell, transport, process, package, or even benefit

from the sale of drugs. However, the government did provide

evidence of Carrión's role as triggerman and enforcer for Galiany's

conspiracy. As recounted above, Bonilla testified that he saw

Carrión on several occasions wielding a gun, including an instance

in which Galiany explicitly said they were looking for "Cuquito" so

they could kill him. Torres also was aware of Carrión's role as an

enforcer and testified that on March 16, 2001, he had brought

Carrión, among others, to a beach to wash off gunpowder. On that

occasion, he heard Galiany say that Carrión and Avilés had shot at

the car of a Las Palmas person. The following day Torres drove the

same group to a river to retrieve the stashed weapons and then

observed Carrión cleaning his gun at Galiany's house while others

were packing cocaine and heroin.

Since Galiany's gang was often at war with other drug

organizations over drug "turf," his role as "triggerman" and

-25-
"enforcer" was instrumental to the continuing success of the

conspiracy. Garcia, 280 F.3d at 4 (explaining that a drug

conspiracy may involve ancillary functions and those who perform

any of those functions could be drug conspirators). Galiany's

concern about accounting for Carrión's Uzi, as testified to by

Bonilla, may have stemmed from Galiany's interest in having

Carrión, a key triggerman, well-equipped. Such a view would be

consistent with Galiany's instructions to Torres that he should

kill Santiago in order to protect Carrión and consistent with

Torres's observation that Carrión had been unwavering in his

loyalty to Galiany, never saying no to one of Galiany's requests.

This evidence was sufficient to permit a reasonable jury

to conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that Carrión was part of

Galiany's conspiracy and not merely a "hired gun." Therefore,

Carrión was not entitled to a judgment of acquittal. Fed. R. Crim.

P. 29.

C. Brady violation

About a year and a half after the trial in this case,

Carrión was tried on federal charges stemming from his alleged

leadership role in a sixty-six person conspiracy to distribute

drugs between 1998 and 2005. In the course of this second trial,

the government released a copy of a Drug Enforcement Administration

("DEA") report memorializing information provided on October 12,

-26-
2001 by an unnamed confidential informant. According to the

report, the informant

stated that a few years ago, he met Jose GALIANI-CRUZ aka
"CATAÑO" through aka "RUBENCITO". [The informant] stated
that he sold a mini .14 rifle, a 9mm, an AK-47, a
shotgun, a .40 caliber pistol and a 30-30 assault rifle
to GALIANI-CRUZ. GALIANI-CRUZ [t]hen tried to take over
CARRION-TORRES'S drug points and a war started between
them.

Carrión also obtained a copy of another DEA report that was used in

a case against Joel Moreno, Galiany's rival, and other Las Palmas

residents. In this second undisclosed DEA report, dated March 11,

2002, the informant said that Moreno was a member of a drug

trafficking organization in Las Palmas, Coamo, and "an associate of

Enrique and Juanito [Carrión], who also have drug points in Coamo

and Santa Isabel." This second report also said that

"approximately two weeks ago, [the informant] witnessed when Juan

Carrion-Torres, aka: 'Juano' exited a black Cherokee and began

shooting at Cataño's [Galiany's] car in the Urbanization San Luis."

Upon becoming aware of these DEA reports, Carrión filed

a motion for a new trial in this case on the ground that the DEA

reports were exculpatory evidence that the prosecutor had an

obligation to disclose under Brady.12 The district court found that

Carrión had not adequately demonstrated that the failure to make a

12
Carrión had previously filed the appropriate discovery
motions in which he asked for all exculpatory and impeaching
evidence, including reports prepared by the FBI, DEA, and other law
enforcement agencies.

-27-
timely disclosure of these DEA reports entitled him to a new trial.

It explained its reasoning as follows:

First, the information contained therein is cumulative
evidence as to a war existing between the defendants,
since it echoes testimony given by Torres-Martinez and
Bonilla. Evidence of the feud between Carrion-Torres and
Galiany-Cruz was presented at trial when Bonilla
testified that Torres-Martinez had told him [in 2004]
that Carrion-Torres was out to kill Galiany-Cruz, and
when Torres-Martinez testified that Carrion-Torres was no
longer with Galiany-Cruz by March 2002. So, evidence to
the effect that Carrion-Torres and Galiany-Cruz were
enemies at one point was presented to the jury. . . . The
new evidence would only alter the possible start date of
the feud but even if believed by the jury, it does not
exculpate defendants from their illegal actions.

United States v. Galiany-Cruz, Crim. No. 03-083 (JAG), 2006 U.S.

Dist. LEXIS 95590, at *11 (D.P.R. Mar. 7, 2007) (internal

citations omitted). Carrión appeals the district court's denial of

his motion, which we review for abuse of discretion. United States

v. Maldonado-Rivera, 489 F.3d 60, 65 (1st Cir. 2007).

The essential elements of a Brady claim are well-

established: "The evidence at issue must be favorable to the

accused, either because it is exculpatory, or because it is

impeaching; that evidence must have been suppressed by the State,

either willfully or inadvertently; and prejudice must have ensued."

Strickler v. Greene, 527 U.S. 263, 281-82 (1999); see also Banks v.

Dretke, 540 U.S. 668, 691 (2004). In analyzing whether there was

a Brady violation, "[w]e evaluate the strength of the impeachment

evidence and the effect of its suppression in the context of the

entire record to determine its materiality." United States v.

-28-
Conley, 415 F.3d 183, 189 (1st Cir. 2005). The import of

withholding evidence is heightened "where the evidence is highly

impeaching or when the witness' testimony is uncorroborated and

essential to the conviction." Id. (quoting United States v.

Martinez-Medina, 279 F.3d 105, 126 (1st Cir. 2002)). "Suppressed

impeachment evidence is immaterial under Brady, however, if the

evidence is cumulative or impeaches on a collateral issue." Id.

We must grant a new trial if, after assessing the significance of

the non-disclosed evidence in the context of the trial, "the

favorable evidence could reasonably be taken to put the whole case

in such a different light as to undermine confidence in the

verdict." Strickler, 527 U.S. at 290 (quoting Kyles v. Whitley,

514 U.S. 419, 435 (1995)).

In its Memorandum and Order denying Carrión's motion for

a new trial, the district court misstated at one point in its

analysis the legal standard for determining whether the DEA reports

were material. It said that the suppressed evidence "does not rise

to the level of materiality that would be likely to cause a

different result at a new trial." Galiany-Cruz, 2006 U.S. Dist.

LEXIS 95590, at *16 (emphasis added). However, to establish the

materiality of a Brady violation, the defendant need only

demonstrate that there was a reasonable probability of a different

outcome, which is "shown when the government's evidentiary

suppression 'undermines confidence in the outcome of the trial.'"

-29-
Kyles, 514 U.S. at 434 (internal citations omitted) (quoting United

States v. Bagley, 413 U.S. 667, 678 (1985)). "The question is not

whether the defendant would more likely than not have received a

different verdict with the evidence, but whether in its absence he

received a fair trial, understood as a trial resulting in a verdict

worthy of confidence." Id. There is a meaningful difference

between the burden of establishing the likelihood of a different

result at a new trial and the burden of establishing a reasonable

probability of a different outcome. That said, the district court

did cite the proper standard earlier in its opinion, noting that

the defendant must show that the "evidence is of such probative

value that there is a reasonable probability it would produce a

different result." Galiany-Cruz, 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 95590, at

*4.

We need not decide whether the district court ultimately

applied the wrong standard to the Brady issue because the district

court's refusal to grant a new trial on the basis of the Brady

violation cannot stand in any event. As we shall explain, the DEA

reports, or evidence developed on the basis of the DEA reports,

could have been important for impeachment purposes at trial by

helping Carrión advance his defense that he was not part of

Galiany's drug conspiracy but rather a member of a rival

conspiracy.

-30-
 The first DEA report, dated October 12, 2001, states that

a "few years ago a war started" between Carrión and Galiany. The

report does not address the specific time frame of the war,

indicating neither that the war had ended nor that it was ongoing.

Yet, even this general information regarding a war between Galiany

and Carrión would have undermined Bonilla's testimony that Carrión

was loyal to Galiany as of March 2001. It also would have

challenged Torres's testimony that Galiany had Santiago killed in

the fall of 2001 in order to protect Carrión and that "whenever

Galiany needed Juan, Juano never said no." This is not to say that

Bonilla and Torres could not have offered testimony refuting the

existence of a war between Carrión and Galiany or, alternatively,

explaining how the rivals became co-conspirators. However, whether

the witnesses could have explained away the discrepancies if the

evidence had been disclosed is beside the point. Carrión had a

right to use the DEA report, or evidence derived therefrom, to

impeach key witnesses in mounting a defense against the conspiracy

charges.

The second DEA report, dated March 11, 2002, stating that

Carrión shot at Galiany's car in late February, further undermines

Torres's and Bonilla's testimony. Bonilla testified that on March

21, 2002, Galiany said that he was responsible for "Juano's" Uzi

and demanded that Bonilla pay $3,000 for Carrión's lost Uzi. The

evidence that Carrión shot at Galiany's car less than two weeks

-31-
earlier casts doubt on the veracity of this testimony by

diminishing the likelihood that the two men were working together

and that, consequently, Galiany would feel obliged to account for

the missing Uzi.

Furthermore, an audiotape of a conversation between

Torres and Bonilla, recorded on March 27, 2002, was offered into

evidence in which "Juano" was said to be working with Galiany's

rivals. Torres testified that by this point Carrión and Galiany

were at war because Galiany had failed to bail Carrión out of jail

despite Carrión's unwavering loyalty. Without the DEA reports or

evidence derived therefrom, the jury had no knowledge of the

apparent animosity between the two men preceding the bail incident

described by Torres. However, the DEA reports collectively

depicted a longstanding "war" between them, undermining Torres's

explanation for the conflict and strengthening Carrión's defense

that he was not part of a conspiracy with Galiany.

While the government concedes that the "undisclosed

evidence bears directly on whether Carrión was part of . . .

Galiany's drug conspiracy," it argues that the DEA reports are

merely cumulative because there was evidence presented at trial in

support of a feud between Galiany and Carrión. However, the

testimony at trial advances a narrative in which Carrión was a

loyal solider up until the point that Galiany left him in jail on

March 22, 2002. Only then, according to the government's theory,

-32-
did Carrión leave the conspiracy and become a vindictive rival. By

contrast, the DEA reports support Carrión's contention that he was

not a member of the conspiracy during any of the time period

covered by the indictment, December 2000 to March 2003. In

addition, they raise doubts as to the credibility of Torres and

Bonilla. This impeaching evidence is particularly weighty here

because, as Carrión asserts, "there is no forensic evidence,

eyewitness identification, statement, seized evidence or anything

else to tie Appellant to this conspiracy[;] the verdict depends

entirely upon whether the jury believed the testimony about

Appellant provided by Bonilla and Torres." See Martinez-Medina,

279 F.3d at 126 (stating that impeachment evidence can warrant a

new trial "when the witness' testimony is uncorroborated and

essential to the conviction").

Although we have previously characterized the standard

for ordering a new trial due to a Brady violation as "delphic," we

have no trouble determining the proper outcome here. See

Sepulveda, 15 F.3d at 1220. The DEA reports, which described

ongoing hostility between Carrión and Galiany prior to and during

the period of the alleged conspiracy, undermine the testimony of

the key witnesses in the government’s case against Carrión. Under

these circumstances, the DEA reports establish a reasonable

probability that the results of Carrión's trial would have been

different if the DEA reports had been disclosed to the defense in

-33-
a timely manner.13 We therefore vacate Carrión's conviction and

sentence.14

13
Carrión also challenges the testimony of Agent Gil on the
ground that it was overview testimony in violation of United States
v. Casas, 356 F.3d 104, 119-20 (1st Cir. 2004). While on the
stand, Agent Gil identified the members of the Cataño gang and
their respective roles, and provided a chart summarizing that
information. Agent Gil did not limit his testimony to what he saw,
but rather gave his conclusion that this defendant was a member of
the conspiracy. Agent Gil went far beyond merely setting the table
for the jury by explaining that there was an investigation of the
defendant and what steps were taken pursuant to the investigation,
with care being taken not to infringe the defendant's confrontation
or other rights. We expressed our concerns about such testimony in
Casas, which was published three months before this trial. This
case raises some of the same problems with overview testimony that
we cited in Casas, particularly the use of overview testimony by a
government agent to endorse the testimony of other witnesses, who
testify from personal knowledge about the involvement of the
defendant in the conspiracy, and thereby add the imprimatur of the
government to those witnesses' testimony. It is troubling to us
that the government's use of the overview testimony indicates an
unawareness of our decision in Casas. Although we do not rely on
this overview testimony to find that there was Brady prejudice,
that overview testimony does contribute to our unease with the
jury's verdict against Carrión. Moreover, Carrión raises a litany
of other alleged prosecutorial errors, including inappropriate
appeals to the jury's emotions, improper vouching, and bolstering.
As we shall discuss in the context of Galiany's claims, there was
an improper appeal to the emotions of the jury in the government's
opening statement. With respect to Carrión, that error also
contributes to our unease with the jury's verdict against him, but
it is not necessary to our Brady analysis.
14
Although the government does not concede Brady error in its
brief on appeal, the government acknowledges that "the undisclosed
evidence bears directly on whether Carrión was part of Galiany's
drug conspiracy." The government then adds: "As the district court
noted in its opinion and order, the new information provides a new
start date as to the disassociation between Galiany and Carrión.
Should this court find the need to further explore the possible
significance of this evidence, it should remand the case against
Carrión to the district court for an evidentiary hearing as opposed
to ordering a new trial." We disagree with the government's
suggestion of remand for an evidentiary hearing when we and the

-34-
 III.

We now turn to Galiany's claim that his conviction should

be reversed because of the improper admission of hearsay evidence

at trial, a Brady violation, and other prosecutorial misconduct.15

A. Hearsay Objections

Galiany raises four hearsay objections, all of which are

raised for the first time on appeal and thus reviewed for plain

error. Flemmi, 402 F.3d at 94. He challenges the following four

statements on the ground that Torres was not a member of the

conspiracy at the time that these statements were made and,

therefore, these statements cannot be properly characterized as

advancing the conspiracy by keeping its members informed.

1. Torres's and Bonilla's discussion of Galiany's
handling of Carrión's Uzi

Statements made by Torres about Galiany's handling of

Carrión's Uzi were recorded on March 27, 2002 by Bonilla and were

offered into evidence when Torres was on the stand at the trial.

As we discussed in the context of Carrión's claims, statements made

to further a conspiracy by keeping co-conspirators informed of the

conspiracy's activities can properly be admitted under Rule 801

district court have focused on the same Brady material and reached
divergent conclusions on its legal significance.
15
Galiany does not appeal the denial of his Rule 29 motion for
a judgment of acquittal.

-35-
(d)(2)(E) if the conspiracy encompasses the declarant (here Torres)

and the defendant.

Galiany argues that these particular comments on the

recording should not be admissible as a co-conspirator statement

because Torres was not a member of the conspiracy on March 27,

2002. Galiany cites Torres's testimony that he ceased to be a

runner after January 2002, at which point he sought to distance

himself from the organization. However, while testifying, Torres

provided extensive information regarding the Cataño gang's internal

conflicts and plans at the time of the recording, displaying

knowledge that an outsider who had left the conspiracy would be

unlikely to have. We thereby find it was not plain error for the

district court to allow this evidence to be admitted under Rule

801(d)(2)(E).

Moreover, we reject Galiany's claim that the recording

and the accompanying discussion of the Uzi by Torres on the witness

stand were cumulative or unfairly prejudicial under Federal Rule of

Evidence 403 simply because Bonilla had previously testified as to

Galiany's involvement with an Uzi owned by Carrión. It was

appropriate for the government to offer evidence from more than one

witness to prove Galiany's participation in the conspiracy.

-36-
 2. Torres's testimony that Galiany had asked to borrow
his car so that he could go shoot Joel Moreno and then reported to
Torres that he had successfully completed the murder

While on the witness stand, Torres testified that Galiany

made these statements to him. We need not assess whether these

statements are admissible against Galiany as co-conspirator

statements because they are admissible under Federal Rule of

Evidence 801(d)(2)(A). Under this rule, an out-of-court statement

is not hearsay if it is offered against the party and it is the

party's own statement. Fed. R. Evid. 801(d)(2)(A); see, e.g.,

United States v. Garza, 435 F.3d 73, 77 (1st Cir. 2006).

3. Torres's testimony that Galiany said Carrión and
Avilés had a shot a member of Las Palmas

Rule 801(d)(2)(A) also applies here because Galiany's

statement is being offered against him. Fed. R. Evid.

801(d)(2)(A). As an evidentiary matter, it is irrelevant that this

evidence points an accusing finger at Avilés and Carrión. The

statement, by its terms, does not have to be against the interest

of Galiany. The fact that it was a statement by Galiany and there

was an attempt to use it by a party opponent, the government, is

sufficient to get the statement in under 801(d)(2)(A).

For these reasons, we find that the district court did

not commit plain error when it admitted the above statements into

evidence.

-37-
B. Brady Claim

Galiany, like Carrión, argues that the prosecutor failed

to disclose exculpatory evidence in violation of Brady. The

material in question is a DEA report dated February 15, 2002, which

includes a statement by a confidential informant to the effect that

Julio Rivera-Rodriguez ("Rivera") was responsible for Santiago's

murder. According to the confidential informant, Rivera wanted to

kill Santiago because Santiago was causing trouble for two other

men who presumably were Rivera's allies.16 Galiany claims that the

government's failure to make a timely disclosure of this DEA report

constituted a Brady violation because it conflicted with Torres's

testimony that Galiany had ordered that Santiago be killed to

protect Carrión. We reject this contention.

Galiany is charged with participating in a drug

conspiracy; the murder of Santiago is simply alleged as one of a

number of overt acts in furtherance of this conspiracy. There is

a great deal of evidence implicating Galiany in the drug

conspiracy, and other murders in furtherance of that conspiracy,

apart from the evidence relating to Santiago. For example, Bonilla

on several occasions had recorded conversations with Galiany, which

were introduced as evidence at trial. These recordings captured

Galiany discussing drug processing and sales as well as the weapons

16
The record contains no other information regarding Rivera.
Therefore, we are unable to ascertain whether he was a member of
any of the aforementioned gangs.

-38-
he owned and sought to acquire. More specifically, Galiany states

that he was processing one eighth of a kilogram of cocaine so it

could be sold. On a later occasion, Galiany discusses with one of

his drug sellers that the seller's "teeth felt like they wanted to

fall off because the drugs was so good." Galiany then indicates

that he had a "quarter" of that same drug, offering to shoot-up

Bonilla so he could taste it.

On yet another occasion, Galiany boasts that he "had shot

at Nelson [a rival drug pusher] and he had torn his van apart with

bullets." According to Galiany, during the shooting "we shot from

the distance, and even the cement flew." Galiany says that Torres

had disappointed him by failing to kill Nelson at an earlier time.

Because of Torres's failed assassination attempt, Galiany says that

he "was going to change; that he [who] was beside him was going to

get, you know, money from the drugs and he who wasn't beside him

was -- you know, he was going to bust them, he was going to kill

them." Given this highly incriminating evidence of Galiany's

involvement in the distribution of drugs and his use of weapons and

the threat of violence to advance and protect that distribution,

our confidence in the verdict is unshaken by the information in the

DEA report.

Moreover, the appellants, including Galiany, were able to

challenge Torres's credibility even without the DEA report. The

appellants effectively highlighted discrepancies between Torres's

-39-
grand jury and trial testimony and the reasons that Torres may have

been motivated to testify untruthfully, such as a desire to obtain

a reduced sentence in exchange for helping secure the appellants'

convictions. In this sense, the additional impeaching evidence was

only cumulative.

C. Additional Claims of Prosecutorial Misconduct

Galiany asserts that the prosecutor made several other

errors that denied him a fair trial, including making inflammatory

statements, delaying disclosure of important evidence, and improper

vouching. Galiany concedes the standard of review is plain error.

United States v. Sanchez-Berrios, 424 F.3d 65, 73 (1st Cir. 2005).

1. Improper Statements and Questioning

Galiany claims that the prosecutor twice sought to sway

the jurors by appealing to their emotions. In his opening

statement, the prosecutor made the following comment:

This case is about drugs and violence that we read about
in the newspaper everyday and we hear about on the
television when we go home at night; the same violence
which occurs in Puerto Rico on a daily basis and which
takes the lives of hundreds of young people each year.

We have previously said that it is improper to appeal to the

"jury's emotions and role as the conscience of the community."

Martinez-Medina, 279 F.3d at 119. Although it was inappropriate

for the prosecutor to link the drugs and violence at issue here to

the problems of drugs and violence in Puerto Rico generally, it is

-40-
unlikely that this isolated comment prejudiced the outcome of the

trial. Id. ("[I]t seems to us highly implausible to think that

this isolated epithet altered the jury's verdict.").

Galiany also claims that the government improperly

appealed to the jury's emotions by eliciting superfluous details

from Bonilla about his two gunshot wounds. According to Galiany,

the prosecutor was trying to bolster Bonilla's credibility by

offering testimony highlighting Bonilla's past heroism. As we have

indicated, the standard here is plain error because Galiany did not

object to this testimony at trial. Even if the testimony cited by

Galiany were not permissible background evidence (and we take no

view on this), any error was not plain, nor has he shown the

requisite prejudice or a miscarriage of justice.17

2. Vouching

"A prosecutor improperly vouches for a witness when she

places the prestige of her office behind the government's case by,

say, imparting her personal belief in a witness's veracity or

implying that the jury should credit the prosecution's evidence

simply because the government can be trusted." Perez-Ruiz, 353

17
Galiany is also correct that there were two factual
misstatements in the opening statement: a slight overstatement of
Torres's sentence and a misrepresentation of when Torres began to
work with Galiany. Both of these factual inaccuracies were minor
and corrected when Torres testified. Martinez-Medina, 279 F.3d at
119 (finding no prejudice where "[a]ny factual inaccuracies were
minor, [and] related to peripheral issues").

-41-
F.3d at 9. Galiany contends that the prosecutor improperly vouched

for Torres by asserting in his opening statement that the

government was "fortunate enough to be able to present to you the

testimony of an individual who for a period of time was a member of

the 'Cataño' gang" and that Torres's criminal history did not "take

away from his credibility." He claims that the prosecutor's

comments "carr[y] the subliminal message to the jury that their

main witness's testimony is truthful because had it not been that

way the United States would not have prosecuted."

This claim has no merit. The challenged statements

simply refer to the basis for the witness's knowledge while seeking

to deflect the anticipated impeachment. These comments do not lend

the government's prestige to the witness any more than would be

true for any government witness in a criminal case.

Galiany also claims that the prosecutor engaged in

improper vouching for Torres when he said the following: "In

telling the truth through his testimony, he's trying to get his

life back in order, and he's trying to hopefully get a lower

sentence, if the Court would so do that through his assistance."

We have held similar statements permissible because the prosecutor

is simply explaining a witness's motive for telling the truth

rather than providing a personal assurance. See, e.g., Martinez-

Medina, 279 F.3d at 119 ("[T]hat cooperating witnesses had a motive

to tell the truth because of the dire consequences of breaking

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their plea agreements [] was also not improper vouching because it

provided a reason, not a personal assurance, why the jury should

believe the witnesses.").

3. Delayed Release of Report

Galiany argues that his due process rights were violated

by the government's belated release of an FBI report from March

2003. He claims he should have received the report before the

third day of the trial, March 24, 2004. According to Galiany, the

report contained a statement by an eyewitness to the March 16, 2001

shooting of Maldonado. This witness said that, contrary to

Torres's testimony, Galiany had not been at the scene of the

shooting in Las Palmas.

When an exculpatory report has been delayed but not

withheld, the pertinent inquiry is

whether defendant's counsel was prevented by the delay
from using the disclosed material effectively in
preparing and presenting the defendant's case. To
prevail on this argument, the defendant must at a minimum
make a prima facie showing of a plausible strategic
option which the delay foreclosed.

United States v. Misla-Aldarondo, 478 F.3d 52, 63 (1st Cir. 2007)

(internal quotations omitted). Galiany makes no such showing

because he neither argues that a particular strategic option was

foreclosed nor does he provide an explanation for why he did not

request a continuance. See United States v. Smith, 292 F.3d 90,

102 (1st Cir. 2002) ("[W]e have noted that defense counsel must

-43-
typically request a continuance to preserve a claim of prejudice by

delayed disclosure of evidence."). In fact, Galiany concedes in

his brief that "[i]t is not evident from the record defense

counsels' reason(s) for not addressing before the court the

Government's delayed disclosure" of this report. Thus, his delayed

disclosure claim is hopeless and we affirm Galiany's conviction.18

IV.

Avilés raises two claims of plain error, both pertaining

to the sufficiency of the jury's findings concerning the quantity

of drugs allegedly involved in the conspiracy.19 He argues that the

district court wrongly denied his motion for judgment of acquittal

because the government failed to prove that the conspiracy was

responsible for the distribution of one kilogram of heroin, five

kilograms of cocaine, and detectable quantities of marijuana.20

18
Galiany also makes a cumulative error claim. Given our
analysis of the discrete errors that Galiany has claimed, his
cumulative error claim is unavailing.
19
Avilés recognizes that he failed to raise these claims
before the district court and therefore his claims are reviewed for
plain error. Colon-Diaz, 521 F.3d at 33.
20
Since Count One was conspiracy to possess and distribute
controlled substances, the court first informed the jury of the
elements necessary for a finding of a conspiracy. Then the court
explained the elements necessary for a finding of possession and
distribution:

For you to find the defendant guilty of this crime,
you must be convinced that the Government has
proved each of the following beyond a reasonable
doubt: First, that the defendant knowingly
possessed a controlled substance; second, that the

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However, the evidence provided ample support for the jury's

decisions, including its drug quantity determinations. Torres

testified that during his ten-month tenure as a runner for the

conspiracy, he processed weekly an eighth of a kilogram of heroin,

an eighth of a kilogram of cocaine, and a half-pound of marijuana.

Therefore, Torres alone was responsible for processing five

kilograms of heroin, five kilograms of cocaine, and twenty pounds

of marijuana. Bonilla provided similar support for the charged

drug quantities when he testified that he saw Galiany delivering

"kilos" of drugs to his neighbor and processing an eighth of a

kilogram of heroin. Furthermore, the parties stipulated that 1.56

grams of heroin and 61.12 grams of cocaine were seized at two of

Galiany's drug points. Collectively, this information provided

sufficient evidence for a reasonable jury to find the requisite

amounts of drugs to support a conviction under 21 U.S.C. §

841(b)(1)(A).21

substances were in fact heroin, cocaine, and/or
marijuana; third, that the defendant possessed the
substances with the intent to distribute; and
fourth, that the quantity of the substance was at
least one kilogram or more of heroin, five
kilograms or more of cocaine, and a detectable
amount of marijuana.

Based on these instructions, the jury returned a guilty verdict.
The jury also completed a special verdict form, indicating that
Avilés was guilty of conspiring to distribute one kilogram of
heroin, five kilograms of cocaine, and a detectable amount of
marijuana.
21
Avilés argues that the jury instructions were flawed because
of a discrepancy between the indictment's reference to "kilogram

-45-
 Avilés further contends that he was convicted in

violation of Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466 (2000), because

the verdict form did not explicitly state that the jury must find

him guilty "beyond a reasonable doubt" of participating in a

conspiracy that had the intent to distribute the quantities of

drugs charged in the indictment. We have previously held that the

verdict form need not explicitly state that the finding required is

guilt beyond a reasonable doubt if the jury instructions conveyed

the need to make the finding with that level of certainty. See

Perez-Ruiz, 353 F.3d at 16 ("Absent either a special verdict form

or a suitably focused jury instruction (requiring a finding beyond

a reasonable doubt, that the appellant had knowingly participated

in a conspiracy to distribute [the quantities of drugs charged]),

the verdict did not cure the potential Apprendi problem." (emphasis

added)). Here the jury instructions were suitably focused, stating

that the charged offense and the associated drug quantities must be

proven beyond a reasonable doubt; therefore, the verdict form did

quantities of marijuana" and the jury instructions' and verdict
form's reference to a "detectable amount" of marijuana. This
discrepancy is inconsequential because the indictment and jury
instructions consistently listed the quantities of cocaine and
heroin, which on their own were sufficient to trigger a statutory
maximum of life imprisonment. See 21 U.S.C. § 841(b)(1)(A). Thus,
the error was harmless.

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not have to include such language.22 Consequently, we affirm

Avilés's convictions.

V.

Both Galiany and Avilés challenge their sentences on the

ground that the district court erred when it considered three

murders in calculating the Guidelines sentences.23 The jury's

findings of guilt on Count One, the conspiracy to possess and

distribute controlled substances, and Count Two, possession of

firearms in furtherance of a conspiracy, subjected the defendants

to a statutory term of imprisonment between ten years and life

imprisonment. 21 U.S.C. § 841(b)(1)(A). Under the Guidelines, if

the court finds by a preponderance of the evidence that a murder

was committed in furtherance of the conspiracy, the Guidelines base

offense level is forty-three. U.S.S.G. § 2D.1(d)(1) (when a victim

22
After oral argument, Avilés filed a Motion to Adopt Co-
Defendants' Argument pursuant to Rule of Appellate Procedure 28(i).
Avilés makes only bare-bones references to his co-appellants'
arguments in his motion. For example, in support of his assertion
of prosecutorial misconduct, he merely cites to seven pages from
Carrión's brief and three pages from Galiany's brief. He does not
provide any detailed argumentation explaining how the prosecutorial
misconduct applies to him. Thus, he is effectively "leaving the
court to do counsel's work, create the ossature for the argument,
and put flesh on its bones." Casas, 425 F.3d at 30 n.2 (quoting
United States v. Zannino, 895 F.2d 1, 17 (1st Cir. 1990)(internal
quotation marks omitted)). Because Avilés's references to his co-
appellants' arguments are perfunctory, we deem those arguments
waived. Id.
23
Although Carrión also challenges his sentence, we need not
reach this issue because we are vacating his convictions and
sentence.

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was killed under circumstances that would constitute first-degree

murder under 18 U.S.C. § 1111, the applicable base offense level is

forty-three). The Guidelines provide for a mandatory life sentence

when the base offense level is forty-three. However, in light of

Booker, the Guidelines are only advisory.24

Here, the court found that three murders were committed

in furtherance of the conspiracy and therefore the applicable base

offense level was forty-three. The court noted that life

imprisonment was the applicable Guidelines sentence. After

considering the sentencing factors found in 18 U.S.C. § 3553, the

court decided to give a below-Guidelines sentence.25 See United

States v. Rosado, 2008 U.S. App. LEXIS 8105, *8 (1st Cir. 2008)

(explaining that consideration of the Guidelines range is not only

"permissible but required" before giving a below-Guidelines

sentence). The court sentenced Galiany to a 660-month term of

24
As we have previously explained, the Guidelines were only
advisory at Galiany's and Avilés's sentencing hearings because the
sentencings took place post-Booker.
25
Taking into account Galiany's role as leader of the
conspiracy, his Criminal History Category, the Guidelines sentence
of life imprisonment, as well as the § 3553 factors, the court
sentenced Galiany to 600 months of imprisonment for Count One and
a consecutive term of 60 months of imprisonment for Count Two, plus
five years of supervised release.
Avilés, unlike Galiany, had a Criminal History Category of I,
meaning that he had no prior felonies. Taking into account this
history as well as the other § 3553 factors, Avilés was sentenced
to 360 months imprisonment for Count One and a consecutive term of
60 months imprisonment for Count Two, totaling 420 months. Avilés
was also sentenced to five years of supervised release.

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imprisonment and a five-year term of supervised release and

sentenced Avilés to a 420-month term of imprisonment and a five-

year term of supervised release.

Galiany and Avilés challenge the court's determination on

the ground that the murders on which the court relied -- the

murders of Maldonado, Franco, and Santiago -- had not been proven

by a preponderance of the evidence. We need not reiterate the

details of Torres's testimony regarding the context, time frame,

and manner in which each of these men was killed and the

relationship that those murders had to the conspiracy in order to

reject Galiany and Aviles's challenge to the murder cross-

reference. Nor do we need to revisit Bonilla's corroboration of

Torres's testimony regarding these murders. That evidence amply

supports the court's conclusion by a preponderance of the evidence

that the murders had been committed in furtherance of the charged

conspiracy.

Avilés challenges the constitutionality of applying a

Guidelines murder cross-reference that could subject a defendant to

life imprisonment when the facts justifying the sentence have been

proven only by a preponderance of the evidence. We once again

reject this often raised argument because even the heightened

sentence does not rise above the statutory maximum. See, e.g.,

United States v. Gonzalez-Velez, 466 F.3d 27, 41 (1st Cir. 2006).

-49-
 VI.

For the reasons stated herein we affirm Galiany's and

Avilés's convictions and sentences. However, we vacate Carrión's

convictions and sentence and remand for further proceedings.

So ordered.

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 Appendix 1

Roster of Conspiracy Members and Other Individuals
Involved in the Case

Alleged
Name Aliases Relationship Current Status
to the Conspiracy
Jose Galiany-
"Cataño" and Leader of the Appealing conviction
Cruz
"Jose" conspiracy on both counts

Member: enforcer, Appealing conviction
Luis Avilés- "Luggi" drug packager, and on both counts
Colón
drug seller

Juan Carrión "Juano" and Appealing conviction
"Juanito" Member: enforcer
Torres on both counts

Member: runner,
Julio Mateo- "Julito" enforcer, and drug Plead guilty to
Espada packager charged offenses

Jose Flores- "Molle" Member: runner and Plead guilty to
Rivera enforcer charged offenses

Member: enforcer,
Roberto Torres- Plead guilty to
"Robert" drug packager, and
Ruiz charged offenses
drug seller

Member: enforcer, Plead guilty to
Kelvin Torres- "Kelvin" drug packager, and charged offenses
Ruiz
drug seller

Hector Reyes- Member: enforcer, and Pled guilty to
"Chanlfe"
Martinez drug packager charged offenses

Rafael Ortiz- Pled guilty to
"Rafito" Member: drug seller
Luna charged offenses

Pled guilty to
Carlos Ivan Member: runner and charged offenses and
"Ivan"
Torres-Martinez enforcer became cooperating
witness

Julio Rivera- Current status
Affiliation unknown
Rodriguez unknown

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 Government informant Assisted prosecution
Carlos Bonilla
posing as a in trial
Santos
conspirator

Hector Reyes- Pled guilty to
"Chalfe" Member of conspiracy
Martinez charged offenses

Alexander Rivera Member of rival gang Murdered by Avilés,
Maldonado at Las Palmas Carrión, and Flores

Alex Torres Member of rival gang Murdered by Kelvin
Franco at Las Palmas Torres-Ruiz

Yamil Santiago Member of rival gang Murdered by Avilés
Rodriguez at Las Palmas and Mateo-Espada

-52-
 Appendix 2

Timeline of Important Events in Charged Conspiracy

Date Event

March 2001 Bonilla testified that at some point during March he saw
Galiany and Carrión together in a car. Carrión was sitting in
the back seat with two AK-47s and Galiany said they were
looking for "Cuquito" to kill him.

March 16, Maldonado, a member of the rival Las Palmas gang, was shot.
2001 Torres testified that on that same day he drove with Galiany
to pick up Carrión, Avilés, and Flores in the La Flores Ward
of Coamo, the site of the shooting, and brought them to a
nearby river.

March 17, Torres testified that he followed Galiany's instructions to
2001 bring appellants and Flores to the river that they had visited
the prior day and to then bring the same group to Galiany's
home, where the appellants cleaned their weapons while others
were packing drugs.

September 16, Torres testified the he went with Galiany, Torres-Ruiz, and
2001 Reyez-Martinez to a Sweet 15 party at the Las Palmas housing
project to avenge the murder of one of their men. While they
were shooting into the crowd, they killed Franco.

October or Santiago was killed.
November
2001

October 12, This is the date of the undisclosed DEA report in which a
2001 confidential informant said that "a few years ago" a war
started between Carrión and Galiany .

December 2001 Bonilla testified that he went with Galiany to Avilés's house
to collect money and saw a 30-06 Remington model rifle while
there.

March 11, This is the date of an undisclosed DEA report in which a
2002 confidential informant stated that approximately two weeks ago
"Juano" exited his car and began shooting at Galiany's car.

March 21, Bonilla testified that Galiany demanded $3,000 from him
2002 because Galiany wanted to account for Carrión's Uzi.

March 27, Bonilla and Torres were discussing the fact that Carrión was
2002 working with members of a rival gang. This conversation was
recorded by Bonilla.

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