United States of America, Plaintiff-appellee, v. Calvin Lamar Bosby, Alan Maurice Ticey, and Charles F. Hill,jr., Defendants-appellants, 675 F.2d 1174 (11th Cir. 1982)

Defendants Hill, Bosby and Ticey were indicted for mail fraud, 18 U.S.C.A. § 1341,¹  and conspiracy to commit mail fraud, 18 U.S.C.A. § 371.²  After a nine-day trial, the defendants were convicted on all counts and sentenced to varying periods of incarceration.³  Defendants appeal, alleging numerous errors below. We affirm.

Defendants Ticey, Hill and Bosby, along with Heard, Rudolph and Haggins, engaged in a concerted effort to defraud certain banks and stores in Birmingham, Alabama. In November 1980, Heard, Hill and Ticey, traveled from Tennessee to Birmingham. Once in Birmingham, Heard opened a checking account at the Birmingham Trust National Bank (BTNB) with a minimum deposit. He ordered personalized checks and had them sent to his father's Birmingham address. Heard represented to bank officials that the address was his and that he had resided there for five years. In reality, Heard had lived in Chicago during the previous five years. Later the same day, Heard opened another checking account, this time at the First National Bank^B, and again ordered personalized checks. In both instances, the personalized checks were printed and mailed.

The next day, Heard deposited a $9,500 check drawn on a Chicago bank into his account at FNB. Heard had apparently received the check from defendant Ticey. Although the check was ultimately returned uncollected, the FNB mistakenly credited Heard's account with the amount. Heard then withdrew $9,000 and gave $6,000 to Ticey. Ticey used a portion of the money to rent a room at a local motel where he later met defendant Bosby.

While in Birmingham, Heard contacted an acquaintance, Randy Rudolph, and suggested that Rudolph might want to make some money by opening checking accounts at local banks. Heard and defendants Ticey and Bosby drove Rudolph to two local banks, Metro Bank and Exchange National Bank, and waited while he opened checking accounts. Rudolph ordered personalized checks at both banks and had them sent to his home address in Birmingham. Later that evening, he deposited into his account at Metro Bank a $9,912 check drawn on Ticey's Chicago bank account. The same evening, Heard deposited into his account at BTNB an $8,800 check, drawn on a Bensonville, Illinois, bank, that he had received from Ticey. The following day, defendant Bosby opened an account at Central Bank. Employing a similar modus operandi, Bosby deposited the minimum amount and ordered personalized checks. He had the checks sent to the address of an aunt residing in Birmingham. Shortly after the account was opened, a $10,500 check drawn on defendant Hill's Chicago account was deposited into Bosby's account at Central Bank.

Heard, Rudolph and the three defendants now had accounts at five different Birmingham banks and had deposited out-of-state checks in four of the accounts. All of the checks were ultimately returned uncollected. On November 21, two weeks after Heard opened the first account, defendants Bosby and Hill attempted to cash a $10,000 check drawn on Bosby's account at Central Bank. The teller refused to honor the check due to insufficient funds in the account. The same day, Heard, accompanied by Ticey and Hill, tried to withdraw $8,500 from the BTNB account. The check was not cashed, again due to insufficient funds. Undaunted, Heard went to a different BTNB branch and attempted to cash a $7,000 check. The attempt was unsuccessful. Finally, Jeffrey Haggins, an accomplice in the scheme, presented a $900 check drawn on Heard's BTNB account but was informed that it could not be cashed due to insufficient funds in the account.

Unable to cash the checks at the banks, Heard, Haggins and the defendants proceeded to a local jewelry store. Heard and Hill entered the store while Bosby, Ticey and Haggins waited outside in Bosby's cadillac. Heard purchased over $2,800 worth of jewelry and paid for the merchandise with a personalized check drawn on the BTNB account which he had received through the mail. A store clerk that had been sent to the bank to get the check certified discovered that the account contained insufficient funds to cover the check. Heard and Hill left the store with the jewelry just before the employee called from the bank that the check was no good. The police were notified and were provided a description of the persons in the store and the automobile. A few moments later, police located the cadillac and arrested the occupants, Bosby, Ticey and Haggins. Heard and Hill were subsequently arrested.

Following the arrest, law enforcement officials impounded the cadillac and had it towed to a garage. The next day, Detective Street of the Birmingham Police Department conducted an inventory search of the vehicle and uncovered a number of incriminating documents. Three days after the arrest, FBI agents obtained a search warrant for the cadillac and a black briefcase found in the automobile's trunk. The search uncovered various documents from Birmingham and Chicago banks. The documents were later admitted as evidence at trial.

Defendants allege that the search of the automobile and the briefcase found in the trunk of the car violated the Fourth Amendment. Law enforcement officials searched the automobile on two occasions: once to inventory the contents and once pursuant to a warrant. Defendants claim that the inventory search was a pretext for an investigatory search and therefore illegal. Defendants support their contention by noting that the inventory search was conducted by the arresting officer, Detective Street, rather than by a lower echelon police official. Moreover, the search occurred on Detective Street's day off.

Law enforcement officials need not obtain a warrant to conduct a routine inventory search. South Dakota v. Opperman, 428 U.S. 364, 96 S. Ct. 3092, 49 L. Ed. 2d 1000 (1976). Evidence found while conducting an inventory search is admissible. United States v. Fossler, 597 F.2d 478, 482 (5th Cir. 1978). Inventory searches must, however, "be limited to effectuation of the recognized purposes for which they are conducted and they may not be used as a pretext for intrusive investigatory searches that would otherwise be impermissible." United States v. Prescott, 599 F.2d 103, 105 (5th Cir. 1979).

We are unpersuaded that Detective Street conducted the inventory search as a subterfuge for an investigatory search. The record reveals that the Birmingham police had a written policy concerning inventory searches and routinely performed them after impounding a vehicle. Furthermore, testimony indicated that there was nothing particularly unusual about a detective such as Street performing the search. Nor did Detective Street exceed the scope normally permitted for an inventory search. See United States v. Edwards, 577 F.2d 883 (5th Cir.) (en banc), cert. denied, 439 U.S. 968, 99 S. Ct. 458, 58 L. Ed. 2d 427 (1978). Finally, we agree that Detective Street may well have expected to uncover admissible evidence while conducting the search. Certainly, as the officer-in-charge of the investigation, he was the individual most likely to recognize the importance of particular documents found in the automobile. Nevertheless, the mere expectation of uncovering evidence will not vitiate an otherwise valid inventory search. United States v. Prescott, supra, 599 F.2d at 106.

A more difficult question concerns the search of the briefcase. Shortly after the arrest, Detective Street arrived at the scene and removed the briefcase from the trunk of defendants' automobile. He testified that the briefcase was unlocked and the latches opened.⁴  He acknowledged opening the briefcase and "glancing" at the contents.⁵  He also admitted taking the briefcase into his custody and keeping it overnight.⁶  The briefcase was returned to the defendants' vehicle the following morning prior to the time Detective Street conducted the inventory search.

Independent of the activities by Detective Street, FBI Agent Grenier interviewed Bosby, Haggins and Ticey and, based primarily upon their statements, obtained a warrant to search the briefcase.⁷  Agent Grenier testified that he was unaware that the briefcase had been opened prior to the execution of his search. Furthermore, although conversing with Detective Street on a number of occasions before conducting the search, the agent stated that he was never provided information concerning the contents of the briefcase.⁸ 

Defendants claim that Detective Street conducted an illegal search when he opened the briefcase and viewed the contents. They also assert that the illegal search somehow invalidated the subsequent search conducted by Agent Grenier, thereby rendering the evidence found inside inadmissible.

Fourth Amendment search and seizure law is fraught with uncertainties and difficult distinctions. Thus, we are sympathetic with the problems frequently encountered by law enforcement officials in attempting to discern the precise bounds of the law. In the instant appeal, however, we deal with an unusually clear area of the law. Absent exigent circumstances, closed containers such as a briefcase or pieces of personal luggage even if unlocked cannot be searched absent a warrant. Arkansas v. Sanders, 442 U.S. 753, 99 S. Ct. 2586, 61 L. Ed. 2d 235 (1979) (luggage); United States v. Kreimes, 649 F.2d 1185, 1190 (5th Cir. 1981) (luggage); United States v. Moschetta, 646 F.2d 955, 959 (5th Cir. 1981) (briefcase). The moment Detective Street opened the briefcase and looked inside, he conducted a search. Since the record reveals neither exigent circumstances nor the presence of a warrant, we agree with the defendants that the search by Detective Street transgressed the Fourth Amendment. The egregiousness of the search was compounded when Detective Street took it upon himself to retain unsupervised possession of the briefcase overnight. Notwithstanding the illegal search, however, we are unable to conclude that the contents of the briefcase must be suppressed.

Had any of the documents found in the briefcase been admitted at trial as a result of the illegal search, we would not hesitate to suppress the evidence. See Mapp v. Ohio, 367 U.S. 643, 660, 81 S. Ct. 1684, 1694, 6 L. Ed. 2d 1081 (1961) (adopting exclusionary rule and stating that "we can no longer permit (the Fourth Amendment) to be revocable at the whim of any police officer who, in the name of law enforcement itself, chooses to suspend its enjoyment."). The evidence was not, however, obtained from the illegal search. Instead, the evidence was seized pursuant to a valid warrant executed by FBI Agent Grenier. Thus, absent proof that the first, illegal search somehow tainted the second, legal search, the evidence was properly admissible. See Wong Sun v. United States, 371 U.S. 471, 83 S. Ct. 407, 9 L. Ed. 2d 441 (1963); United States v. Haddad, 558 F.2d 968, 975 n.6 (9th Cir. 1977); United States v. Galante, 547 F.2d 733, 740 (2d Cir. 1976), cert. denied, Cameriero v. U. S., 431 U.S. 969, 97 S. Ct. 2930, 53 L. Ed. 2d 1066 (1977).

We have meticulously combed the ten volumes of record filed on appeal for any indication that Agent Grenier's search may have been tainted by the illegal search. We have found none. Agent Grenier denied having prior knowledge of either the contents of the briefcase or the fact that it had been opened. At worst, the record reveals that Agent Grenier met with Detective Street before obtaining the warrant and therefore had the opportunity to learn of the illegal search. Under the facts of this case, we do not consider such opportunity sufficient to establish a taint. Cf. United States v. Edwards, 443 F. Supp. 192 (D. Mass. 1977), aff'd, 602 F.2d 458 (1st Cir. 1979). Finally, the affidavits filed to obtain the warrant contain information obtained almost entirely from the defendants. Thus the factual predicate for the warrant was not based in any way on information obtained during the illegal search. Accordingly, we conclude that the evidence was seized pursuant to a validly executed warrant and therefore admissible.

Two of the defendants, Bosby and Hill, contend that the district court erred in failing to suppress statements made following their arrest. Both claim that the police violated the dictates of Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S. Ct. 1602, 16 L. Ed. 2d 694 (1966), by initiating questioning after they had invoked the right to remain silent. We find the arguments devoid of merit.⁹ 

Following the arrest, the arresting officers read Bosby his Miranda rights. The rights were repeated at the Birmingham police station. Bosby refused to sign the written waiver form and invoked his right to remain silent.¹⁰  As a result, law enforcement officials immediately terminated the interrogation. A few weeks later, Agent Grenier approached Bosby, advised him of his Miranda rights and again questioned him about the fraudulent scheme. This time Bosby signed the waiver form and made incriminating statements. The statements were admitted into evidence at trial.

Law enforcement officials are required to apprise putative defendants of their right to counsel and right to remain silent before conducting a custodial interrogation. Miranda v. Arizona, supra. Although the assertion of either right mandates the immediate cessation of an interrogation, the particular right invoked has a differing impact on subsequent police conduct. United States ex rel. Riley v. Franzen, 653 F.2d 1153, 1158 (7th Cir. 1981) ("the invocation of a defendant's right to silence may have a different impact on the permissibility of subsequent police conduct than the invocation of his right to counsel."). Upon assertion of his right to counsel, law enforcement officials cannot subject the defendant to further questioning until an attorney has been appointed for him and he has been accorded the opportunity to consult. Edwards v. Arizona, 451 U.S. 477, 482, 101 S. Ct. 1880, 1883, 68 L. Ed. 2d 378, 386 (1981); see United States v. Little, 647 F.2d 533, 534 (5th Cir. 1981). Thus a request for counsel acts as an absolute prohibition on the right of police to initiate questioning until an attorney has been appointed.¹¹  No such proscription upon the right of police to resume questioning exists where a defendant asserts his right to remain silent. Instead, law enforcement officials are required to cease questioning the defendant but may resume the interrogation at some later time. Michigan v. Mosely, 423 U.S. 96, 96 S. Ct. 321, 46 L. Ed. 2d 313 (1975); accord, United States v. Pulvano, 629 F.2d 1151, 1157 (5th Cir. 1980).

The moment Bosby invoked his right to remain silent at the initial interrogation, the questioning ended. Agent Grenier waited a reasonable time-over two weeks-before again questioning the defendant.¹²  At the second session, Bosby was again informed of his Miranda rights. He executed a written waiver and voluntarily gave the agent incriminating evidence. The procedure employed by Agent Grenier fully comported with defendant's Miranda rights. The district court, therefore, correctly refused to suppress the evidence.¹³ 

Defendants next assert that the Government failed to establish the necessary elements of mail fraud. They contend that the evidence does not show that the mails were used to further the fraudulent scheme.

Mail fraud requires proof of two elements: (1) a scheme to defraud and (2) use of the mails "for the purposes of executing" the fraudulent scheme. 18 U.S.C.A. § 1341; United States v. Bethea, 672 F.2d 407, 410 (5th Cir. 1982). The Government need not establish, however, that "but for" the mailing, the fraudulent scheme would not have succeeded. United States v. Rodgers, 624 F.2d 1303, 1309 (5th Cir. 1980), cert. denied, Anthony J. Bertucci Construction Co., Inc. v. U. S., 450 U.S. 917, 101 S. Ct. 1360, 67 L. Ed. 2d 342 (1981); United States v. Kent, 608 F.2d 542, 546 (5th Cir. 1979), cert. denied, 446 U.S. 936, 100 S. Ct. 2153, 64 L. Ed. 2d 788 (1980). Instead, the proof must show that the use of the United States mail played an "integral" rather than incidental or tangential role in the fraudulent scheme. United States v. Bethea, supra; United States v. Kent, supra, 608 F.2d at 546.

In order for the fraudulent scheme to succeed, defendants had to enshroud the new bank accounts with an aura of legitimacy.¹⁴  Bank officials testified that new customers typically order personalized checks and have them mailed to their local address. Thus, to avoid suspicion, defendants also ordered personalized checks and had them mailed to a local Birmingham address. Furthermore, testimony in the record indicates that local merchants would not accept a non-personalized check.¹⁵  Thus obtaining the checks was essential to the defendants' scheme to defraud both the banks and local merchants. Accordingly, we conclude that the use of the mails to have the personalized checks sent to a local address was an integral part of the fraudulent scheme.¹⁶ 

Defendant Bosby contends that there was no evidence that he used the mails to further the fraudulent scheme. Bosby opened an account at Central Bank and had personalized checks sent to defendant Hill's aunt in Birmingham. The aunt testified that she did not know Bosby and returned the checks to the bank. Bosby asserts that the lack of knowledge by the aunt somehow demonstrates that he did not use the mails to further the scheme. We find the contention meritless. As previously noted, the use of the mails occurred when defendants caused personalized checks to be sent to local Birmingham addresses in order to provide the new accounts an appearance of legitimacy. This appearance of legitimacy did not in any way depend upon the knowledge of the recipient of the checks. Thus the fact that the aunt did not know Bosby is irrelevant to whether he used the mails to further the scheme.¹⁷ 

Defendants have purported to find error in the voir dire. The defendants requested that the court ask each prospective juror:

(a) What magazines and newspapers do you subscribe to?

(b) What is the most recent book that you have read?

(c) Describe your educational background.

The trial judge, however, rejected the questions. Defendants insist that the questions were relevant and would have provided useful information in light of the "sophisticated" nature of the factual questions at issue.

Trial judges are accorded broad discretion in determining the scope of voir dire. Fed. R. Crim. P. 24(a); United States v. Colacurcio, 659 F.2d 684, 689 (5th Cir. 1981). Their discretionary authority includes the right to reject questions submitted by counsel. United States v. Brooks, 670 F.2d 148, 151 (11th Cir. 1982); United States v. Magana-Arevalo, 639 F.2d 226, 228 (5th Cir. 1981). The court need only inquire into those areas suggested by counsel that are calculated to elicit information necessary to make an informed decision concerning the acceptance of or the dismissal of a juror. United States v. Garza, 574 F.2d 298, 303 (5th Cir. 1978); see also Rosales-Lopez v. United States, 451 U.S. 182, 188, 101 S. Ct. 1629, 1634, 68 L. Ed. 2d 22 (1981).

We are unable to say that the district court abused its discretion by refusing to ask the requested questions. None of the questions would have revealed bias or prejudice by jurors that might necessitate dismissal. Thus we find no compelling reason why the trial judge should have asked the requested inquiries.

Finally, we consider errors raised by individual defendants. Hill contends that he was prejudiced by certain questions asked on direct examination and is therefore entitled to a new trial. During the trial, Rudolph and Heard, both participants in the fraudulent scheme, testified on behalf of the Government. The prosecuting attorney asked Rudolph a number of questions concerning defendant Hill's involvement in the scheme. The witness essentially denied having any knowledge that Hill participated in the scheme. The prosecuting attorney also asked Heard questions relating to the payment of Hill's attorney's fees. Heard admitted paying the fees. Hill asserts that, prior to the testimony from Rudolph and Heard, the Government had an extremely weak case,¹⁸  and that by asking the questions, the prosecuting attorney gave the mistaken impression that Hill was a major participant in the scheme.

In reviewing allegedly improper inquiries by the Government, we must assess the impact of the questions in the context of the entire trial. United States v. Davis, 546 F.2d 583, 593 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 431 U.S. 906, 97 S. Ct. 1701, 52 L. Ed. 2d 391 (1977). Nothing in the record indicates that the questions were asked in an attempt to intentionally mislead the jury. See United States v. Phillips, 664 F.2d 971, 1030 (5th Cir. 1981). In fact, the questions, particularly those addressed to Rudolph, appear to be nothing more than good faith attempts to determine the scope of Hill's involvement in the fraudulent scheme.¹⁹  Furthermore, any harm that might have been caused by the questions was obviated by the negative responses given by the witnesses. See United States v. Roe, 670 F.2d 956, 968 (11th Cir. 1982). Thus we are unable to conclude that the questions were either prejudicial or asked in bad faith.

Defendant Ticey asserts that the trial judge erred by failing to mention use of the mails in the charge relating to conspiracy to commit mail fraud. Significantly, defendant cites no authority for the argument. We have thoroughly reviewed the entire charge and conclude that, read as a whole, the charge constitutes an accurate statement of the law and issues. See United States v. Pool, supra, 660 F.2d 547. Accordingly, the argument is without merit.

For the reasons stated herein, the defendants' convictions are AFFIRMED.