Free Motion to Sever Defendant - District Court of Colorado - Colorado

Case 1:04-cr-00403-LTB

Document 794

Filed 06/08/2006

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLORADO Criminal Case No. 04-cr-00403-LBT UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff, v. 5. JOSE ALFREDO ZAPATA, et al, Defendants. ________________________________________________________________________ RENEWED MOTION TO SEVER ________________________________________________________________________ Comes now Defendant Jose Alfredo Zapata, through counsel, Richard J. Banta, and, pursuant to Rules 14 and 47, Fed. R. Cr. P, respectfully moves the Court for an Order granting this Motion. In support of such Motion, Defendant states the following: 1. Defendant is named in only counts 1, 29, and 30 (August 14th, 2004) and 32 and 33 (August 22nd, 2004) of this 52 count Indictment. 2. Defendant was not named in the original wiretap applications. 3. A review of the discovery in this case reveals minimal evidence against Jose Alfredo Zapata. 4. For example, in the government's James Submission in which there are listed 338 alleged co-conspirator statements picked up on the wire taps, only two calls-numbers 281 (August, 14, 2004) and 304 (August 20, 2004)- relate to conversations purportedly involving Jose Alfredo Zapata..

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5. As the case and evidence become better defined for trial, what becomes increasingly clear is the enormous discrepancy in the quantity and quality of evidence that may pertain to Mr. Jose Alfredo Zapata versus the other Defendants. 6. For example, the Government's preliminary exhibit list sets forth over 500 potential trial exhibits, including phone calls. 7. Of these 500 plus exhibits, only a very small percentage are arguably directly relevant to Jose Alfredo Zapata.. 8. Of particular importance in this regard are large quantities of cocaine that were seized in 2003 from Kenneth Lyons, and early 2004 from Jesus Mejia. 9. As noted, supra, Mr. Zapata was not named on the initial wiretap applications, and in fact, he was not named as an interceptee until the Application for a Third Extension on Cellular Telephone Three in August of 2004. 10. It is also important to note at the time of Mr. Zapata's arrest and the search of his business and residence, no evidence was seized that traditionally is found in the possession of those involved in drug trafficking, such as drugs, scales, large amounts of cash, packaging material, customer books, weapons., and so forth. 11. Rule 14, Fed. R. Cr. P., provides, inter alia, "If the joinder of offenses or defendants...appears to prejudice a defendant..., the court may order separate trials of counts, sever the defendant's trials, or provide any other relief that justice requires." (emphasis added).

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12. The overwhelming amount of evidence that exists in this case as to the other defendants will spillover and severely prejudice Jose Alfredo Zapata's constitutional right to a fair and impartial trial. See United States v. Butler, 494 F.2d 1246 (10th Cir 1974). 13. It is submitted further that limiting instructions will not neutralize the prejudicial spillover impact of evidence unrelated to Mr. Zapata. 14. This is particularly true with respect to currently unmarked exhibits of the Beretta 9MM Semi-Automatic pistol and the Bersa .380 Semi-Automatic pistols seized from the attic of 6575 Meade Court in Arvada, Colorado on August 31, 2004... 15. It is respectfully submitted that the Court should grant this Motion and hold a separate trial as to Defendant Jose Alfredo Zapata. Wherefore, Defendant Zapata respectfully prays that the Court enter an Order granting this Motion, and granting such further relief as the court deems just and proper.

Respectfully submitted,

/s/Richard J. Banta Richard J. Banta 1361 Elizabeth St. Denver, CO 80206 303-860-8048

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I hereby certify that on June 8th , 2006 I electronically filed the foregoing motion with the Clerk of Court using the CM/ECF system which will send notification of such filing to the following e-mail addresses:

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· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·

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Mitchell Baker [email protected] [email protected] Thomas K. Carberry [email protected] James A. Castle [email protected] [email protected] Lisabeth Perez Castle [email protected] [email protected] Robert Justin Driscoll [email protected] [email protected] Charles W. Elliott [email protected] [email protected] Martha Horwitz Eskesen [email protected] Jennifer L. Gedde [email protected] Daniel P. Gerash [email protected] [email protected] Walter L. Gerash [email protected] [email protected] Mark Cameron Johnson [email protected] Forrest W. Lewis [email protected] Donald L. Lozow [email protected] Neil E. MacFarlane [email protected] Jeffrey S. Pagliuca [email protected] [email protected] Lynn Anne Pierce [email protected] Stephanie Podolak [email protected] [email protected];[email protected] Scott T. Poland [email protected] Michael Gary Root [email protected] James F. Scherer [email protected] Harvey Abe Steinberg [email protected] [email protected] John F. Sullivan, III [email protected]

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· · · ·

Richard L. Tegtmeier [email protected] [email protected] E. Richard Toray [email protected] [email protected] Jonathan S. Willett [email protected] [email protected] Earl Sherwood Wylder [email protected] [email protected]

and I hereby certify that I have mailed or served the document or paper to the following non CM/ECF participant in the manner (mail, hand-delivery) indicated by the nonparticipant's name: Angelica B. Carreon Angelica B. Carreon, P.C. 210 North Campbell El Paso, TX 79901 Lucia Consuelo Gallery Isaacson Rosenbaum, P.C. 633 - 17th Street #2200 Denver, CO 80202 Charles Louis Roberts Charles Louis Roberts, Attorney at Law 101 South Kansas El Paso, TX 79901 Anita Marcia Springsteen Anita Marcia Springsteen, Attorney at Law 5000 West 13th Avenue Denver, CO 80204

/s/Richard J. Banta____ Richard J. Banta

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