United States v. Campa

[PUBLISH]

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT

________________________ FILED

U.S. COURT OF APPEALS

No. 01-17176 ELEVENTH CIRCUIT

AUG 9, 2006

________________________

THOMAS K. KAHN

CLERK

D. C. Docket No. 98-00721-CR-JAL

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Plaintiff-Appellee,

versus

RUBEN CAMPA,

a.k.a. John Doe 3,

a.k.a. Vicky,

a.k.a. Camilo,

a.k.a. Oscar,

RENE GONZALEZ,

a.k.a. Iselin,

a.k.a. Castor,

GERARDO HERNANDEZ,

a.k.a. Giro,

a.k.a. Manuel Viramontez,

a.k.a. John Doe 1,

a.k.a. Manuel Viramontes,

LUIS MEDINA,

a.k.a. Oso,

a.k.a. Johnny,

a.k.a. Allan,

a.k.a. John Doe 2,

ANTONIO GUERRERO,

a.k.a. Rolando Gonzalez-Diaz,

a.k.a. Lorient,

Defendants-Appellants.

________________________

No. 03-11087

_________________________

D. C. Docket No. 00721-CR-JAL

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Plaintiff-Appellee,

versus

GERARDO HERNANDEZ,

a.k.a. Giro, a.k.a. Manuel Viramontez,

a.k.a. John Doe 1, a.k.a. Manuel Viramontes,

LUIS MEDINA,

a.k.a. Oso, a.k.a. Johnny, a.k.a. Allan,

a.k.a. John Doe 2,

RENE GONZALEZ,

a.k.a. Iselin, a.k.a. Castor,

ANTONIO GUERRERO,

a.k.a. Rolando Gonzalez-Diaz, a.k.a. Lorient,

RUBEN CAMPA,

a.k.a. John Doe 3, a.k.a. Vicky, a.k.a. Camilo, a.k.a. Oscar,

Defendants-Appellants.

________________________

Appeals from the United States District Court

for the Southern District of Florida

_________________________

(August 9, 2006)

Before EDMONDSON, Chief Judge, and TJOFLAT, BIRCH, DUBINA, BLACK,

CARNES, BARKETT, HULL, MARCUS, WILSON, PRYOR and KRAVITCH*,

Circuit Judges.

________________________

* Senior Circuit Judge Kravitch elected to participate in this decision pursuant to 28

U.S.C. § 46(c).

2

WILSON, Circuit Judge:

This case involves the Miami trial and conviction of five defendants for

acting and conspiring to act as unregistered Cuban intelligence agents working

within the United States and for conspiring to commit murder. The defendants,

Ruben Campa, Rene Gonzalez, Gerardo Hernandez, Luis Medina, and Antonio

Guerrero, appealed their convictions and sentences, arguing that the pervasive

community prejudice against the Cuban government and its agents and the

publicity surrounding the trial that existed in Miami prevented them from

obtaining a fair and impartial trial. We reviewed this case en banc to determine

whether the district court abused its discretion when it denied their multiple

motions for change of venue and for new trial. We now affirm.1

I. BACKGROUND

A. The Indictments

On September 12, 1998, the five defendants were arrested, and were

1

The defendants raised the following additional issues on appeal: prosecutorial

misconduct regarding the testimony of a government witness and during closing argument;

improper use of the Classified Information Procedures Act; improper denial of a motion to

suppress fruits of searches under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act; Batson violations;

insufficiency of the evidence regarding the conspiracy to transmit national defense information to

Cuba, violations of the Foreign Services Registration Act, and conspiracy to commit murder;

improper denial of a motion to dismiss Count 3 based on Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act

jurisdictional grounds; improper denial of jury instructions regarding specific intent, necessity,

and justification; and sentencing errors. We remand this case to the panel for consideration of

these outstanding issues.

3

subsequently indicted on October 2, 1998, for acting and conspiring to act as

agents of the Republic of Cuba without prior notification to the Attorney General

of the United States in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 951(a) and 2 and 28 C.F.R. § 73.1

et seq., and of defrauding the United States concerning its governmental functions,

in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371.2 The indictment alleged:

[The defendants] function[ed] as covert spies serving the interests of

the government of the Republic of Cuba within the United States by

gathering and transmitting information to the Cuban government

concerning United States military installations, government functions

and private political activity; by infiltrating, informing on and

manipulating anti-Castro Cuban political groups in Miami-Dade

County; by sowing disinformation within these political groups and in

dealings with United States private and public institutions; and by

carrying out other operational directives of the Cuban government.3

Hernandez, Medina, and Guerrero were also charged with conspiring to deliver to

Cuba “information relating to the national defense of the United States, . . .

intending and having reason to believe that the [information] would be used to the

injury of the United States and to the advantage of [Cuba],” in violation of 18

U.S.C. §§ 794(a), (c), and 2.4 Hernandez was also indicted for conspiracy to

2

R1-224. The government filed a second superceding indictment on May 7, 1999. Id.

3

Id. at 3-4.

4

Id. at 11-13.

4

perpetrate murder in the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United

States, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1111 and 2, in connection with the Cuban

military’s shootdown of two United States-registered civilian aircraft on February

24, 1996, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1117 and 2.5 Hernandez, Medina, and

Campa were indicted for possession of a counterfeit United States passport, in

violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1546(a) and 2, and possession of fraudulent

identification documents in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1028(a)(3), (b)(2)(B), (c)(3),

and 2.6 Medina was indicted for making a false statement to obtain a United States

passport, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1542 and 2.7 Hernandez, Medina, and

Campa were indicted for causing individuals they oversaw to act as unregistered

foreign agents without prior notification to the Attorney General, in violation of

18 U.S.C. §§ 951 and 2 and 28 C.F.R. § 73.1 et seq.8 Their trial was set to proceed

in the Southern District of Florida in Miami.

Shortly after the indictments were returned and upon the government’s

motion, on October 20, 1998, the court entered a gag order ordering all parties and

5

Id. at 13-16.

6

Id. at 16-22.

7

Id. at 20.

8

Id. at 23-31.

5

their attorneys to abide by Southern District of Florida Local Rule 77.2.9 The

parties and their attorneys were ordered to “refrain from releasing ‘information or

opinion which a reasonable person would expect to be disseminated by means of

public communication, in connection with pending or imminent criminal

litigation’ where ‘ such dissemination will interfere with a fair trial or otherwise

prejudice the due administration of justice.’”10

B. Pretrial Change of Venue Motions

On August 16, 1999, Medina filed a motion for authorization of funds to

conduct a survey of the Miami-Dade County community, as a predicate for a

motion for change of venue.11 Medina requested authorization to engage Florida

International University Psychology Professor Gary Patrick Moran for $9,500 to

conduct a poll of a representative sample of the population of Miami-Dade County

to determine whether it was a fair venue for the trial.12 Moran proposed a

“standard” telephone poll of 300 people.13 The district court granted Medina’s

9

2SR1-122 at 1.

10

Id. at 1-2 (quoting S.D. Fla. L.R. 77.2(A)(1)).

11

R1-275.

12

R1-280 at 3.

13

Id.

6

motion.14

In January of 2000, Campa, Gonzalez, Guerrero, and Medina each moved

for a change of venue out of the Southern District of Florida.15 They argued that

they would be denied due process and a fair trial with an impartial jury as a result

of the pervasive community prejudice in Miami against anyone associated with the

Cuban government.16 In support of their motions, they submitted the results of

Professor Moran’s survey and numerous news articles.17

Moran’s survey consisted of 11 opinion and 21 demographic questions

designed “to examine prejudice against anyone alleged to have assisted the Castro

Cuban government in espionage activities.”18 Focus On Miami, a data collection

company located in Miami-Dade County, was retained to conduct the survey by

telephone.19 In Section 1 of the survey, the interviewer made a series of 11

statements and questions regarding the defendants’ alleged illegal conduct and

14

R2-303.

15

R2-317, 321, 324, 329, 334; R3-397, 455.

16

See id. Later, at oral argument on the motions, they agreed that they would be satisfied

with a transfer of the case within the Southern District of Florida from the Miami Division to the

Fort Lauderdale Division. R5-586 at 2, n.1.

17

See id.

18

R2-321, Ex.A at 16.

19

Id. at Ex.C at 1.

7

general statements about Cuba and Castro to which the respondent was instructed

to answer either “agree strongly,” “agree,” “disagree,” “disagree strongly,” or

“don’t know.”20 In Section 2 of the survey, the interviewer asked a series of 21

demographic questions designed to gather information about the respondent’s

background, lifestyle, media exposure, and involvement in pro- or anti-Cuba

20

Id. at Ex.D at 1-3. The interviewer began each survey by stating, “We are conducting a

survey of south Florida voters to see how they feel about the upcoming trial of some people

charged in federal court with spying for Castro’s Cuba. Your house has been randomly selected

to provide a participant for this survey.” Id. at 1. The interviewer then asked whether the

interviewee was “aware of the case involving the alleged Cuban spies who were arrested in

Miami?” Id. The interview then proceeded with Section 1 of the survey, which included the

following statements and questions:

1. Cuban born persons carrying false identification documents and engaging in intelligence

gathering activities in south Florida are Castro spies.

2. These defendants are charged with setting up the ambush of the Brothers to the Rescue

planes in which four people were killed. This type of activity is characteristic of the

Castro regime.

3. The aim of Castro is to undermine legitimate Cuban exile organizations.

4. An aim of Castro is to infiltrate U.S. military bases in South Florida.

5. Castro’s agents have attempted to disrupt peaceful demonstrations such as the

Movimiento Democracia’s flotillas which honor fallen comrades.

6. Castro’s Cuba is an enemy of the United States.

7. Castro poses a real threat to the lives of Cuban [sic] exiles.

8. Castro’s spies should not be given a public trial if this threatened national security.

9. Because of my feelings and opinions about Castro’s government I would find it difficult

to be a fair and impartial juror in a trial of alleged Cuban spies.

10. You have told me that you would find it (difficult/not difficult) to be a fair and impartial

juror. Are there any circumstances that would change your opinion? If so, what?

11. Suppose your jury found these spy defendants not guilty. How worried would you be that

you might be criticized in your community?

Id. at 2-3.

8

groups.21

According to Professor Moran, the results of the survey indicated that 69%

(with a sampling error of 5.3%) of eligible jurors were prejudiced.22 Around 40%

of the respondents (60% of the Hispanic respondents) “indicate[d] that they would

find it difficult to be impartial.”23 Around 90% “would not change their minds

21

Id. at 3-5. Section 2 of the survey asked the following questions:

12. In what community do you live?

13. What is your zip code?

14. In what country were you born?

15. How long have you lived in South Florida?

16. Do you subscribe to, buy, or read a daily newspaper?

17. If you read a daily newspaper is it in English or Spanish?

18. Do you regularly listen to the news on the radio?

19. If you listen to the news on the radio is it in English or Spanish?

20. Do you regularly watch the news on the television?

21. If you watch the news on television is it in English or Spanish?

22. Do you have close friends or family members in Cuba now?

23. Are you an active member of any Pro-Cuba/Anti-Castro groups?

24. Do you donate money to Pro-Cuba/Anti-Castro groups or causes?

25. What is (was) your occupation?

26. What is your age today?

27. What is your marital status today? . . .

28. What is the highest level of education that you have COMPLETED? . . .

29. Aside from the political party with which you are registered, how would you describe

your current political views or beliefs? . . .

30. Which [ethnicity] best describes your background? . . .

31. Which [monetary range] best describes your total household annual income . . . .

32. Respondent’s sex.

Id.

22

Id. at Ex.A at 16.

23

Id.

9

under any circumstances.”24 Finally, approximately one-third of the respondents

were “at least somewhat worried about community criticism in the event of a ‘not

guilty’ verdict.”25 Based on these results, Professor Moran concluded the

following:

I conclude . . . to a reasonable scientific certitude that a change of

venue from the Miami Division of the Southern Federal District of

Florida is the only viable means of assuring the defendant a fair and

impartial jury. The results of the survey suggest that a jury chosen

from the District will hold firm opinions prejudicial to this defendant

that cannot be put aside. A reasonable likelihood of prejudice

endangering the right to a fair trial exists.26

Moran further noted that two prior surveys from the early 1980's and from 1997,

which also evaluated the Southern District of Florida, reached similar

conclusions.27 According to Moran, this suggested that prejudicial opinions in the

Southern District of Florida were “fixed” and “[could not] be set aside.”28

In addition to Moran’s survey, the defendants also submitted numerous

newspaper articles on their case and other Cuba-related issues.29 They argued that

24

Id.

25

Id.

26

Id.

27

Id. at 8-11, 16.

28

Id. at 11.

29

R2-317, 321, 324, 329, 334; R3-397, 455.

10

these articles demonstrated that the community atmosphere is “so pervasively

inflamed” that “resort to questioning in the cool reflection of a courtroom is not

sufficient to cleanse the record.”30

The government opposed the defendants’ change of venue motion and

maintained that an extensive voir dire of prospective jurors would ensure a fair

and impartial jury.31 It disputed that pervasive community prejudice existed and

instead argued that the Miami-Dade population was “heterogenous” and “highly

diverse.”32 It further noted that many of the news articles that the defendants

submitted either did not relate to the instant case, or were accurate, objective, and

unemotional.33 The news coverage “pale[d] in comparison” with the biased

coverage and sensationalism found in the rare cases in which previous courts had

found presumed prejudice.34

The government further argued that Professor Moran’s survey was

unreliable due to numerous flaws in his procedures and conclusions.35 In

30

R2-317 at 3.

31

R3-443 at 3.

32

Id. at 11.

33

Id. at 5, n.3.

34

Id.

35

Id. at 6-12.

11

particular, it disputed Professor Moran’s reliance on the two surveys that were

used in prior, unrelated cases, which concluded that a substantial prejudice existed

in the Southern District of Florida against defendants alleged to have helped the

Castro government.36 The first was the survey put forth in support of an

unsuccessful change of venue motion in United States v. Fuentes-Coba,37 a case

involving illegal shipments of goods in violation of the Trading with the Enemy

Act. We affirmed the district court’s refusal to change venue, after the court

reviewed the survey, determined no pervasive community prejudice had been

shown, and conducted a thorough voir dire, thus ensuring a fair and impartial

jury.38 The government argued here that the court should follow this course of

action by proceeding to voir dire to explore any potential jury bias.39 The second

survey that Moran relied on was the one he designed for United States v. Broder,40

another Trading with the Enemy Act case involving Cuba in which the district

court denied the defendants’ motion for change of venue. One of the Broder

defendants proceeded to trial and was acquitted of all charges, disproving Moran’s

36

Id. at 6-9.

37

738 F.2d 1191, 1194 (11th Cir. 1984).

38

Id. at 1195.

39

R3-443 at 7.

40

No. 97-267 (S.D. Fla. 1997).

12

conclusion that the Miami-Dade jury pool was hopelessly prejudiced against

defendants charged with associating with Castro’s Cuba.41 In other words, the

government argued that the very surveys which Moran relied upon in the instant

case discredited his theory and instead demonstrated that Miami-Dade jurors

would base their verdict on evidence, not prejudices.42

The government argued that Moran’s survey was not well-designed, did not

measure prejudice accurately, and engaged in broad, unsupported characterizations

of the South Florida community.43 For example, the government noted the near-

verbatim similarity between Moran’s Broder survey and affidavit and his survey

and affidavit in the present case, suggesting that Moran’s conclusions revealed

“the foreordained conclusions of a predisposed and partisan expert, who has not

even bothered to change the wording of his purportedly scientific results.”44 Many

41

R3-443 at 7.

42

Id.

43

Id. at 8-9.

44

Id. at 8. The government noted the close similarity between the two surveys and the

“echo-like nature” of Moran’s affidavit by referencing the following example. Id. In Moran’s

1997 Broder affidavit, Moran concluded:

Inability to be Fair and Impartial

Finally, note item 14:

“Because of my feelings and opinions about the U.S. trade embargo on

Cuba, I would find it difficult to be a fair and impartial juror in a case

13

of the questions were ambiguous or were written in non-neutral terms, which

demonstrated Moran’s failure to follow scientific procedures.45 To further support

its position, the government submitted the affidavit and curriculum vitae of

Professor J. Daniel McKnight46 who opined that Professor Moran’s Broder survey

“lack[ed] empirical rigor, scientific validity and provide[d] no estimation of its

scientific reliability.”47 Although McKnight’s analysis was of the Broder survey

and affidavit, McKnight’s evaluation was germane to the instant case given the

about an alleged violation of the Cuban embargo.”

Circa 59% of the respondents are unable to agree that they can be

impartial. This is very unusual!

Id. at Ex.A at 15. By comparison, Moran’s affidavit in the present case uses similar language

and structure:

Inability to be Fair and Impartial

Finally, note item 9:

‘Because of my feelings and opinions about Castro’s government, I would

find it difficult to be a fair and impartial juror in a trial of alleged Cuban

spies.”

Circa 39.6% (57.4% of the Hispanic subsample) of the respondents are

unable to affirm that they would be impartial and fair. This is very

unusual!

R2-321, Ex.A at 12.

45

R4-443 at 9-11.

46

Id. at Ex.B at 1. Professor McKnight is a social psychologist specializing in social

perception, research methodology, and psychometrics. Id.

47

Id. at Ex. B at 2.

14

striking similarities between two sets of surveys and affidavits.48

Following extensive oral argument, on June 27, 2000, the district court

denied the defendants’ motion without prejudice, finding that they had failed to

present sufficient evidence “to raise a presumption of prejudice against [them] as

would impair their right to a fair trial by an impartial jury in Miami-Dade

County.”49 The court found that most of the news articles related to events other

than the defendants’ alleged activities, and that except for articles regarding the

codefendants’ sentences and one editorial noting the Brothers to the Rescue

shootdown anniversary, the articles about the shootdown were more than one year

old and were largely factual.50 Accordingly, the court found that pretrial publicity

was not sufficiently pervasive and inflammatory to raise a presumption of

prejudice.51

48

Id. at 9.

49

R5-586 at 16.

50

Id. at 11. Brothers to the Rescue is a Miami-based Cuban exile group founded in 1991

to rescue rafters fleeing Cuba in the Straits of Florida and to bring them to the United States. See

id. at 2; R80 at 8836-37. On February 24, 1996, three Brothers to the Rescue planes flew into the

Florida Straits, toward Cuba, in search of reported rafters. R83 at 9161-70. When the three

planes reached international airspace between the United States and Cuba, Cuban military ground

control authorized Cuban aircraft to fire on and destroy the Brothers to the Rescue planes. Id. at

9181-85; Govt. Ex. 483 at 8-16. The Cuban military aircraft shot down two of the planes, but

one escaped. Id.

51

R5-586 at 11.

15

The court also found Professor Moran’s survey and affidavit insufficient to

establish pervasive community prejudice for six reasons.52 The court faulted the

survey for: (1) including respondents who were completely unaware of this case in

quantifying alleged community prejudice against the defendants; (2) failing to

measure prejudice toward a particularized group of people, i.e., a “social target,”

making prejudice calculations “unreliable” and “without substantial support”; (3)

failing to use neutral terminology, contrary to standard scientific procedure; (4)

asking ambiguous questions; and (5) using an inadequate sample size,

representing only 0.003% of eligible Miami-Dade jurors.53 “[M]ost significantly,”

Professor Moran relied on the same study that we rejected in Fuentes-Coba to

bolster his conclusion that community prejudice existed in Miami-Dade.54 Under

these circumstances, the court was unwilling to afford the survey and Professor

Moran’s conclusion the weight attributed by the defendants.55 However, the court

promised a thorough voir dire and invited the defendants to renew their motions if

52

Id. at 13-15.

53

Id.

54

Id. at 15.

55

Id. at 13-14.

16

voir dire showed “that a fair and impartial jury [could not] be empaneled.”56

C. Voir Dire

The case proceeded to voir dire. The court held two status conferences to

develop the voir dire questions.57 Although the defendants stipulated to the

government’s proposed questions,58 the parties argued at length regarding the

terminology of the questions and made suggestions for revisions.59 The court

deliberated extensively and carefully over the questions, keeping in mind the

defendants’ unsuccessful motions for change of venue: “I promised you all and

56

Id. at 17. On September 15, 2000, Campa moved for reconsideration of the denial of

the motion for change of venue, arguing that the court failed to consider how the defendants’

theory of defense affected their ability to receive a fair trial in Miami. R5-656. The court denied

reconsideration without prejudice, stating that it had previously addressed the defendants’

arguments. R6-723 at 2. The court explained that it could explore any potential bias during voir

dire examination and carefully instruct the jurors during the trial. Id. The court again invited the

defendants to renew their motion for change of venue, if it determined after voir dire that a fair

and impartial jury could not be empaneled. Id. at 2-3.

57

1SR1; 1SR2.

58

1SR1 at 42.

59

1SR1; 1SR2. One of the most heated debates was whether and how the court should

question prospective jurors’ support of pro- or anti-Castro political groups, and whether the court

should specifically delineate nine of those groups, a question suggested by the defendants. 1SR2

at 63-74; 1SR1 at 48-55. Over the government’s objection that such a question improperly

implied an association between the Brothers to the Rescue and other historically violent groups,

the court decided to include the question. 1SR1 at 51-54. Another debate centered around

whether and how the court should question prospective jurors who formerly lived in Cuba

regarding how they came to live in the United States. 1SR1 at 29-36. The defendants suggested

that the court ask whether they had an exit visa because those who left Cuba illegally would have

a different outlook on the case than those who left the country legally. 1SR1 at 29-30, 35. The

government objected, arguing that such questions would make the prospective jurors feel

extremely uncomfortable, but the court decided to ask the question anyway. 1SR1 at 32-33, 35.

17

[e]specially the defendants when I denied your motions for change of venue, that I

would consider extensively your request for voir dire . . . .”60 Ultimately, the court

developed an exhaustive list of questions for a two-phase voir dire.61 The court

noted, “[m]ore questions are being asked of this jury as far as their background

than questions that are ever asked or have been asked of jurors that certainly have

appeared before me in cases; but I have agreed that this is a case that requires

additional inquiry and certainly there is additional inquiry here . . . .”62

Phase one would consist of the general questioning of the voir dire, which

was aimed at determining the jurors’ qualifications to serve in the case.63 During

this phase, panels of approximately 34 prospective jurors would be in the

courtroom at a time.64 The court would ask the group a set of 16 general

questions, and then each juror would read aloud to the court their answers to a 28-

question written questionnaire.65 It would ask additional, follow-up questions

60

1SR2 at 73-74.

61

1SR1 at 5.

62

1SR1 at 29.

63

Id. at 5.

64

Id. at 9.

65

Id. at 5; R6-766.

18

when necessary.66 The court rejected the parties’ requests for attorney-conducted

voir dire, and determined that it would ask all of the questions during both phases

of the voir dire.67 The court did, however, promise to inquire whether there were

any additional questions that the parties wished the court to ask any individual

juror, or the panel as a whole, after the completion of the general questions and the

questionnaires.68 The parties would then exercise challenges for cause and

hardship for each panel.69

Once the court had questioned several venire panels of 34 prospective

jurors, it would proceed to phase two with the remaining jurors who had not been

challenged for cause or for hardship.70 During phase two, small groups of

approximately ten jurors would be instructed to be present in the lobby of the

courtroom at staggered times throughout the day, and one-by-one the jurors would

enter the courtroom for individual questioning.71 The court would individually

66

1SR1 at 5.

67

Id. at 4.

68

Id.

69

Id. at 5.

70

Id.

71

Id. at 7.

19

pose a set of 20 “community impact” questions72 and 7

72

The “community impact” questions consisted of the following:

1. The charges in this case include allegations that the defendants were agents acting on

behalf of the Republic of Cuba. Is there anything about that proposition that would affect

your ability fairly and impartially to consider the evidence in this case and the court’s

instructions?

2. Witnesses may be called in this case who have admitted to spying as agents for Cuba or

who are members of the Cuban military or government. Would you automatically

disbelieve such a witness regardless of their testimony or without comparing it with other

witnesses or physical evidence in this case?

3. Do you know of any reason why you may be prejudiced for or against the United States or

the defendants because of the nature of the charges? Or because of any other reason?

4. Have you ever lived in Cuba? Under what circumstances did you come to the United

States? When did you leave? Did you have an exit visa?

5. Have any of your family members or close friends lived in Cuba? Under what

circumstances did they come to the United States?

6. Do you have family or close friends living in Cuba at this time?

7. Do you have any relatives or close friends who were ever politically involved in Cuba?

When? What did they do?

8. Have you, a member of your family, or a close friend traveled to Cuba?

9. If you are chosen as a juror in this case, would you be concerned about returning a verdict

of guilty or not guilty because of how other members of your community might view

you?

10. Can you return a verdict in this case based only on the evidence and the court’s

instructions, without being concerned over the impact the verdict might have on any

individuals or community, in the United States, in Cuba, or anywhere?

11. Do you have an opinion about the current government of Cuba? What is that opinion?

How strong is that opinion? Will that opinion affect your ability to weigh the evidence

and the court’s instructions in this case fairly and with an open mind?

12. Do you have an opinion about the way the United States handles its relations with Cuba?

(for example the embargo against Cuba, the immigration policy or diplomatic relations)

What is that opinion? How strong is that opinion? Will that opinion affect your ability to

weigh the evidence and the court’s instructions in this case fairly and with an open mind?

13. Are you or a relative or close friend a member of a group whose principal purpose is to

advocate a position about Cuba or American policy towards Cuba? What group? Have

you ever contributed money or time to this group?

14. Have you contributed money or time or do you support any of the following groups:

P.U.N.D.

Antonio Maceo Brigade

Alpha 66

Cuban Workers Alliance

20

“pretrial publicity” questions73 to each juror. These questions centered around

Omega 7

Miami Committee for Lifting the Cuban Embargo

The Democracy Movement

Brothers to the Rescue

Cuban American National Foundation

15. Do you have an opinion about the Cuban exile community in the United States? What is

that opinion? How strong is that opinion? Will that opinion affect your ability to weigh

the evidence and the court’s instructions in this case fairly and with an open mind?

16. Do you have an opinion about the Elian Gonzalez case? What is that opinion? How

strong is that opinion? Will that opinion affect your ability to weigh the evidence and the

court’s instructions in this case fairly and with an open mind? Do you understand that the

facts in that case have nothing to do with the facts in this case?

17. As a result of the Elian Gonzalez matter, certain members of the South Florida

community, including some elected officials, publicly voiced their displeasure with the

United States government’s actions in that case. Will those statements, or your own

feelings about the case, affect your ability to give either the defendants or the United

States a fair trial in this case? If so, how?

18. Can you listen to and fairly evaluate the testimony of an individual who is or was closely

allied with the current government of Cuba? Or who perhaps is or was a member of the

communist party in Cuba?

19. If you have negative feelings about any of these issues, can you put those feelings aside

and decide this case based on the evidence presented and the instructions of law as given

by the court?

20. If you were the United States Attorney prosecuting this case, or if you were any of the

defendants, or their counsel, do you know of any reason why you should not select

yourself as a juror?

Gov’t Br. at App. G.

73

The “pretrial publicity” questions consisted of the following:

1. What do you remember hearing, reading or seeing about this case in the news media?

2. What was the source of the information? Which newspaper/radio station/tv station[?]

3. Has anyone ever talked to you about the facts of this case? What additional information

did you get from this source?

4. Based on what you have heard or seen, have you formed any opinion as to whether the

defendants are guilty or not guilty? What is that opinion? Have you ever expressed an

opinion as to the guilt or non-guilt of the defendants? To whom?

5. A jury in a criminal case must base its verdict solely on the evidence presented at trial,

and the instructions provided by the Court. Can you put whatever statements you may

have seen, heard or read out of your mind, and consider this case with an open mind,

21

more sensitive subjects, such as the jurors’ media exposure, knowledge and

opinions of the case, connections to Cuba, the United States policy toward Cuba,

and the Cuban exile community in the United States.74 After the individual

questioning, the parties would be permitted to exercise additional challenges for

cause and hardship, if there were any, and peremptory challenges.75

On November 27, 2000, the trial began, and the voir dire proceeded as

planned.76 During phase one, the court questioned 168 jurors through the oral voir

dire and the written questionnaire to screen for language, hardship, and scheduling

problems.77 The court questioned whether the jurors knew any of the parties,

attorneys, or witnesses in the case, and questioned the jurors on their ability to

based solely on the evidence presented at trial and the instructions provided by the Court?

6. Jurors in this case will be instructed that they must not read, listen to or otherwise allow

themselves to be exposed to any information, news reports, or public or private

discussions about this case, unless and until they have been permanently discharged by

Judge Lenard from serving on the jury. Will you be able to follow such an instruction?

7. If you are chosen as a juror in this case will you be able to return a verdict of guilty or not

guilty unaffected by the possibility that any verdict would receive news media attention?

Id.

74

See id.

75

1SR1 at 7.

76

See R21.

77

R21–R24.

22

reach a verdict based solely on the evidence and the court’s instructions.78 Based

on these generalized questions, the court struck 49 jurors for cause; 10 due to the

court’s concern over their ability to be fair and impartial because of their opinions

regarding Cuba or their acquaintance with persons involved in the case, and the

remaining 39 for hardship, health, or language problems.79

In phase two, the court individually questioned 82 prospective jurors.80

Jurors who had heard media accounts about the case were asked to provide details

regarding their exposure.81 The court asked probing questions to potential jury

members who acknowledged having opinions about Cuba to determine whether

those opinions would affect their ability to weigh the evidence and follow the

court’s instructions.82 As promised, the court asked additional, follow-up

questions sua sponte and when the parties requested.83 At the conclusion of phase

two, the court struck an additional 30 potential jurors for cause: 22 were struck for

Cuba-related animus and the remaining 8 were dismissed for reasons unrelated to

78

Id.

79

Id.

80

R25-28.

81

Id.

82

Id.

83

Id.

23

attitudes about Cuba or the defendants.84

The court and the parties then proceeded to peremptory challenges. The

court twice granted the defendants’ requests for additional peremptory challenges,

giving the defendants a total of 18 and the government 11, and 2 each for

alternates.85 However, the defendants exercised only 15 of their 18 challenges to

the jury pool, as well as their two allotted alternate challenges, to excuse jurors

whose answers revealed biases against them.86 The defendants struck every

Cuban-American prospective juror, notwithstanding the government’s reverse-

Batson objection.87

The voir dire lasted seven days. On each day of the voir dire, before every

recess, and at the end of every day, the court admonished prospective jurors not to

discuss the case amongst themselves or with others, not to have contact with

anyone associated with the trial, and not to expose themselves, read, or listen to

anything related to the case.88

During the lunch break on the first day of voir dire, the court observed that

84

Id.

85

1SR2 at 75; 1SR1 at 5-6, 11; R27 at 1382.

86

R28 at 1513.

87

Id. at 1508-11.

88

See R21-28.

24

the family members of the victims of the Brothers to the Rescue shootdown were

congregated in front of the press, immediately outside the courthouse.89 The

family members’ statements were “fairly innocuous” in that they merely

commented that “they were looking forward to the jury process going forward.”90

Some of the jurors were approached by the media as they were leaving the

courthouse,91 but they were not interviewed.92 Regardless, the court instructed that

it would no longer permit the victims’ families to be present during voir dire “if

there are efforts made to pollute the jury pool”93 and instructed the government to

speak to the victims’ families regarding their conduct.94 The court entered a

sequestration order precluding witnesses from speaking with each other and with

the media about the case.95 It also extended the gag order to “all [trial]

participants, lawyers, witnesses, family members of the victims” and clarified that

it covered all “statements or information which is intended to influence public

89

R7-978 at 3.

90

R23 at 194.

91

R21 at 111-12; R62 at 6575-76.

92

R23 at 194.

93

R21 at 113.

94

Id.

95

Id. at 117-19.

25

opinion or the jury regarding the merits of the case.”96 The court thereafter

instructed the jurors to remove their juror tags as they left the courtroom, and

instructed the marshals to accompany the jurors out of the building.97 The court

sealed the voir dire questions during the jury selection so as to prevent the media

from accessing them.98

Later that day, when a copy of the Miami Herald, which contained an article

about the case, was found in the jury assembly room, the court ordered the

newspaper removed.99 The following day, Guerrero’s counsel reported that he had

viewed one of the potential jurors reading the article while in the courtroom.100

The district court responded that “[t]he issue is not whether [venire] persons have

read or been exposed to publicity about the case of the defendants, but whether

they have formed an opinion based upon what they have read. We will go into all

of this as we go through individual voir dires.”101 Later, a potential juror who

96

R7-978 at 3, 7; R64 at 6759-60.

97

R21 at 112.

98

R24 at 625-26.

99

R21 at 171.

100

R23 at 195-97. This juror was later stricken for cause as a result of his personal

knowledge of Jose Basulto, a Brothers to the Rescue pilot and witness in this case. R24 at 537-

40.

101

R23 at 197.

26

evidenced prejudice was isolated and removed from the venire so as to eliminate

contact with other potential jurors.102

The court also issued assigned seating in the courtroom.103 The government

agents were assigned to the first row, the victims’ families were seated in the

second row and were removed from the government attorneys, the defendants’

families were seated in the third row, and the back row was designated for the

media.104

At the conclusion of voir dire, the district court empaneled the jury without

objection.105 The defendants did not renew their motions for change of venue,

despite the court’s prior invitations.106 Instead, Medina’s counsel complimented

the manner in which the court conducted the voir dire stating, “The Court’s

conduct of this voir dire both in terms of its planning and its execution has been

extraordinary. What we have accomplished here in the last seven days or six days

has been more than I think the defense anticipated we would be able to do.”107 He

102

Id. at 300-10.

103

R25 at 717.

104

Id.

105

R29 at 1564.

106

R5-586 at 17; R6-723 at 2-3.

107

R27 at 1373.

27

added, “quite frankly, if Professor Moran could interrogate his pool members the

way this Court has interrogated some of the prospective jurors, the social sciences

wouldn’t be soft sciences, they would be hard sciences.”108 He admitted,

“[g]enerally . . . the people who prejudged or who had strong opinions were candid

about them.”109 Later in the trial, when faced with the prospect of a juror being

dismissed due to scheduling problems, the defendants vigorously objected without

even knowing the juror’s identity.110 The court retained the juror at the

defendants’ insistence.111 The defendants reiterated their satisfaction with the voir

dire stating, “[w]e worked very hard to pick this jury and we got a jury we are very

happy with.”112

D. The Trial

At trial, the government presented evidence113 that revealed that the

108

Id. at 1374.

109

Id. at 1375.

110

R104 at 12094.

111

Id.

112

Id. at 12092.

113

The original panel of this court will consider the remaining issues on appeal, including

whether the government presented sufficient evidence to support the defendants’ convictions.

This brief discussion of the evidence is only meant to aid in the discussion of the change of

venue and new trial issues.

28

Directorate of Intelligence, Cuba’s primary intelligence collection agency,

maintained a spy operation in South Florida known as “La Red Avispa,” or the

“The Wasp Network.”114 Campa, Hernandez, and Medina were illegal intelligence

officers of the operation and supervised agents, including agents Gonzalez and

Guerrero.115 The Wasp Network reported information to Cuba on the activities of

anti-Castro organizations in Miami-Dade County,116 the operation of United States

military installations,117 and United States political and law enforcement

activities.118 The operation was also directed to intimidate Cuban-American

individuals and organizations with anonymous letters and threatening telephone

calls;119 to penetrate United States Congressional election activity;120 to scout and

assess potential sources of information and possible new recruits;121 and to carry

communications, cash, and other items between Miami and other United States-

114

R44 at 3703-07.

115

Id. at 3711-13, 3719-23.

116

R45 at 3870-71.

117

R74 at 7910, 7920-21; R46 at 4009-10.

118

R103 at 11907-08, 11911-13.

119

R45 at 3793-99.

120

Govt. Ex. HF 143.

121

Govt. Exs. DG 141 at 6-7; DAV 118 at 14-19.

29

based Directorate of Intelligence officers and agents.122 None of the defendants

notified the United States Attorney General that they were acting as agents of the

Cuban government.123

During the defendants’ case, Hernandez called as a hostile witness Jose

Basulto, founder of Brothers to the Rescue and the pilot of the only plane that

escaped the February, 24, 1996, shootdown.124 After a series of questions about

Basulto’s travel outside of the United States, in which Hernandez’s counsel

suggested that Basulto had attempted to smuggle weapons into Cuba,125 Basulto

retorted, “Are you doing the work of the intelligence government of Cuba [?]”126

Campa’s attorney argued that Basulto’s insinuation was “precisely the kind[] of

problem[] that we were afraid of when we filed our motions for a change of venue

. . . .”127 He argued, “This red baiting is absolutely intolerable, to accuse

[Hernandez’s attorney] because he is doing his job, of being a communist . . . .

These jurors have to be concerned unless they convict these men of every count

122

Govt. Exs. 384, 865.

123

R61 at 6404-15.

124

R80 at 8836-37.

125

R81 at 8944-45.

126

Id. at 8945.

127

Id. at 8947.

30

lodged against them, people like Mr. Basulto who hold positions of authority in

this community . . . are going to . . . accuse them of being Castro sympathizers . . .

.”128 The court struck Basulto’s remark, admonished him, and instructed the jury

to disregard the comment, noting that the remark was “inappropriate and

unfounded” and that Hernandez’s counsel was properly providing “a vigorous

defense for his client.”129

Throughout the trial, the defendants twice renewed their motions for change

of venue through motions for a mistrial based on community events and trial

publicity.130 In February 2001, Campa moved for a mistrial based on activities

during the weekend of February 24, 2001, to honor the fifth anniversary of the

Brothers to the Rescue shootdown, including commemorative flights, as well as

television interviews and newspaper articles regarding that event.131 He argued

that “some news events . . . are so great and are so explosive . . . that any amount

of instructing the jury cannot cure the taint.”132 The government objected, noting

that there was nothing in the record to indicate that the jury had ignored the court’s

128

Id. at 8947-48.

129

Id. at 8945-46, 8955.

130

R70 at 7130-36; R8-1009.

131

R70 at 7130.

132

Id. at 7131.

31

repeated admonitions that they not read or view case-related news accounts.133

The court granted the defendants’ request for a juror inquiry, and asked if any one

of them had seen, heard, read, or been spoken to about any media accounts related

to this case, seeking a show of hands.134 The trial continued after no juror

responded affirmatively.135

On May 24, 2001, the district court denied the pending motions on the basis

of its earlier orders denying a change of venue and finding that “the February 24th

issues and events as well as the reporting of these events do not necessitate and

did not necessitate a change of venue . . . .”136 The court noted that “[t]he jurors

were instructed each and every day . . . at each and every break and at the

conclusion of the day . . . not to read or listen or see anything reflecting on this

matter in any way and there has been no indication that the jurors did not comply

133

Id.

134

Id. at 7136.

135

Id. Two weeks later, on March 1, 2001, the defendants again filed a joint motion for a

mistrial and change of venue, arguing that the events surrounding the anniversary of the Brothers

to the Rescue shootdown “received a great deal of publicity, all of which was biased against the

defendants and consistent with the government’s position at trial.” R8-1009 at 2. They

maintained that “[n]o amount of voir dire or instructions to the jury [could] cure the taint, whose

ripple effects are difficult to measure.” Id. at 5. They also requested a mistrial “so that their trial

can be conducted in a venue where community prejudices against the defendants are not so

deeply embedded and fanned by the local media.” Id.

136

R120 at 13894-95.

32

with that directive by the Court. . . .”137

During closing arguments, the government commented that Hernandez’s

attorney called the Brothers to the Rescue shootdown “the final solution” and

noted that such terminology had been “heard . . . before in the history of

mankind.”138 It argued that the defendants were “bent on destroying the United

States” and were “paid for by the American taxpayer.”139 It summarized that the

defendants had joined a “hostile intelligence bureau . . . that sees the United States

of America as its prime and main enemy” and that the jury was “not operating

under the rule of Cuba, thank God.”140 The defense objections throughout the

closing arguments were sustained.141 The district court instructed the jury to

consider only the evidence admitted during the trial, and to remember that the

lawyers’ comments were not evidence.142

For deliberations, the jury was moved to another floor of the courthouse

137

Id. at 13895.

138

R124 at 14474.

139

Id. at 14482.

140

Id. at 14475.

141

Id. at 14482, 14483, 14493.

142

R125 at 14583.

33

with controlled access.143 No one but the court staff was permitted on the floor.144

The court also denied the media’s request for the names of the twelve jurors.145

When the jurors were filmed leaving the courthouse one day during deliberations,

the court modified the jurors’ entry and their exit from the courthouse to prevent

further exposure to the media.146 The court provided the jurors transportation to

and from their vehicles or mass transit and brought them up to their secured floor

through the courthouse garage.147 The jury deliberated for five days.148 The

defendants were convicted on June 8, 2001.149

E. Post-Trial Motions for Change of Venue and for New Trial

In July and August of 2001, the defendants reasserted their claims of

improper venue in post-trial motions for judgment of acquittal and for new trial.150

They argued a new trial was merited “in the interest of justice” because of the

143

R124 at 14546-47; R125 at 14624.

144

R125 at 14624.

145

R126 at 14643-44.

146

Id. at 14645-47.

147

Id. at 14647.

148

R125-R126.

149

R126 at 14668-69.

150

R12–1338, 1342, 1343, 1347.

34

prejudice inured to them from the venue and the prosecution’s misconduct.151

Guerrero argued that, although he did “not seek to criticize the Court’s voir dire

procedure nor could he,” the jurors’ responses in voir dire were “‘politically

correct,’” in that they “all agreed that they would be fair and impartial.”152 Medina

similarly argued that, “[d]espite the extraordinary care this Court exercised in the

jury selection process,” a fair and impartial jury could not be seated in Miami-

Dade County.153 Campa and Gonzalez argued that witness Jose Basulto’s remarks

were highly prejudicial because they implied that Defendant Hernandez’s counsel

was a spy for the Cuban government.154 Campa also asserted that the jury’s quick

verdicts without asking a single question in the complex, almost seven-month trial

indicated that the jury was subject to community pressure and prejudice.155 He

further argued that the government prejudiced the defendants by stating in closing

argument that they “were ‘people bent on destroying the United States’ whose

defense had been ‘paid for by the American taxpayer.’”156

151

R12-1338 at 2-3.

152

Id. at 2.

153

R12–1347 at 1.

154

R12–1342 at 3; R12–1343 at 3-4.

155

R12–1343 at 1-3.

156

Id. at 8.

35

On November 28, 2001, the district court denied the motions for new trial in

a detailed written order.157 It referenced its prior orders denying a change of venue

and denying reconsideration of the denial of the change of venue, and stated that

because it was “[a]ware of the impassioned Cuban exile-community residing

within this venue, the Court implemented a series of measures to guarantee the

Defendants’ right to a fair trial.”158 These efforts included a searching, seven-day

voir dire process, daily instructions to the jury not to speak with the media about

the case or to read or listen to any reports about the case, and gag orders on all trial

participants.159 The court also struck witness Jose Basulto’s statement and

instructed the jury to disregard it.160 The court found that the jury’s prompt,

inquiry-free verdict at most was speculative, circumstantial evidence of the

venue’s impact on the jury.161 The court concluded that “any potential for

prejudice . . . was cured” “through the Court’s methodical, active pursuit of a fair

trial from voir dire, to the presentation of evidence, to argument, and concluding

157

R13–1392.

158

Id. at 14.

159

Id.

160

Id.

161

Id. at 15.

36

with deliberations and the return of verdict.”162 As to the defendants’ claims of

prosecutorial misconduct, the court found that it upheld each of defense counsel’s

objections and specially instructed the jury that it was to disregard the improper

statements.163 In light of the entire record, the interests of justice did not merit a

new trial.164

On November 12, 2002, the defendants renewed their motion for a new trial

on two grounds: newly discovered evidence and the interests of justice.165 They

argued that they were entitled to a new trial based on the government’s motion for

change of venue filed June 25, 2002, in the case of Ramirez v. Ashcroft,166 a Title

VII action brought by a Hispanic employee of the INS.167 Ramirez alleged he was

subjected to a hostile work environment, unlawful retaliation, and intimidation by

his employer as a result of the INS’s removal of Elian Gonzalez from the United

162

Id.

163

Id. at 15-16.

164

Id. at 17. In December 2001, Guerrero, Hernandez, and Medina were sentenced to life,

Campa was sentenced to 228 months, and Gonzalez was sentenced to 15 years. R14-1430, 1435,

1437, 1439, 1445. After sentencing, the defendants appealed.

165

R15–1635, 1638, 1644, 1647, 1650, 1651.

166

No. 01-4835 (S.D. Fla. June 25, 2002).

167

R15-1635 at 8-11.

37

States and his return to his father in Cuba on April 22, 2000.168 According to the

defendants, the government’s decision to seek a change of venue in Ramirez,

based upon the alleged prejudicial effect of the pervasive community sentiment

following the custody battle over Elian Gonzalez, constituted newly discovered

evidence of prosecutorial misconduct because the same United States Attorney

opposed the defendants’ repeated motions for change of venue in the instant case

and misrepresented the pervasive community prejudice in the Miami

community.169 In support of this argument, the defendants filed the government’s

Ramirez motion for change of venue, in which it argued that “the Miami-Dade

community has developed and maintains strong emotional feelings and opinions

regarding the handling of the Elian Gonzalez affair by INS and the Attorney

General’s office.”170 The government asserted, “it is extremely unlikely that a

venire from Miami-Dade County would be able to put aside such deeply held

opinions and feelings and afford the [government] a fair trial . . . .”171

The defendants further argued that a new trial should be granted in the

168

R15-1636 at Ex.2 at 1-2.

169

R15-1635 at 8-11.

170

R15–1636 at Ex. 2 at 16.

171

Id.

38

interests of justice.172 They argued that surveys of the Miami-Dade community,

the responses given by prospective jurors during voir dire, and the atmosphere

surrounding the voir dire demonstrated that a fair and impartial jury could not be

selected in this case.173 In support, they filed an affidavit by legal psychologist Dr.

Kendra Brennan and a study by Florida International University’s Professor of

Sociology and Anthropology Dr. Lisandro Pérez.174 Dr. Brennan evaluated

Professor Moran’s survey and concluded that it “accurately reflect[ed] profound

existing bias against those associated with the Cuban government in Miami-Dade

County.”175 Dr. Pérez concluded that “the possibility of selecting twelve citizens

of Miami-Dade County who can be impartial in a case involving acknowledged

agents of the Cuban government is virtually zero.”176 The defendants also

supported their interests of justice argument with news articles and reports by

Human Rights Watch, which addressed the harassment, intimidation, and violence

that Miami Cuban exiles suffered for expressing moderate political views toward

172

R15–1635 at 12-32.

173

Id.

174

R15-1636 at Exs. 4,5.

175

Id. at Ex. 4 at 8.

176

Id. at Ex. 5 at 2-3.

39

Castro or Cuban relations.177

The district court denied the renewed motion for new trial holding that the

government’s decision to move for a change of venue in Ramirez did not

constitute newly discovered evidence of prosecutorial misconduct with respect to

the government’s opposition to the defendants’ motions for change of venue in

this case.178 The court reasoned that Ramirez differed from this case in that it

“related directly to the INS’s handling of the removal of Elian Gonzalez from his

uncle’s home, an event which, it is arguable, garnered much more attention here in

Miami and worldwide than this case.”179 The government’s position in Ramirez

“was premised specifically upon the facts of that case,” including the fact that

Ramirez “had stirred up extensive publicity in the local media focusing directly on

the facts he alleged in the lawsuit . . . .”180 The court also ruled that it lacked

jurisdiction to grant a new trial based on the defendants’ interests of justice

argument because such a motion must be filed within seven days after the guilty

verdict, or within an extension of time granted by the trial judge.181 This time

177

Id. at Exs. 7-10, 12.

178

R15–1678 at 8.

179

Id. at 8-9.

180

Id. at 9.

181

Id. at 5.

40

period had expired more than 19 months before the motion was filed, and

therefore, the court declined to consider that argument, or any of its supporting

exhibits.182

In a published opinion addressing only the motions for change of venue and

motions for a new trial, a panel of this court concluded that the defendants were

entitled to a pretrial change of venue and were denied a fair trial because of the

“perfect storm” created by the pretrial publicity surrounding this case, the

pervasive community sentiment, and the government’s closing arguments.183 We

vacated the panel opinion and granted the government’s petition for rehearing en

banc to consider whether the defendants were denied a fair and impartial trial.184

II. DISCUSSION

On appeal, we first consider whether the district court abused its discretion

in denying the defendants’ Rule 21 motion for change of venue for failure to make

a sufficient showing of prejudice due to either pretrial publicity or pervasive

community prejudice. The second issue we consider is whether the court abused

its discretion in denying their Rule 33 motions for new trial based on newly

182

Id. at 6.

183

United States v. Campa, 419 F.3d 1219 (11th Cir.) (per curiam), reh’g granted,

vacated, 429 F.3d 1011 (11th Cir. 2005) (per curiam).

184

Id.

41

discovered evidence and the interests of justice.

A. Denial of Motions for Change of Venue

We review a district court’s denial of a Rule 21 motion for change of venue

for an abuse of discretion.185 Rule 21 provides that, “[u]pon the defendant’s

motion, the court must transfer the proceeding . . . to another district if the court is

satisfied that so great a prejudice against the defendant exists in the transferring

district that the defendant cannot obtain a fair and impartial trial there.”186 A

defendant can establish that prejudice against him prevented him from receiving a

fair trial and necessitated a change of venue by two methods. He can demonstrate

that a fair trial was impossible because the jury was actually prejudiced against

him.187 Or, he can show that juror prejudice should have been presumed from

prejudice in the community and pretrial publicity.188 Here, the defendants argue

that a presumption of prejudice was warranted because of the pervasive

community prejudice against the Cuban government and its agents and the pretrial

publicity that existed in Miami.

185

United States v. Smith, 918 F.2d 1551, 1556 (11th Cir. 1990).

186

Fed. R. Crim. P. 21(a).

187

Irvin v. Dowd, 366 U.S. 717, 727, 81 S. Ct. 1639, 1645, 6 L. Ed. 2d 751 (1961).

188

Rideau v. Louisiana, 373 U.S. 723, 726-27, 83 S. Ct. 1417, 1419-20, 10 L. Ed. 2d 663

(1963).

42

A district court must presume that so great a prejudice exists against the

defendant as to require a change of venue under Rule 21 if the defendant shows:

(1) that widespread, pervasive prejudice against him and prejudicial pretrial

publicity saturates the community where he is to be tried and (2) that there is a

reasonable certainty that such prejudice will prevent him from obtaining a fair trial

by an impartial jury.189 The presumed prejudice principle is “‘rarely’ applicable”

and is reserved for an “extreme situation.”190 “[T]he burden placed upon the

[defendant] to show that pretrial publicity deprived him of his right to a fair trial

before an impartial jury is an extremely heavy one.”191 Once the defendant puts

forth evidence of the pervasive prejudice against him, the government can rebut

any presumption of juror prejudice by demonstrating that the district court’s

careful and thorough voir dire, as well as its use of prophylactic measures to

insulate the jury from outside influences, ensured that the defendant received a fair

189

See Sheppard v. Maxwell, 384 U.S. 333, 363, 86 S. Ct. 1507, 1522, 16 L. Ed. 2d 600

(1966) (“[W]here there is a reasonable likelihood that prejudicial news prior to trial will prevent

a fair trial, the judge should continue the case until the threat abates, or transfer it to another

county not so permeated with publicity.”); Pamplin v. Mason, 364 F.2d 1, 5 (5th Cir. 1966)

(“Where outside influences affecting the community’s climate of opinion as to a defendant are

inherently suspect, the resulting probability of unfairness requires suitable procedural safeguards,

such as a change of venue, to assure a fair and impartial trial.”).

190

Mayola v. Alabama, 623 F.2d 992, 997 (5th Cir. 1980) (citing Neb. Press Ass’n v.

Stuart, 427 U.S. 539, 554, 96 S. Ct. 2791, 2800, 49 L. Ed. 2d 683, 694 (1976), Hale v. United

States, 435 F.2d 737, 747 (5th Cir. 1970)).

191

Coleman v. Kemp, 778 F.2d 1487, 1537 (11th Cir. 1985).

43

trial by an impartial jury.192

1. The News Articles

Here, the district court concluded that the defendants failed to present

evidence sufficient to raise a presumption of prejudice against them that would

impair their right to a fair trial by an impartial jury.193 In support of their motion

for change of venue, the defendants first relied on numerous news articles, which

they argued demonstrated that the community atmosphere was “so pervasively

inflamed” that it would impair any juror’s ability to reach a fair verdict.194

The district court did not abuse its discretion in finding that the pretrial

publicity was not “‘so inflammatory and pervasive as to raise a presumption of

prejudice.’”195 Prejudice against a defendant cannot be presumed from pretrial

publicity regarding peripheral matters that do not relate directly to the defendant’s

guilt for the crime charged.196 In fact, we are not aware of any case in which any

192

See id. at 1541, n.25; Mayola, 623 F.3d at 1000-01.

193

R5-586 at 16.

194

R2-317 at 3.

195

R5-586 at 11 (quoting Ross v. Hopper, 716 F.2d 1528, 1541 (11th Cir. 1983)).

196

See United States v. Awan, 966 F.2d 1415, 1428 (11th Cir. 1992); see also Meeks v.

Moore, 216 F.3d 951, 963 n.19, 967 (11th Cir. 2000) (ruling that only media reports linked

directly to the defendant had “evidentiary value” in assessing his presumed prejudice claim,

which failed absent a showing that “bias played any part in his convictions”).

44

court has ever held that prejudice can be presumed from pretrial publicity about

issues other than the guilt or innocence of the defendant.197

Moreover, the Supreme Court has ruled that we cannot presume prejudice in

the absence of a “trial atmosphere . . . utterly corrupted by press coverage.”198 The

Court distinguished between publicity that is “largely factual publicity” and “that

which is invidious or inflammatory,” in Murphy v. Florida,199 a case in which the

Court ruled that the defendant was not denied due process when he was denied a

change of venue, despite extensive publicity about the defendant’s crime and

criminal history. The Court found that there was no inflamed community

atmosphere because the news articles appeared seven to twenty months before the

jury was selected and the articles were largely factual in nature.200 The Court also

197

See Awan, 966 F.2d at 1428.

198

Dobbert v. Florida, 432 U.S. 282, 303, 97 S. Ct. 2290, 2303, 53 L. Ed. 2d 344, 362

(1977) (alteration in original) (internal quotation marks omitted) (quoting Murphy v. Florida, 421

U.S. 794, 798, 95 S. Ct. 2031, 2035, 44 L. Ed. 2d 589 (1975)).

199

421 U.S. 794, 800 n.4, 95 S. Ct. 2031, 2036 n.4.

200

Id. at 802, 95 S. Ct. at 2037; see also Spivey v. Head, 207 F.3d 1263, 1270-71 (11th

Cir. 2000) (ruling that the defendant failed to establish that pretrial publicity was sufficiently

prejudicial or inflammatory to require a change of venue because the numerous newspaper

articles that the defendant put forth were either published years before the trial or only obliquely

mentioned his case, and because the prejudicial articles were not typical or widespread); United

States v. De La Vega, 913 F.2d 861, 865 (11th Cir. 1990) (ruling that the 330 articles submitted

by the defendants were largely factual and could not have created an inflamed community

atmosphere sufficient to presume prejudice in the Miami-Dade community of 1.8 million

people).

45

distinguished between jurors’ “mere familiarity [with the defendant and his past

crimes] and an actual predisposition against him.”201 Some of the jurors had a

vague recollection of the alleged crime, but none believed that the defendant’s past

crimes were connected to the present case, nor did the voir dire indicate that the

jurors were prejudiced against him.202 Therefore, the defendant failed to show that

the trial was “inherently prejudicial” or that the jury selection process permitted an

“inference of actual prejudice.”203

Here, the news materials submitted by the defendants fall far short of the

volume, saturation, and invidiousness of news coverage sufficient to presume

prejudice. Of the numerous articles submitted, very few related directly to the

defendants and their indictments.204 The articles primarily concerned subjects

such as the community tensions and protests related to general anti-Castro

sentiment, the conditions in Cuba, and other ongoing legal cases, such as the Elian

Gonzalez matter.205 Of the articles about the Brothers to the Rescue shootdown,

most were published approximately one year before the court first ruled on the

201

Murphy, 421 U.S. at 800 n.4, 95 S. Ct. at 2036 n.4.

202

Id. at 800-01, 95 S. Ct. at 2036.

203

Id. at 803, 95 S. Ct. at 2037.

204

See R2-317, 321, 324, 334, 329; R3-397, 455.

205

See id.

46

change of venue motion.206 Therefore, the few articles that did relate to the

defendants and their alleged activities in particular were too factual and too old to

be inflammatory or prejudicial. Moreover, the record reflects that not a single

juror who deliberated on this case indicated that he or she was in any way

influenced by news coverage of the case.207 Nor does the record reflect that any

one of them had formed an opinion about the guilt or innocence of the defendants

before the trial began.208 In fact, most of the venire revealed that they were either

entirely unaware of the case, or had only a vague recollection of it.209 “To ignore

the real differences in the potential for prejudice would not advance the cause of

fundamental fairness, but only make impossible the timely prosecution of persons

who are well known in the community, whether they be notorious or merely

prominent.”210 Accordingly, the defendants have failed to demonstrate that this

trial was “utterly corrupted by press coverage.”211

2. The Moran Survey

206

See id.

207

See R21-28.

208

See id.

209

See id.

210

Murphy, 421 U.S. at 800 n.4, 95 S. Ct. at 2036 n.4.

211

See id. at 798, 95 S. Ct. at 2035.

47

The district court also considered the results of the random survey of 300

registered Miami-Dade voters conducted by Professor Moran, which was

purportedly designed to examine prejudice against anyone alleged to have assisted

the Cuban government in espionage activities.212 According to Professor Moran,

the survey indicated that “the only viable means of assuring the defendant a fair

and impartial jury” was to transfer the case out of the Miami District of the

Southern District of Florida.213 The court declined to afford the survey and

Professor Moran’s conclusions substantial weight in determining whether to

change the venue, but invited the defendants to renew their motions for change of

venue if the voir dire showed that an impartial jury could not be empaneled.214

It was entirely within the district court’s prerogative to reject outright

Professor Moran’s survey as a basis upon which to grant a motion to change

venue. The record reflects that the district court carefully considered the survey

and Professor Moran’s conclusions, finding six specific reasons why the survey

was unpersuasive.215 The strongest support for the court’s conclusion was the fact

212

R5-586 at 13-15.

213

R2-321 at Ex. A at 16.

214

R5-586 at 13-15.

215

Id.

48

that Moran relied on the very same survey that we previously rejected in Fuentes-

Coba as a basis for his conclusion that a substantial prejudice existed in the

Southern District of Florida against defendants alleged to have helped the Castro

government.216 Moreover, the survey was riddled with non-neutral questions, such

as the question that asked the respondent to agree or disagree whether “Castro’s

agents have attempted to disrupt peaceful demonstrations such as the Movimiento

Democracia’s flotillas which honor fallen comrades.”217 The survey was too

ambiguous to be reliable. For example, it asked if there are “any circumstances”

that would change the respondent’s “opinion,” but it did not clarify to which

“opinion” the question refers.218 Moreover, only two questions in the entire survey

directly referenced the defendants.219

Our deferential standard of review requires us to affirm the district court’s

216

Id.

217

Id.

218

Id.

219

See R2-321 at Ex. D. The dissent argues that the district court focused its analysis

solely on prejudicial publicity and failed to make any findings regarding prejudice within the

community. We disagree with this characterization of the district court’s ruling. The court

“construe[d] [the] [d]efendants’ Motions [for change of venue] as directed primarily toward the

issue of ‘pervasive community prejudice’ . . . .” R5-586 at 10, n.2 (emphasis added). And, while

the court did not go so far as to find the community was “heterogenous” and “highly diverse,” as

the government argued, R3-443 at 3, the court did make a specific finding as to prejudice in the

community: that the defendants’ evidence did not demonstrate that community prejudice

warranted a change of venue under Rule 21. R5-586 at 16.

49

conclusion that the Moran survey was not sufficiently persuasive to support a

motion for change of venue. “The well established rule vests substantial

discretion in the district court as to the granting or denying of a motion for transfer

. . . .”220 “The trial court is necessarily the first and best judge of community

sentiment and the indifference of the prospective juror. Appellate courts . . . will

interfere only upon a showing of manifest probability of prejudice.”221

Furthermore, the court’s decision to deny the defendants’ pretrial change of

venue motions without prejudice in favor of proceeding to voir dire was a well-

supported exercise of discretion. When a defendant alleges that prejudicial

pretrial publicity would prevent him from receiving a fair trial, it is within the

district court’s broad discretion to proceed to voir dire to ascertain whether the

prospective jurors have, in fact, been influenced by pretrial publicity.222 Once the

court has conducted an appropriate voir dire examination, it also has the broad

discretion to rule whether prejudice resulted from the pretrial publicity such that

the defendant would be denied a fair trial.223 Indeed, we have ruled that a trial

220

United States v. Williams, 523 F.2d 1203, 1208 (5th Cir. 1975).

221

Bishop v. Wainwright, 511 F.2d 664, 666 (5th Cir. 1975).

222

See United States v. Nix, 465 F.2d 90, 96 (5th Cir. 1972).

223

See id.

50

court’s method of holding its decision on a Rule 21 motion for change of venue in

abeyance until the conclusion of the voir dire “is clearly the preferable

procedure.”224 Even the defendants themselves admitted that the district court’s

voir dire more thoroughly evaluated the sentiment of the Miami-Dade community.

They admitted, “quite frankly, if Professor Moran could interrogate his pool

members the way this Court has interrogated some of the prospective jurors, the

social sciences wouldn’t be soft sciences, they would be hard sciences.”225

3. The Voir Dire

The voir dire in this case was a model voir dire for a high profile case. The

court conducted a meticulous two-phase voir dire stretching over seven days.226 In

contrast to the generalized, pre-fabricated, and sometimes leading questions of

Professor Moran’s survey were the detailed and neutral voir dire questions that the

court carefully crafted with the parties’ assistance.227 In the first phase of voir dire,

the court screened 168 prospective jurors for hardship and their ability to reach a

verdict based solely on the evidence.228 In the second phase, the court extensively

224

Williams, 523 F.2d at 1209 n.10.

225

R27 at 1374.

226

R21-28.

227

Gov’t Br. at App. G.

228

R6-766; R21-R24.

51

and individually questioned 82 prospective jurors outside the venire’s presence

regarding sensitive subjects, such as involvement in pro- and anti-Castro political

groups and immigration into the United States from Cuba.229 Phase two

questioning revealed that most of the prospective jurors, and all of the empaneled

jurors, had been exposed to little or no media coverage of the case.230 Those who

had been exposed to media coverage of the case vaguely recalled a “shootdown,”

but little else.231 Ultimately, the court struck 32 out of 168 potential jurors (19%)

for Cuba-related animus, which was well within an acceptable range.232 Qualified

jurors need not be totally ignorant of the facts and issues involved:

To hold that the mere existence of any preconceived notion as to the

guilt or innocence of an accused, without more, is sufficient to rebut

the presumption of a prospective juror’s impartiality would be to

establish an impossible standard. It is sufficient if the juror can lay

229

R25-28.

230

See id.

231

See id.

232

Compare Patton v. Yount, 467 U.S. 1025, 1029, 1035, 104 S. Ct. 2885, 2888, 2891, 81

L. Ed. 2d 847, 853, 856 (1984) (holding that the trial court did not err in finding that the jury was

impartial, even though “77% [of the venire] admitted they would carry an opinion in to the jury

box,” because the “relevant question is not whether the community remembered the case, but

whether the jurors . . . had such fixed opinions that they could not judge impartially”), and

Murphy, 421 U.S. at 803, 95 S. Ct. at 2038 (holding that excusing 20 out of 78 prospective jurors

[or, 26%] “by no means suggests a community with sentiment so poisoned against [the

defendant] as to impeach the indifference of jurors who displayed no animus of their own”), with

Irvin, 366 U.S. at 727, 81 S. Ct. at 1645 (reversing the defendant’s conviction because 268 of the

430 venirepersons, or 62%, had fixed opinions regarding the defendant’s guilt).

52

aside his impression or opinion and render a verdict based on the

evidence presented in court.233

At the conclusion of the voir dire, the defendants failed to express any

dissatisfaction with the selected jurors in terms of their ability to serve fairly and

impartially,234 and even complimented the court’s voir dire as “extraordinary”235

and stated that they were “very happy with” the jury.236 The court’s voir dire was

so effective in screening potential jurors that the defendants did not exercise all of

their peremptory challenges.237 We have ruled that a defendant’s failure to use all

peremptory challenges “indicates the absence of juror prejudice.”238 Moreover, the

defendants failed to renew their change of venue motions at the end of the voir

dire, despite the court’s invitation to do so, further indicating their satisfaction

with the jury and a lack of juror prejudice.239 Accordingly, the court’s careful and

thorough voir dire rebutted any presumption of jury prejudice.240

233

Irvin, 366 U.S. at 722-23, 81 S. Ct. at 1642-43.

234

R29 at 1564.

235

R27 at 1373.

236

R104 at 12092.

237

R28 at 1513.

238

United States v. Alvarez, 755 F.2d 830, 859 (11th Cir. 1985).

239

United States v. Yousef, 327 F.3d 56, 155 (2d Cir. 2003).

240

See Coleman, 778 F.2d at 1541 n.25; Mayola, 623 F.2d at 1000-01.

53

“A trial court’s finding of juror impartiality may ‘be overturned only for

manifest error.’”241 We owe the district court “wide discretion” in “conducting

voir dire in the area of pretrial publicity and in other areas that might tend to show

juror bias.”242 “The judge of that court sits in the locale where the publicity is said

to have had its effect and brings to his evaluation any of such claim his own

perception of the depth and extent of news stories that might influence a juror.”243

In sum, the record in this case amply demonstrates that the district court

took extraordinary measures to carefully select a fair and impartial jury. The court

extensively and individually questioned the prospective jurors, repeatedly

cautioned them not to read anything or talk to anyone about the case, insulated the

jurors from media publicity, provided the defendants with extra peremptory

challenges, struck 32 persons for cause, and struck all of the Cuban-Americans

241

Mu’Min v. Virginia, 500 U.S. 415, 428, 111 S. Ct. 1899, 1907, 114 L. Ed. 2d 493, 508

(1991) (quoting Patton, 467 U.S. at 1031, 104 S. Ct. at 2889).

242

Id. at 427, 111 S. Ct. at 1906.

243

Id. The dissent suggests that the “plethora of media” and “ubiquitous electronic

communications devices” that characterize this “high-tech age” spread community prejudice

across the district, necessitating a change in venue. We think, however, that such advances in

communication technology support the opposite conclusion. If prejudice could be spread

through multiple forms of media, the spread of such prejudice would not stop at district lines, but

would extend across the state of Florida. Following that rationale, the district court should have

refused to change venue because a district outside Miami-Dade would have been no more

capable of producing a panel of impartial jurors than Miami-Dade itself. This is why we afford

deference to the district court’s assessment of juror credibility and impartiality.

54

over the government’s Batson objection.244 Under these circumstances, we will

not disturb the district court’s broad discretion in assessing the jurors’ credibility

and impartiality.

4. The Trial

A review of the record reveals that this trial “comported with the highest

standards of fairness and professionalism.”245 The court maintained strict control

over the proceedings by employing various curative measures to insulate the jury

from any outside influence, from the beginning of the trial to the jury’s verdict.

From the commencement of the case, the parties, counsel, and witnesses were

under a strict gag order, as well as a sequestration order, which prohibited them

from releasing information or opinion that would interfere with the trial or

otherwise prejudice the defendants.246 On each day of the trial, before every

recess, and at the end of every day, the court admonished the jurors not to discuss

the case amongst themselves or with others, not to have contact with anyone

244

The government objected to the striking of all Cuban-Americans, the district court

denied the Batson challenge, and the government has not raised that issue in any way.

Accordingly, we have no opportunity to review the propriety of striking all the members of a

particular nationality. We simply note that although the defendants challenge their convictions

based on an alleged pervasive anti-Cuban sentiment in the Southern District of Florida, every

Cuban-American was struck from the venire.

245

Alvarez, 755 F.2d at 859.

246

2SR1-122 at 1; R21 at 117-19; R7-978 at 3, 7; R64 at 6759-60.

55

associated with the trial, and not to expose themselves, read, or listen to anything

related to the case.247 The court maintained control over the seating in the

courtroom as well, designating certain rows to certain groups and requiring the

media to sit in the back row.248 The court prevented the media from accessing the

voir dire questions by sealing them during jury selection.249

The court fiercely guarded the jury from outside intrusions. From the first

day of trial, the court instructed the marshals to accompany the jury, with their

juror tags removed, as they left the building.250 The court rejected the media’s

request for the twelve jurors’ names.251 The court took extra steps to insulate the

jurors during their deliberations, arranging for them to enter the courthouse by a

private entrance and providing them with transportation to their vehicles or mass

transit.252

5. Supreme Court Precedent

This case was nothing like the cases in which the Supreme Court has

247

See R21-28.

248

R25 at 717.

249

R24 at 625-26.

250

R21 at 112.

251

R126 at 14643-44.

252

Id. at 14645-47.

56

previously found that defendants were denied a fair trial by an impartial jury

because of pretrial publicity or pervasive community prejudice. The record

reflects that the pretrial community atmosphere in this case was unlike that which

existed in Irvin v. Dowd. In that case, the rural, Indiana community of 30,000

where the defendant was tried was subjected to a barrage of inflammatory

publicity immediately before trial, including information on the defendant’s prior

convictions, his confession to 24 burglaries and six murders, including the one for

which he was tried, and his unaccepted offer to plead guilty in order to avoid the

death sentence.253 The Supreme Court ruled that the defendant was entitled to a

change of venue because the prejudice against him was “clear and convincing,” as

reflected by the fact that eight of the twelve jurors had formed an opinion that he

was guilty before the trial began.254

Also distinguishable from this case is Rideau v. Louisiana,255 a case in

which the police illegally obtained a confession from the defendant, which a local

television station filmed and broadcast three times in the community where the

crime and the trial occurred. “[W]ithout pausing to examine a particularized

253

Irvin, 366 U.S. at 725-27, 81 S. Ct. at 1644-45.

254

Id.

255

373 U.S. at 724, 83 S. Ct. at 1418.

57

transcript of the voir dire examination of members of the jury,” the Supreme Court

overturned the conviction, holding that the widespread dissemination of this

highly damaging material rendered the defendant’s trial nothing more than “a

hollow formality.”256 The Court ruled that the “kangaroo court proceedings”

deprived the defendant of due process.257

The district court’s implementation of numerous curative measures to

insulate the jury from disruptive influences in this case also sits in stark contrast to

the “carnival atmosphere” that warranted a reversal of the defendant’s conviction

in Sheppard v. Maxwell.258 In Sheppard, the judge did not adequately direct the

jury not to read or listen to anything concerning the case, but merely suggested

that the jury not expose themselves to media reports.259 The jurors were “thrust

into the role of celebrities by the judge’s failure to insulate them from the reporters

and photographers,” when numerous pictures of the jurors and their addresses

appeared in the newspaper.260 Likewise, in Estes v. Texas,261 the defendant was

256

Id. at 726-27, 83 S. Ct. at 1419-20.

257

Id. at 726, 83 S. Ct. at 1419.

258

384 U.S. 333, 358, 86 S. Ct. 1507, 1520, 16 L. Ed. 2d 600 (1966).

259

Id. at 353, 86 S. Ct. at 1517.

260

Id.

261

381 U.S. 532, 550, 85 S. Ct. 1628, 1636, 14 L. Ed. 2d 543, 554 (1965).

58

denied his due process rights because the courtroom was a “mass of wires,

television cameras, microphones, and photographers.” At least twelve cameramen

were allowed to photograph the proceedings, “[c]ables and wires were snaked

across the courtroom floor, three microphones were on the judge’s bench and

others were beamed at the jury box and the counsel table.”262

The rare instances in which the Supreme Court has presumed prejudice to

overturn a defendant’s conviction are far different from this case. In those cases,

the “kangaroo court proceedings” in combination with the “circus atmosphere”

generated by sensational pretrial publicity deprived the defendant of a fair trial.

Here, the district court carefully and meticulously evaluated the defendants’

evidence of pretrial publicity and then made specific factual findings to discount

that evidence. At trial, the court used numerous curative measures to prevent any

publicity from affecting the jury’s deliberations.

In sum, to establish a presumption of juror prejudice necessitating Rule 21

change of venue, a defendant must demonstrate that (1) widespread, pervasive

prejudice and prejudicial pretrial publicity saturates the community, and (2) there

is a reasonable certainty that the prejudice prevents the defendant from obtaining a

fair trial. We find that the defendants in this case failed to meet this two-pronged

262

Id. at 536, 85 S. Ct. at 1629.

59

test. They failed to show that so great a prejudice existed against them as to

require a change of venue under Rule 21, in light of the court’s effective use of

prophylactic measures to carefully manage individual voir dire examination of

each and every panel member and its successful steps to isolate the jury from

every extrinsic influence. Under these circumstances, we will not disturb the

district court’s broad discretion in ruling that this is not one of those rare cases in

which juror prejudice can be presumed.

B. Denial of Motions for New Trial

We review a district court’s denial of a motion for new trial for abuse of

discretion.263 Rule 33 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure provides:

(a) Defendant’s Motion. Upon the defendant’s motion, the court may

vacate any judgment and grant a new trial if the interest of justice so

requires. If the case was tried without a jury, the court may take

additional testimony and enter a new judgment.

(b) Time to File.

(1) Newly Discovered Evidence. Any motion for a new trial

grounded on newly discovered evidence must be filed within 3 years

after the verdict or finding of guilty. If an appeal is pending, the

court may not grant a motion for a new trial until the appellate court

remands the case.

(2) Other Grounds. Any motion for a new trial grounded on any

reason other than newly discovered evidence must be filed within 7

days after the verdict or finding of guilty.264

263

United States v. Vallejo, 297 F.3d 1154, 1163 (11th Cir. 2002).

264

Fed. R. Crim. P. 33. Rule 33 was amended December 1, 2002, “as a part of the general

restyling of the Criminal Rules to make them more easily understood and to make style and

60

Thus, there are two grounds upon which a court may grant a motion for new trial:

one based on newly discovered evidence, which must be filed within three years of

the verdict pursuant to Rule 33(b)(1); and the other based on any other reason,

typically the interest of justice, which must be filed within seven days of the

verdict, pursuant to Rule 33(b)(2).265

“Motions for a new trial based on newly discovered evidence are highly

disfavored in the Eleventh Circuit and should be granted only with great caution.

Indeed, the defendant bears the burden of justifying a new trial.”266 Newly

discovered evidence need not relate directly to the issue of guilt or innocence to

justify a new trial, “but may be probative of another issue of law.”267 For instance,

the existence of a Brady violation, as well as questions regarding the fairness or

impartiality of a jury, may be grounds for a new trial.268

terminology consistent throughout the rules. These changes [were] intended to be stylistic only.”

See Fed. R. Crim. P. 33 advisory committee’s note 2002. We apply the current version of Rule

33, even though the defendants’ new trial motions were filed before the 2002 amendments were

effective.

265

See Fed. R. Crim. P. 33; United States v. Devila, 216 F.3d 1009, 1015 (11th Cir. 2000)

(per curiam) vacated in part on other grounds, 242 F.3d 995, 996 (2001) (per curiam).

266

Devila, 216 F.3d at 1015-16 (quotations and citations omitted).

267

United States v. Beasley, 582 F.2d 337, 339 (5th Cir. 1978) (per curiam).

268

Id. at 339; United States v. Williams, 613 F.2d 573, 575 (5th Cir. 1980) (stating that a

motion for new trial is appropriate if the newly discovered evidence “afford[ed] reasonable

61

The defendants are not entitled to a new trial on the basis of newly

discovered evidence under Rule 33(b)(1) because the government’s decision to

move for a change of venue in Ramirez does not constitute newly discovered

evidence of prosecutorial misconduct with respect to the government’s earlier

opposition to the defendants’ motions for change of venue in this case. Ramirez

was entirely different from this case in that it was a Title VII employment

discrimination case arising out of the INS’s role in the removal of Elian Gonzalez

from his uncle’s home, whereas this case involved agents of the government of

Cuba operating unlawfully in the United States and conspiring to commit

espionage and murder.269 Moreover, Ramirez’s conduct in procuring and

exploiting partisan media coverage of the evidence and the issues in his case

distinguished Ramirez from the instant case. On the day Ramirez filed his lawsuit,

he held a press conference on the steps of the courthouse, during which he

displayed one of the items featured in his complaint, an example of a cup holder

with a picture of the Cuban flag and the international “no symbol.”270 The Miami

grounds to question the fairness of the trial or the integrity of the verdict,” but affirming the

denial of a new trial because there was no reasonable likelihood that a juror’s ex parte contact

with the district judge impugned the integrity of the jury’s verdict (citing S. Pac. Co. v. Francois,

411 F.2d 778, 780 (5th Cir. 1969))).

269

R15-1660 at 7-8.

270

Id. at 10.

62

Herald quoted Ramirez saying that the INS was “the most corrupt agency in the

country” with a “deep hatred toward Hispanics.”271 He appeared on several radio

and television shows, local rallies, and protests, and his photograph appeared on

banners carried by protestors demonstrating outside of the INS building.272 On

one television show, Ramirez disclosed a document produced during a videotaped

deposition taken during discovery and caused the deposition itself to be broadcast

on the show, in violation of Local Rule 77.2.273

The defendants’ argument that the government’s subsequent legal position

in the Ramirez case constituted prosecutorial misconduct that warrants a new trial

is essentially a claim of judicial estoppel. Judicial estoppel bars a party from

asserting a position in a legal proceeding that is inconsistent with its position in a

previous, related proceeding.274 It “is designed to prevent parties from making a

mockery of justice by inconsistent pleadings.”275 Courts consider two factors in

271

Id.

272

Id. at 11.

273

Id.

274

New Hampshire v. Maine, 532 U.S. 742, 749, 121 S. Ct. 1808, 1814, 149 L. Ed. 2d

968, 977 (2001).

275

Burnes v. Pemco Aeroplex, Inc., 291 F.3d 1282, 1285 (11th Cir. 2002) (internal

quotation marks omitted) (quoting Am. Nat’l Bank of Jacksonville v. Fed. Deposit Ins. Corp.,

710 F.2d 1528, 1536 (11th Cir. 1983)).

63

determining whether to apply the doctrine: whether the “allegedly inconsistent

positions were made under oath in a prior proceeding” and whether such

inconsistencies were “calculated to make a mockery of the judicial system.”276

Judicial estoppel is not applicable here because Ramirez was not a related

proceeding, but rather an employment discrimination lawsuit. Moreover, the

position that the government took in Ramirez occurred subsequent to–not

before–its position in this case. The government filed its motion for change of

venue in Ramirez on June 25, 2002, more than one year after the defendants were

convicted.277 Therefore, the defendants’ argument that the government should

have been estopped from opposing its change of venue motions in a prior

proceeding is chronologically unsound, and the court did not abuse its discretion

in denying the defendants’ motion for new trial based on newly discovered

evidence.

Nor are the defendants entitled to a new trial in the interests of justice under

Rule 33(b)(2). The defendants timely filed their initial motion by the court-

extended August 1, 2001, deadline278 for filing post-trial motions, arguing that a

276

Id. at 1285 (quotations and citations omitted).

277

R15-1636 at Ex. 2.

278

R126 at 14672. The district court extended the seven-day time period within which the

defendants could file post-trial motions, including a Rule 33 interests of justice motion, to

64

new trial was warranted in the interests of justice due to the prejudice inured to

them from the venue and the prosecution’s misconduct at trial.279 The district

court denied the motion, citing the numerous curative measures it implemented to

guarantee the defendants’ right to a fair trial.280 The record reflects that any

potential for prejudice against the defendants was cured by the court’s methodical

pursuit of a fair trial. Basulto’s comment that Hernandez’s counsel was a spy for

Cuba did not prejudice the defendants because it was merely a single remark

during a seven-month trial by the defense’s own witness, which the court struck

and instructed the jury to disregard.281 Moreover, the prosecution’s closing

arguments did not prejudice the defendants because the court granted the

defendants’ objections and specifically instructed the jury to disregard the

improper statements.282 These alleged incidents of government misconduct “were

so minor that they could not possibly have affected the outcome of the trial.”283

August 1, 2001, in accordance with the version of Rule 33 in effect at the time, which permitted

the court to grant a motion filed “within such further time as the court sets during the 7-day

period.” See Fed. R. Crim. P. 33 advisory committee’s note 2005.

279

R12-1338, 1342, 1343, 1347.

280

R13-1392.

281

R81 at 8945-46, 8955.

282

R124 at 14482, 14483, 14493.

283

Alvarez, 755 F.2d at 859.

65

Thereafter, in November 2002, the defendants filed a renewed motion for

new trial on both newly discovered evidence and interest of justice grounds.284

The defendants based their renewed motion almost entirely on the interests of

justice argument, devoting 20 of the 32 pages of the motion and 7 of the 12

supporting exhibits to that issue.285 The defendants filed an affidavit and a survey

from two new experts, an additional affidavit from Professor Moran defending his

survey, and additional news articles and reports by the Human Rights Watch.286

None of these materials were presented to the district court for consideration with

the initial new trial motions. The district court declined to consider the

defendants’ renewed interests of justice argument and supporting materials, ruling

that because “the seven-day period . . . expired more than nineteen months ago,” it

lacked jurisdiction to grant the motion on that basis.287

284

R15-1635, 1638, 1644, 1647, 1650, 1651.

285

R15-1635, R15-1636.

286

R15-1636 at Exs. 4, 5, 7-10, 12.

287

R15-1678 at 5. The district court relied on our precedent that states that “[t]here is no

question that the seven-day time limit provided for in Rule 33 is jurisdictional.” United States v.

Renick, 273 F.3d 1009, 1019 (11th Cir. 2001) (per curiam). The court did not have the benefit of

Eberhart v. United States, __ U.S. __, 126 S. Ct. 403, 403, 163 L. Ed. 2d 14, 17 (2005) (per

curiam) (internal quotation marks omitted), which clarified that Rule 33 is “an inflexible claim-

processing rule,” rather than a rule “governing subject-matter jurisdiction.” The Court noted that

this “is an error shared among the circuits . . . . caused in large part by imprecision in [the

Supreme Court’s] prior cases.” Id. at 407. Here, any error by the district court in characterizing

Rule 33 new trial motions as jurisdictional was harmless.

66

The district court did not abuse its discretion in refusing to consider the

defendants’ renewed motion based on the interests of justice. A court may not

consider motions for new trial based on any other argument than newly discovered

evidence outside the 7-day period.288 “This deadline is rigid. . . . [C]ourts ‘may not

extend the time to take any action under [Rule 33], except as stated’ in Rule 33

itself.”289 Nor does a district court have the power to regard an untimely motion

for new trial as a supplement to a timely motion.290 The time for the defendants to

present the entirety of their interests of justice argument was when they initially

filed it in July and August of 2001, within the court-extended August 1st deadline.

The defendants’ renewed motion for new trial based on the interests of justice was

essentially the defendants’ attempt to relitigate the merits of the venue issue that

the court had previously considered four times. The defendants could have

commissioned Drs. Brennan and Pérez to provide affidavits in support of their

position during any one of those times when the court previously considered the

issue. We will not permit, nor does Rule 33 permit, the defendants to take a

288

See Fed. R. Crim. P. 33(b)(2).

289

Eberhart, 126 S. Ct. at 403 (quoting Fed. R. Crim. P. 45(b)(2)).

290

United States v. Hall, 854 F.2d 1269, 1271 (11th Cir. 1988).

67

second–or fifth–“bite at the apple.”291 Because the defendants’ renewed interest of

justice motion was filed outside the extended time period during which a court

may consider new trial motions, and because the government preserved its

argument that the claim was untimely,292 the court did not abuse its discretion in

declining to consider the issue.

Accordingly, because neither newly discovered evidence nor the interests of

justice warrant a new trial, we affirm the court’s decision to deny the defendants’

motions for new trial.

III. CONCLUSION

Based on our thorough review of this case, we rely on the trial judge’s

judgment in assessing juror credibility and impartiality. The trial judge, as a

member of the community, can better evaluate whether there is a reasonable

certainty that prejudice against the defendant will prevent him from obtaining a

fair trial. The judge brings to the courtroom her own perception of the depth and

extent of community prejudice and pretrial publicity that might influence a juror.

Miami-Dade County is a widely diverse, multi-racial community of more

291

United States v. Geders, 625 F.2d 31, 33 (5th Cir. 1980).

292

Eberhart, 126 S. Ct. at 406 (ruling that the government forfeits its defense of

untimeliness if it fails to raise the defense before the district court reaches the merits of the Rule

33 motion).

68

than two million people. Nothing in the trial record suggests that twelve fair and

impartial jurors could not be assembled by the trial judge to try the defendants

impartially and fairly. The broad discretion the law reposes in the trial judge to

make the complex calibrations necessary to determine whether an impartial jury

can be drawn from a cross-section of the community to ensure a fair trial was not

abused in this case. Although it is conceivable that, under a certain set of facts, a

court might have to change venue to ensure a fair trial, the threshold for such a

change is rightfully a high one. The defendants have not satisfied it.

For the reasons given, we AFFIRM the district court’s denial of the

defendants’ motions for change of venue and for new trial. Having decided these

issues upon which we granted en banc review, we REMAND this case to the

panel for consideration of the remaining issues.

69

BIRCH, Circuit Judge dissenting in which KRAVITCH, Circuit Judge, joins:

I respectfully dissent. I remain convinced that this case is one of those rare,

exceptional cases that warrants a change of venue because of pervasive

community prejudice making it impossible to empanel an unbiased jury. The

defendants, as admitted agents of the Cuban government of Fidel Castro, were

unable to obtain a fair and impartial trial in a community of pervasive prejudice

against agents of Castro’s Cuban government, whose prejudice was fueled by

publicity regarding the trial and other local events. Accordingly, I would reverse

their convictions and remand for a new trial.

I am convinced that, based on circuit precedent, our consideration of the

denial of a motion for change of venue requires an independent review of the

totality of the circumstances surrounding the trial. Therefore, in Part I, I consider

in the “Background” the facts (omitted from the en banc opinion) that I conclude

are essential to an understanding of the intense community pressures in this case.

My review of the evidence at trial is more extensive than is typical for

consideration of an appeal involving the denial of a motion for change of venue

because I conclude that the trial evidence itself created safety concerns for the jury

which mandate venue considerations. In Part II, I discuss the law and the

application of the law to the facts in this case. In Part III, I present my

70

conclusion. Moreover, in this media-driven environment in which we live,

characterized by the ubiquitous electronic communications devices possessed by

even children (e.g., the cell phone, the I-pod, the laptop, etc.), this case presents a

timely opportunity for the Supreme Court to clarify the right of an accused to an

impartial jury in the high-tech age. Given the multiple resources for almost

instantaneous communication and the plethora of media extant today, the

considerations embraced by the Court in earlier times fail to address these

developments.

I. BACKGROUND

Included in with the charges forming the basis for the defendants-

appellants’ arrests and subsequent indictments were allegations that they, as agents

of the Republic of Cuba, had infiltrated the United States military and reported on

United States military activities, and that one of them, Gerardo Hernandez, had

conspired to commit murder by supporting and implementing a plan in 1996 to

shoot down United States civilian aircraft outside of Cuban and United States

airspace.

The 1996 shootdown involved planes piloted by and carrying members of

the Brothers to the Rescue (“BTTR”), a Cuban-exile group headquartered in

Miami-Dade County. As a result of the Cuban government’s military shootdown

71

of two United States-registered civilian aircraft, four members of BTTR died.1

Their deaths were condemned as murders by the international community.

Statements deploring Cuba’s excessive use of force were issued by the United

Nations and other international organizations and legislation was passed in the

United States “strongly” condemning the shootdown as an “act of terrorism by the

Castro regime.”2 The deceased were heralded as martyrs and their funerals were

attended by numerous people within the community. Memorials were

subsequently erected in their honor, and streets within the Miami-Dade County

community were renamed for them.

The defendants’ arrests, therefore, generated intense interest within the

community. Shortly after the arrests, the district court entered a gag order

governing the parties and their attorneys.3 That order, however, did not prevent

leakage. In the early fall of 1999, the district court reminded the parties and their

attorneys that they were to refrain from releasing information or opinions that

could interfere with a fair trial or prejudice the administration of justice.4 The

1

United States v. Hernandez, 106 F. Supp. 2d 1317, 1318 (S.D. Fla. 2000).

2

Alejandre v. Republic of Cuba, 996 F. Supp. 1239, 1247 (S.D. Fla. 1997); 22 U.S.C.

§6046(1).

3

R7-978 at 3; R21 at 117.

4

R18 at 14.

72

district judge stated that she was “increasingly concerned” that various persons

connected with the case were not following her order based on the “parade of

articles appearing in the media about this case.”5 In particular, she commented

that an article about defendant Medina’s pending motion to incur expenses to poll

the community “was the lead story in the local section on Saturday in the Miami

Herald.”6 She warned all counsel and agents associated with the case that

appropriate action would be taken and that the U.S. Attorney’s Office would be

held responsible.7 She directed that “[t]his case . . . not . . . get advertised

anywhere in the media for any reason whatsoever.”8 The motion to incur expenses

was filed in August 1999 and was subsequently granted by the district court.9

A. Motion for Change of Venue

As the en banc opinion notes, Campa, Gonzalez, Guerrero, and Medina

moved for a change of venue in January 2000, arguing that they were unable to

obtain an impartial trial in Miami as a result of pervasive prejudice against anyone

5

Id.

6

Id. at 15.

7

Id. at 14-15.

8

Id. at 17.

9

R1-280 at 2-3; R2-303; R18 at 11-12.

73

associated with Castro’s Cuban government.10 The motions for change of venue

were based on both the pretrial publicity and on the “virulent anti-Castro

sentiment” which had existed in Miami as “a dominant value . . . for four

decades.”11 The motions were supported by news articles and Moran’s poll to

substantiate “an atmosphere of great hostility towards any person associated with

the Castro regime” and “the extent and fervor of the local sentiment against the

Castro government and its suspected allies.”12

The evidence submitted in support of the motions for change of venue was

massive. At that time, there were more than 700,000 Cuban-Americans living in

Miami.13 Of those Cuban-Americans, 500,000 remembered leaving their

10

R2-317 (Guerrero), 321 (Medina), 324 (Gonzalez), 329 (Campa); R3-397 (Campa).

Medina requested a change of venue “in light of evidence of pervasive community prejudice

against the accused” as documented by Professor Gary Moran’s survey which showed “public

sentiment against persons alleged to be agents of Fidel Castro’s Communist government in

Cuba.” R2-321 at 1-2. Moran concluded that, while there had been “several bursts of newspaper

articles . . . and other media attention” surrounding the Cuban spies’ arrests, the basis for the

motion was the “[v]irulent anti-Castro sentiment” in the community. Id. at 3.

Although Campa, Gonzalez, Guerrero, and Medina had originally argued that the case

should be moved to another judicial district, during oral argument on the motions, they agreed

that they would be satisfied with a transfer of the case within the district from the Miami division

to the Fort Lauderdale division. R5-586 at 2 n.1.

11

R2-321 at 3; R2-316 at 2; R2-317 at 2; R2-324 at 1; R2-329 at 1; R2-334 (containing

news articles which detail the history of anti-Castro sentiment in Miami); R3-397 at 1; R3-453 at

1-2; R3-455 at 2; R3-461 at 2-3.

12

R2-329 at 1, 3; R2-334; R3-397; R3-455.

13

R15-1636, Ex. 9.

74

homeland, 10,000 had a relative murdered in Cuba, 50,000 had a relative tortured

in Cuba, and thousands were former political prisoners.14 These Cuban-Americans

considered Cuban-related matters “‘hot-button issues.’”15

Professor Moran’s survey results showed that 69 percent of all respondents

and 74 percent of Hispanic respondents were prejudiced against persons charged

with engaging in the activities named in the indictment.16 A significant number,

57 percent of the Hispanic respondents and 39.6 percent of all respondents,

indicated that, “[b]ecause of [their] feelings and opinions about Castro’s

government,” they “would find it difficult to be a fair and impartial juror in a trial

of alleged Cuban spies.”17 Over one-third of the respondents, 35.6 percent, said

that they would be worried about criticism by the community if they served on a

jury that reached a not-guilty verdict in a Cuban spy case.18 The respondents who

indicated an inability to be fair and impartial jurors were also asked whether there

were any circumstances that would change their opinion.19 Of those respondents,

14

Id.

15

R15-1636, Exh. 9.

16

R2-321, Ex. A at 10.

17

Id. at Ex. A at 12; see id. at Ex. E at 3.

18

Id. at Ex. A at 11-12.

19

Id. at Ex. A at 13; id. at Ex. E at 3.

75

91.4 percent of the Hispanics and 84.1 percent of the others answered “no.”20

The articles submitted by the defendants included articles that related

directly to the charged crimes and to the defendants and their codefendants.21

20

Id. at Ex. A at 13.

21

The following articles specifically addressing the conspiracy and the indicted

defendants were attached as exhibits in support of the motions for change of venue: George

Gedda, Federal officials say 10 arrested, accused of spying for Cuba, MIAMI HERALD , Sept. 14,

1998, R2-334, Ex.; Manny Garcia, Cynthia Corzo, Ivonne Perez, Spies among us: Suspects

attempted to blend in, Miami, MIAMI HERALD , Sept. 15, 1998, at A1, R2-334; David Lyons,

Carol Rosenberg, Spies among us: U.S. cracks alleged Cuban ring, arrests 10, MIAMI HERALD ,

Sept. 15, 1998, at A1, R2-329, Ex. A; R2-334, Ex.; Spies among us, MIAMI HERALD , Sept. 15,

1998, at 14A, R2-329, Ex. F; Fabiola Santiago, Big news saddens, angers exile community,

MIAMI HERALD , Sept. 15, 1998, R2-334, Exh.; Juan O. Tamayo, Arrest of spy suspects may be

switch in tactics, MIAMI HERALD , Sept. 15, 1998, R2-334, Exh.; Javier Lyonnet, Olance

Nogueras, Cae red de espionaje de Cuba/FBI viro´ al revés casa de supuesto cabecilla and Pablo

Alfons, Rui Ferreira, Cae red de espionaje de Cuba/Arrestan a 10 en Miami, NUEVO HERALD ,

Sept. 15, 1998, at A1, R2-329, Exh. B; La Habana Contra El Pentagono(“Havana versus the

Pentagon”)/Estructura de la Red de Espionaje, NUEVO HERALD , Sept. 15, 1998, R2-329, Exh. C;

Arrest of alleged Cuban spies demands vigorous prosecution, SUN -SENTINEL, Sept. 16, 1998, at

30A, R2-329, Exh. G; Juan O. Tamayo, Miscues blamed on military’s takeover of Cuban spy

agency, MIAMI HERALD , Sept. 17, 1998, at 13A, R2-334, Exh.; David Kidwell, Motion could

delay trials of alleged 10 Cuban spies, MIAMI HERALD , Oct. 6, 1998, at B1, R2-334, Exh.; David

Lyons, Cuban couple pleads guilty in spying case, MIAMI HERALD , Oct. 8, 1998, at A1, R2-334,

Exh.; David Kidwell, Three more accused spies agree to plead guilty, MIAMI HERALD , Oct. 9,

1998, at 4B, R2-329, Exh. H; R2-334, Exh.; Carol Rosenburg, Couple admits role in Cuban spy

ring, MIAMI HERALD , Oct. 22, 1998, at 5B, R2-329, Exh. H; Juan O. Tamayo, U.S.-Cuba spy

agency contacts began a decade ago, MIAMI HERALD , Oct. 31, 1998, R2-334, Exh.; David

Kidwell, U.S. tries to tie espionage case to planes’ downing, MIAMI HERALD , Nov. 13, 1998, at

A1, R2-334, Exh.; Carol Rosenberg, Identities of 3 alleged spies still unknown, Nov. 14, 1998,

at B1, R2-334, Exh.; Juan O. Tamayo, Spies Among Us/Castro Agents Keep Eye on Exiles,

MIAMI HERALD , Apr. 11, 1999, R2-329, Exh. D; R2-334, Exh.; Carol Rosenberg, Shadowing of

Cubans a classic spy tale, MIAMI HERALD , Apr. 16, 1999, at A1, R2-329, Exh. E; R2-334, Exh.;

Cuban spy indictment/Charges filed in downing of exile fliers/The Brothers to the Rescue

Shootdown: David Lyons, Castro agent in Miami cited by U.S. grand jury, Juan O. Tamayo,

Brothers to the Rescue Shootdown/Top spy planned Brothers ambush, and Elaine de Valle,

Relatives: Charges fall short, MIAMI HERALD , May 8, 1999, R2-334, Exh.; Confessed Cuban spy

receives seven years, MIAMI HERALD , Jan. 29, 2000, at B1, R2-355 at C-2; Contrite Cuban spy

couple sentenced, MIAMI HERALD , Feb. 3, 2000, at B5, R3-355 at D-2; Miami Spy-Hunting,

76

Other articles documented community tensions and protests related to general anti-

Castro sentiment, the conditions in Cuba, and other ongoing legal cases in which

Cuban-American issues were involved, including the Elian Gonzalez matter.22

MIAMI HERALD , Feb. 19, 2000, at 21A, R3-397, Exh. G-1; Carol Rosenberg, Confessed Cuban

spies sentenced to seven years, MIAMI HERALD , Feb. 24, 2000, at 1B, R3-397, Exh. I-1;

Terrorism must not win in Brothers to the Rescue shoot-down, MIAMI HERALD , Feb. 24, 2000, at

8B, R3-397, Exh. J-1 (“More than compensation, the families want the moral sting of a U.S.

criminal prosecution in federal court. So far there is only one indictment: Gerardo Hernandez,

alleged Cuban spy-ring leader, charged last year with conspiracy to murder in connection to the

shoot down.”); Brothers Pilots Remembered (photo), MIAMI HERALD , Feb. 25, 2000, at B1, R3-

397, Exh. K-1; Marika Lynch, Shot-down Brothers remembered, MIAMI HERALD , Feb. 25, 2000,

at 2B, R3-397, Exh. L-1.

22

R3-397, Exs.; R4-483, Exs.; R4-498, Exs.

During the same period of time in which the motions for change of venue were pending,

and ultimately the trial was conducted, there was a substantial amount of publicity regarding

other matters of interest in the Cuban community including the conditions in Cuba and high

profile legal events occurring in Miami: the Elian Gonzalez matter; the arrest of an United States

immigration agent, Mariano Faget, who was accused of spying for Cuba; and a city-county ban

on doing business with Cuba.

As to the general anti-Castro sentiments and the conditions in Cuba: Juan O. Tamayo,

Former U.S. Pows Detail Torture by Cubans in Vietnam/Savage beatings bent captives to will of

man dubbed ‘Fidel’, MIAMI HERALD , Aug. 22, 1999, at A1, R2-329, Ex. I; Juan O. Tamayo,

Cuba toughens crackdown/‘Biggest wave of repression so far this year’, MIAMI HERALD , Nov.

11, 1999, at A1, R2-329, Ex. K; Juan O. Tamayo, Witnesses link Castro, drugs, MIAMI HERALD ,

Jan. 4, 2000, at B3, R2-329, Ex. J; Marika Lynch, Castro-challenging pilot is offered parade,

honors, Jan. 4, 2000, at B1, R2-329, Ex. M; Jim Morin, Cuba: I cannot speak my mind (cartoon),

MIAMI HERALD , Jan. 20, 2000, R2-329, Ex. P.

As to Elian Gonzalez: Juan O. Tamayo, Castro Ultimatum/Return boy in 72 hours or

migration talks at risk, MIAMI HERALD , Dec. 6, 1999, at 1A, R2-329, Ex. N; Sara Olkon, Gail

Epstein Nieves, Martin Merzer, The Saga of Elian Gonzalez/Protest and Passion Spread to the

Streets/Sit-ins block intersections and disrupt Dade traffic and Politicians, lawyers work to halt

6-year-old’s return, MIAMI HERALD , Jan. 7, 2000, 1A, I see no basis for reversing decision, Reno

says and Sara Olkon, Anabelle de Gale, Marika Lynch, Pained Cuban exiles disagree on what’s

best for Elian, MIAMI HERALD , Jan. 7, 2000, at 17A, U.S. Preparations for boy’s return start

slowly, The Miami Herald, Jan. 7, 2000, at 18A, R2-329, Ex. O; Peaceful Rally (photo), MIAMI

77

HERALD , Jan. 9, 2000, at 1A, R2-329, Ex. N; Jay Weaver, 3rd judge gets high profile in Elian

case, MIAMI HERALD , Feb. 23, 2000, at 1B, R3-397, Ex. A-1; Sandra Marquez Garcia, Mary

‘appears’ near Elian, MIAMI HERALD , Mar. 26, 2000, at 1B, R4-483, Ex. E-3; Alfonso Chardy,

Authorities keep watch on exile groups, MIAMI HERALD , Mar. 29, 2000, at 10A, R4-483, Ex. C-

3; Vigilant protestors, MIAMI HERALD , Mar. 29, 2000, at 10A, R4-483, Ex. I-3; Andres Viglucci,

Jay Weaver, and Frank Davies, Dad gets visa, but no guarantees for Elian’s transfer, MIAMI

HERALD , Apr. 5, 2000, at 1A, R4-483, Ex. D-3; Elaine de Valle, Media watch events closely–and

get watched in return/Hot words on radio scrutinized, and Terry Jackson, Media watch events

closely–and get watched in return/TV talk, news shows flocking to South Florida, MIAMI

HERALD , Apr. 5, 2000 at 15A, R4-483, Ex. B-3; Karen Branch, Crowds target Reno’s home,

MIAMI HERALD , Apr. 6, 2000, at 2B, R4-483, Ex. A-3; The saga of Elian/Reno wants Elian

today/Boy must be at airport by 2 P.M./Defiant family refusing to comply: Andres Viglucci, Jay

Weaver, and Ana Acle, Great-uncle challenges U.S. to take boy ‘by force’, and Carol Rosenberg,

The Attorney general followed ‘instinct’ as final mediator, MIAMI HERALD , Apr.13, 2000, at 1A,

R4-483, Ex. F-3; The saga of Elian/Family defies order/Crowd swells at Little Havana

home/Judge dismisses family’s custody case/Panel will weigh request for a stay/U.S. takes no

action to remove Elian: Ana Acle, In a show of solidarity, VIPs flock to visit boy, and Andres

Viglucci and Jay Weaver, Reno: U.S. will explore all peaceful solutions, MIAMI HERALD , Apr.

14, 2000, at 1A, R4-483, Ex. G-3; Saga of Elian/Standoff over custody/A show of

solidarity(photo), MIAMI HERALD , Apr, 14, 2000, at 20A, R4-483, Ex. H-3; Karl Ross, W. Dade

home of attorney general on alert, and Police say an anonymous caller phoned in bomb threat

April 13, MIAMI HERALD , Apr. 16, 2000, R4-498, Ex. A-4; Raid’s Prelude: How talks

failed/Missed signals helped doom deal and Sara Olkon, Diana Marrero, and Elaine de Valle,

Thousands protest seizure/Separate rally backs Reno’s actions, MIAMI HERALD , Apr. 30, 2000, at

1A, R4-498, Exh. C-4; Carol Rosenberg, INS agent targeted by death threats, MIAMI HERALD ,

May 6, 2000, R4-498, Exh. B-4; and In memory of mothers who died at sea (photo), MIAMI

HERALD , R4-498, Exh. D-4.

As to Mariano Faget: Elaine de Valle, Fabiola Santiago, and Marika Lynch, FBI: Official

in INS spied for Cuba, MIAMI HERALD , Feb. 18, 2000, at A1, R3-397 at C-1; Amy Driscoll, Juan

Tamayo, Spy bait taken instantly/Alleged Cuban agent phoned contact after receiving false FBI

information, Fabiola Santiago, Aloof suspect with high clearance was ideally positioned to do

harm, and Tracking Faget (photos), MIAMI HERALD , Feb. 19, 2000, at A1, R3-397 at B-1; Don

Bohning, Faget’s father was a brutal Batista official, MIAMI HERALD , Feb. 19, 2000, at 21A, R3-

397, Exh. G-1; Frank Davies, Cuba, U.S. still fight Cold War, MIAMI HERALD , Feb. 19, 2000, at

21A, R3-397, Exh. H-1; Juan O. Tamayo, Cuban diplomat expelled over spy link, MIAMI

HERALD , Feb. 20, 2000, at A1, R3-397, at D-1; Liz Balmaseda, Spy case boosts worst suspicions,

MIAMI HERALD , Feb. 21, 2000, at B1, R3-397, at F-1; Juan O. Tamayo, Cuban diplomat linked

to Elian, INS spy case, MIAMI HERALD , Feb. 22, 2000, at A1, R3-397, at E-1; Juan O. Tamayo,

More exiles maneuvering for business with Cuba, MIAMI HERALD , Mar. 5, 2000, at A-1, R3-455

at A-2; Ana Radelat and Jan O. Tamayo, FBI agents expel defiant Cuban envoy, MIAMI HERALD ,

at A-1, R3-455 at B-2.

78

One of the articles, which addressed a bomb threat against the Attorney General of

the United States following a collapse of talks in the Elian Gonzalez case, recited a

history of anti-Castro exile group violence in the Miami-Dade community:

Scores of bomb threats and actual bombings have been

attributed to anti-Castro exile groups dating back to the 1974

bombings of a Spanish-language publication, Replica. Two years

later, radio journalist Emilio Millan’s legs were blown off in a car

bomb after he spoke out against exile violence.

In the early 1980s, the Mexican and Venezuelan consular

offices were bombed in retaliation for their government’s establishing

relations with Cuba.

Since then, numerous small businesses–those promoting commerce,

travel, or humanitarian aid to Cuba–have been targeted by bombers.23

The government responded to the change of venue motions that the Miami-

Dade Hispanic population was a “heterogeneous,” “highly diverse, even

contentious” “group” immune from the influences which would preclude a fair

trial.24 Following oral arguments on 26 June 2000, the district court denied the

As to the business ban: Marika Lynch, Fernando Almanzar, Protest, taping set to follow

Van Van show, MIAMI HERALD , Sept. 28, 1999, at 3B, and Tyler Bridges, Andres Viglucci,

Miami may bar Van Van next time/County’s Penelas also opposed, MIAMI HERALD , Oct. 13,

1999, at B1, R2-329, Exh. L; Don Finefrock, Ban on business with Cuba tightened, MIAMI

HERALD , Feb. 25, 2000, at 2A, R3-397, Exh. M-1; Jordan Levin, Miami-Dade threatens to cancel

film fest grant/Cuban movie collides with county law, MIAMI HERALD , Feb. 25, 2000, at 1A, R3-

397, Exh. N-1; Jordan Levin, Groups ‘warned’ on Cuba resolution, MIAMI HERALD , May 15,

2000, at 1B, R4-498, Exh. E-4; Decenas De exiliados se congregaron ante la Corte Federal para

reclamar el derecho de Elian Gonzalez a permanecer en EU, R3-455, Exh. E-2.

23

R4-498, Ex. A-4.

24

R3-443 at 11.

79

motion without prejudice, finding that the defendants had failed to demonstrate

that a change of venue was necessary to provide them with a fair trial by an

impartial jury.25 The district court “construed” the motions “as directed primarily

toward the issue of ‘pervasive community prejudice’” and focused its analysis on

“the third inquiry set forth in” Ross v. Hopper, 716 F.2d 1528, 1541 (11th Cir.

1983).26 This third inquiry was defined as “sufficient evidence that the pretrial

publicity has been ‘so inflammatory and prejudicial and so pervasive or saturating

the community as to render virtually impossible a fair trial by an impartial jury,

thus raising a presumption of prejudice.’”27 The court “decline[d] to afford the

survey and Professor Moran’s conclusions the weight attributed by Defendants”

finding, inter alia, that the “size of the statistical sample . . . [wa]s too small to be

25

Hernandez, 106 F. Supp. 2d at 1317-18; R5-586.

26

Id. at 1321 n.2.

27

Id. at 1323-24. By limiting its analysis to the third inquiry of Ross, the district court

necessarily limited its review of the defendants’ evidence to consideration of whether that

evidence demonstrated the prejudicial effect of pretrial publicity. See Ross, 716 F.2d at 1540.

Further, as the en banc opinion states, the district court rejected the defendants’ community

survey and thus focused its analysis solely on the submitted articles. Contrary to the en banc

opinion’s statement in n. 219 that the district court made a specific finding as to prejudice in the

community, this finding was limited to its prior finding that the defendants’ evidence

demonstrated “that the pretrial publicity has not been ‘so inflammatory and pervasive as to raise

a presumption of prejudice’ among the potential jury venire in the case.” Hernandez, 106 F.

Supp. 2d at 1322, 1324.

80

representative of the population of potential jurors in Miami-Dade County.”28

In September 2000, Campa moved for reconsideration of the denial of the

motion for change of venue. In support of the reconsideration motion, he

submitted news articles containing information that he provided the court both

during an ex parte sidebar within the change of venue motion hearing and in his

motion for leave to file his motions for foreign witness depositions ex parte.29 He

explained in the reconsideration motion that the information had been previously

provided to the court ex parte because it disclosed the defendants’ theory of

defense and that he sought the foreign witnesses to support that theory.30 He

argued that the news articles discussing “the defendants’ tacit admission that they

were keeping an eye on several extremist anti-Castro groups on behalf of the

Cuban government, and that Cuban citizens and officials [we]re prepared to testify

on behalf of the defendants” had aggravated the prejudice in the Miami

community.31 He noted that the articles characterized the defendants as Cuban

28

Id.

29

R5-656 at 2-3.

30

Id. at 2.

31

Id. at 3 (internal punctuation omitted).

81

agents who would call Cuban officials and citizens to testify on their behalf.32 The

district court denied reconsideration and invited the defendants to renew their

motion after voir dire.33

B. Voir Dire

The trial began with jury selection on 27 November 2000.34 In phase one,

168 jurors were screened for problems such as language and hardship through a

written questionnaire and oral voir dire questions.35 In phase two, the 82

remaining prospective jurors were individually questioned regarding media

exposure, knowledge and opinions of the case, the Castro government, the United

States policy toward Cuba, the Elian Gonzalez case, the Cuban exile community

and its reaction to the case, including a possible acquittal.36

32

Id. The following articles were included as exhibits: Rui Ferreira, Cuba helps defense

at spy trial, MIAMI HERALD , Aug. 18, 2000, at 1B, R5-656, Ex. A; Rui Ferreira, Funcionarios

cubanos irán al juicio de los espias, NUEVO HERALD , Aug. 18, 2000, at 17A, R5-656, Exh. B;

Cuba colaborará en juicio por espionaje, NUEVO DIARIO , Aug. 19, 2000, at 61, R5-656, Exh. C;

Rui Ferreira, Un misterioso coronel cubano se suma al caso de los espias, NUEVO HERALD , Aug.

21, 2000, at 21A, R5-656, Exh. D; To the point/Mr. President, define “handshake”, MIAMI

HERALD , Sept. 11, 2000, at 6B, R5-656, Exh. F; and Accused spy seeks release of U.S.

documents, MIAMI HERALD , Sept. 12, 2000, at 33, R5-656, Exh. E.

33

R6-723 at 2-3.

34

R6-765.

35

R6-766; R22.

36

The district court disqualified 79 of the 168 venire persons for cause, 32 (19%) in

Phase 1 and 22 (27%) in Phase 2 for Cuba-related animus.

82

The district court’s concern for the media attention became an issue on the

first day of voir dire. After learning that the jurors were exposed to a press

conference held by the victims’ families on the courthouse steps during the lunch

break and that some of the jurors were approached by members of the press, the

district court addressed isolating the jurors.37 Acknowledging that there was a

“tremendous amount of media attention” in the case, the district judge instituted a

number of protections for the jury including instructing the government to speak

to the victims’ families about their conduct, extending the gag order to cover the

witnesses and jurors, instructing the marshals to accompany the jurors as they left

the building, and sealing the voir dire questions.38

Some venire members were clearly biased against Castro and the Cuban

government and were excused for cause.39

37

R22 at 111-16; R62 at 6575-76.

38

R7-978 at 2-3, 7; R21 at 111-113, 117-19; R22 at 115, 119; R64 at 6459-60.

39

See R25 at 782, 789 (potential juror stated that she would not believe any witness who

admitted that he had been a Cuban spy); R26 at 1068-70 (potential juror admitted that he “would

feel a little bit intimidated and maybe a little fearful for my own safety if I didn’t come back with

a verdict that was in agreement with what the Cuban community feels, how they think the verdict

should be,” and that, “based on my own contact with other Cubans and how they feel about

issues dealing with Cuba–anything dealing with communism they are against,” he would suspect

that “they would have a strong opinion” on the trial. He explained that he “probably would have

a great deal of difficulty dealing with listening to the testimony. . . . would probably be a nervous

wreck, . . . and would have some trouble dealing with the case.” He said that he “would be a

little bit nervous and have some fear, actually fear for my own safety if I didn’t come back with a

verdict that was in agreement with the Cuban community at large.”); R27 at 1277 (potential juror

83

Other venire members indicated negative beliefs regarding Castro or the

Cuban government but believed that they could set those beliefs aside to serve on

the jury.40 Three of these jurors ended up seated on the jury, and one served as

expressed concern that, “no matter what the decision in this case, it is going to have a profound

effect on lives both here and in Cuba.” He believed that the Cuban government was “a

repressive regime that needs to be overturned,” was “very committed to the security of the United

States,” and “would certainly have some doubt about how much control [a member of the Cuban

military] would have over what they would say [on the witness stand] without some tremendous

concern for their own welfare.”); R26 at 1057, 1059, 1073 (a potential juror who was a banker

and senior vice president in charge of housing loans was “concern[ed] how . . . public opinion

might affect [his] ability to do his job” because he dealt with a lot of developers in the Hispanic

community and knew that the case was “high profile enough that there may be strong opinions”

which could “affect his ability to generate loans.”); R27 at 1166, 1168 (potential juror said that

he did not like the Cuban government and asked “how could you believe” the testimony of an

individual connected with the current Cuban government); R28 at 1452-53 (potential juror

believed that “Fidel Castro is a dictator” and that there were “things going on in Cuba that the

people are not happy about.”); R26 at 1001-02 (potential juror thought that Castro had “messed

up” Cuba which was “a very bad government . . . perhaps one of the worst governments that exist

. . . on the planet.”)

40

See R25 at 880 (potential juror said she held a “[v]ery strong” opinion and did not

believe in the Cuban system of government but did not feel that it would affect her ability to

render a verdict); R25 at 829-31, 51-52 (potential juror thought she could be impartial, but

admitted that “it would be difficult” and that she did not know if she “could be fair.” She said

that the case was discussed “every time my [Cuban born] parents have visitors over” and that she

knew she would be “a little biased” in favor of the United States as she did not agree with

“communism.”); R27 at 1240-47 (potential juror, who was born in Cuba and immigrated to the

United States with her family in the late 1950s-early 1960s, had three relatives who were

involved in the Bay of Pigs invasion and her husband had participated in the 1980 Mariel boat lift

to rescue his sister and her family from Cuba. Although she stated that she would be impartial,

she said that she saw “Castro as a dictator.”); R25 at 790-96 (potential juror, a Cuban immigrant,

said that she did “not approve of the regime . . . in Cuba” and was “against communism” but

believed she could serve impartially. She remembered the news from the television and the

Miami Herald about the planes being shot down); R27 at 1227-32 (potential juror said that,

although her father left Cuba because of communism and she believed that the Cuban

government was “oppressive,” she believed that she would not be prejudiced); R27 at 1148-50

(potential juror who was born in Cuba and immigrated to the United States with her family stated

that she was “always for the U.S.” and “against the Republic of Cuba,” did not like Cuba being a

communist country, and had relatives living in Cuba. She had a problem with the case because it

84

involved “espionage against the U.S.” but indicated that she could set aside her feelings to serve

on the jury); R26 at 1011-13, 1018-19 (potential juror commented that he had “no prejudices”

but “live[d] in a neighborhood where there [we]re a lot of Cubans” and was “acquainted with

people that come from Cuba. That is universal in Dade County.” When asked whether he would

be concerned about community sentiment if he were chosen as a juror, he “answer[ed] . . . with

some care. . . . [i]f the case were to get a lot of publicity, it could become quite volatile and . . .

people in the community would probably have things to say about it.” He stated that “it would

be difficult given the community in which we live” “to avoid hearing somebody express an

opinion” on the case and to follow a court’s instruction to not read, listen to, or otherwise expose

himself to information about the case. His opinion about the Cuban government was “not

favorable” as it was “not a democracy” and was “guilty of assorted [human rights] crimes.”); R26

at 1021-28, 1030, 10323223, (potential juror initially said that he did not “think he would have

any sort of prejudice[]” against defendants who were agents of the Cuban government but could

not say for certain because of “[t]he environment that we are in. This being Miami. There is so

much talk about Cuba here. So many strong opinions either way.” He later, however, admitted

to having biases against the Cuban government, which he believed was “anti-American” and

“tyrannical,” and to having “an obvious mistrust . . . of those affiliated with the [Cuban]

government.” He also indicated that he would be concerned about returning a not guilty verdict

because “a lot of the people [in Miami] are so right wing fascist,” because he would face

“personal criticism” and media coverage, and because he had concerns for what might happen

after a verdict was returned. He believed the case to be “a high profile case” and that he had been

videotaped by the media when leaving the courthouse.); R27 at 1139-48 (potential juror who was

born in Cuba and immigrated to the United States with his parents initially stated that he did not

think he “could make a fair judgment” in the case and would be prejudiced because he had “a lot

of family ties in Cuba” including uncles, aunts, and cousins but later answered that he could set

aside his concerns if selected for the jury. He was troubled about returning a verdict in the case

based on his concern for something happening to his “family . . . in Cuba” and the notoriety of

the case in Miami. He also said that he had “heard a lot about the case . . . on the news [and

from] people talking about” it); R28 at 1424-25, 1433 (potential juror believed that Castro was “a

very bad person” and, when asked whether her opinion regarding the Cuban government would

affect her ability to fairly weigh the evidence, answered “I don’t think so. . . . I don’t know. I

have lived in South Florida for 36 years and I have seen many changes.” She had known one of

the passengers in one of the BTTR planes on the day of the shoot-down and who was named as a

government witness, for about eight years. She also knew that the witness was “very involved

with the Brothers to the Rescue and very strongly keeping the Cuban community together in

Miami.”); R25 at 818-22 (potential juror did not think that it would affect his ability to be

impartial but he “was not happy” with United States-Cuban relations following the Mariel boat

lift. He did not like the freedom that Cubans had to immigrate to the United States because

immigrants from other countries were treated differently and “sometimes [he felt like] a stranger

in [his] own country” when he needed to ask someone to speak English instead of Spanish); R27

at 1118-28, 1175-77 (potential juror had “many close Cuban friends,” including her husband’s

business partner who was a member of a group that rescued Cubans fleeing the island. She

85

the foreperson.41 The district court denied the defendants’ request to excuse one

potential juror, who admitted that she knew the daughter of one of the downed

pilots, had visited the pilot’s home, and had attended his funeral.42

Finally, other venire members espoused indifference toward Castro or the

Cuban government.43

believed that she could be impartial but had concerns about returning a verdict in Miami

“because of the Cuban population here.” She “was a little distressed with the way that the

[Cuban] exile community handled” the Elian Gonzalez matter because she did not “like the

crowd mentality, the mob mentality that interferes with what I feel is a working system.” She

strongly believed that the Cuban government was an oppressive dictatorship. She remembered

news reports regarding “the planes being shot down” and several men dying, and that it was a

“very bad situation” and frightening because of the possibility of military action. Leilani Triana

testified that, although her parents were from Cuba and her grandfather had been politically

involved in Cuba before Castro, she could be impartial.

41

See R24 at 555, 561-62, 571, 590; R25 at 741-49. David Buker, who served as jury

foreperson, stated that he believed that “Castro is a communist dictator and I am opposed to

communism so I would like to see him gone and a democracy established in Cuba.” Although

the government notes that Campa’s attorney commented that Buker was “uninvolved or

personally disconnected from the experience [of a Cuban] and that his “general philosophical

problem with communism” was “perfectly okay,” Campa’s attorney’s comment was made in the

context of his argument concerning striking for cause another juror whose responses were

“rooted in personal experience.” R25 at 851.

Both Sonia Portalatin, who had a “strong” opinion about the Cuban government because

she was “against communism,” R24 at 619; R25 at 858-65, and Eugene Yagle, who admitted

having “a strong opinion” about the Cuban government as he could not “reconcile [him]self to

that form of Government,” R22 at 144, 165-67; R27 at 1294-1300; R28 at 1517-20; R29 at 1553-

57, 1601-02, 1638, were seated on the jury.

42

R24 at 519-22, 534-36. The potential juror was the principal of the predominantly (90

percent) Cuban high school attended by the daughter of one of the killed BTTR pilots. She

visited the pilot’s home and attended his funeral. Despite her relationship with the pilot’s

daughter, she thought she “could be fair” although “it would be a little difficult.”

43

See R25 at 841-43, 846 (potential juror had traveled to Cuba with his family “to take

goods” and medicines to friends and had friends who frequently traveled to Cuba; he knew of no

86

Some of the potential jurors who had personal contact with the victims, their

family members, BTTR, government witnesses, or the parties were not questioned

during Phase II or were excused for cause.44 Following voir dire, Medina’s

attorney complimented the district court on the conduct of voir dire but indicated

his concerns that there were three women seated on the jury who exemplified

Professor Moran’s opinion that certain community members who were subjected

to community pressures were unable to admit their underlying prejudices.45

From the beginning of voir dire until the completion of the trial, the

reasons why he should not serve on the jury. He remembered hearing or reading “years back”

“something about Brothers to the Rescue” and someone in the group who was a spy for the

Cuban government); R27 at 1300-08 (potential juror who had family in Cuba thought he could

be fair, but was unable to say whether he would be able to believe a witness who was a member

of the communist party in Cuba); R27 at 1134-39 (potential juror whose parents and

grandparents had immigrated from Cuba and who had distant relatives who remained in Cuba but

he had no opinions regarding the Cuban government, the trial, or the publicity surrounding it);

R26 at 990-06 (potential juror felt sympathy for the people living in Cuba but believed that she

would be impartial as a juror. She knew from the media that “airplanes were shot down in Cuba

a couple of years ago” and that “some families . . . gathered to remember the anniversary of the

incident” a few weeks before voir dire); R26 at 938, 945 (potential juror had concerns about

community reaction to a verdict because she did not “want rioting and stuff to happen like what

happened with the Elian case. I thought that got out of hand.”).

44

See R21 at 139; R23 at 251, 254; R24 at 373, 385-86, 458, 508-10 (three potential

jurors knew government witness Jose Basulto, another knew a widow of one of the killed BTTR

pilots, and a third knew the daughter of one of the BTTR victims); R25 at 776-70, 809-12; R26

at 937-41 (potential juror who was a former national bank examiner had assisted the United

States Attorney’s office in Miami for three years during a grand jury investigation); R25 at 655,

690, 709 (potential juror knew knew many of the named witnesses, and had helped raise money

for BTTR while working for one of the local Cuban radio stations).

45

R27 at 1373-76.

87

prospective and actual jurors were admonished not to discuss the case with anyone

and to have no contact with media accounts or anything else related to the case.46

The jurors were also instructed about the presumption of innocence.47 The district

court limited the sketching of witnesses for their protection.48 It permitted,

however, the media “access to all the evidence admitted into the trial record.”49

C. The Evidence at Trial

As the en banc opinion states, the defendants were members of a Cuban

government intelligence operation that maintained a spy operation in South

Florida. Campa, Hernandez, and Medina falsely identified themselves through

elaborate “legends,” or biographies, and back-up or “reserve” identities when they

dealt with United States border and law enforcement personnel and when they

obtained driver licenses, passports, and other identification.50 Some of their

46

R21 at 44-45; R22 at 119; R116 at 13492-93.

47

R21 at 26.

48

R9-1126.

49

Hernandez, 124 F. Supp. 2d 698, 704 (S.D. Fla. 2000); R7-808.

50

R33 at 2145; R34 at 2321-40; R44 at 3724-26; R49 at 4677-78; R66 at 6833-35; R69

at 6981-7016 Govt. Exs. 4; 5-1; 5-2; 5-3; 5-4; 5-6; 6; 7; 9; 8-1; 8-3; 8-4; 11; 12-3; 12-4; 12-5; 12-

8; DAV 110 at 2, 118 at 7-14; DG 105 at 2-16; DG 125; DG 126 at 9-10; DG 135 at 3-11; DG

136; SF 14; SF 15; SG 34; SG 53. Under their false identities, Campa was also known as

Fernando Gonzalez Llort, Oscar, or Vicky, R101 at 11714; Gonzalez was known as Agent

Castor; Guerrero was known as Lorient, Govt. Exs. DAV 102 at 1; DAV 129 at 2; Hernandez

was known as Girardo, Giro, or Manuel; and Medina was known as Allan or Ramon Labanino;

R101 at 11721-23.

88

assigned duties included infiltrating, monitoring, and disrupting the work of

certain militant Cuban exiles in South Florida, reporting on anti-Castro

organizations in Miami-Dade County, and infiltrating United States military and

government agencies and reporting on operations at certain United States military

installations.51

The Cuban exile groups of concern to the Cuban government included

Alpha 66,52 Brigade 2506, BTTR , Independent and Democratic Cuba (“CID”),

51

R45 at 3870-71; Govt. Exs. DAV 109 at 6-7; DG 101 at 2; DG 102 at 30; DG 107 at

12-20, 58-67; DG 108 at 2-3; DG 117; DG 129; DG 137 at 2; HF 103. The Cuban government

maintains the following intelligence operations: the Directorate of Military Intelligence (“DIM”)

under the Ministry of Revolutionary Armed Forces, and the Directorate of Intelligence (“DI”)

and the Directorate of Counterintelligence (“DCI”) under the Ministry of the Interior. R44 at

3700-05, 3707. The DI collects intelligence outside of Cuba, focusing primarily on the United

States; the DCI is responsible for intelligence regarding counter-revolutionary activities inside of

Cuba. R44 at 3704, 3707. The DI is organized into many operational components, including M-

I which handles non-military United States government agency intelligence, M-III which handles

the collecting, correlating, and reporting of gathered information, M-V which handles the

operation and support of “illegal” intelligence officers (“IO”s) who enter the United States

illegally with a false identity and identification, M-XIX which handles counter-revolutionary

individuals and organizations outside of Cuba. R44 at 3708-11, 3713; R46 at 3957.

52

Orlando Suarez Pineiro, a Cuban-born permanent resident of the United States, served

as a captain in Alpha 66 for about six years. R90 at 10373-74. On 20 May 1993, he and other

Alpha 66 members were arrested while on board a boat with weapons in the Florida Keys. Id. at

10391-92, 10397-401, 10415-16. The weapons included pistols with magazines and

ammunition, 50 caliber machine guns with ammunition, rifles with clips, and an RK. Id. at

10397-400. Pineiro was tried and found not guilty of possession of a Norinko AK 47 rifle and

two pipe bombs. Id. at 10424. Pineiro and other Alpha 66 members were also stopped and

released while on board a boat on 10 June 1994, but their weapons and boat were seized. Id. at

10409, 10411-14. The seized weapons included a machine gun and AK 47s. Id. at 10411-14.

United States Customs Agent Ray Crump testified that, on 20 May 1993, he participated

in the arrest of several men whose boat was moored at a marina in Marathon, Florida. Id. at

10429. The boat held: several handguns; automatic rifles, including one fully automatic rifle;

89

Comandos F4,53 Commandos L, CANF,54 the Cuban American Military Council

four grenades; two pipe bombs; a 40 millimeter grenade launcher; a 50 caliber Baretta

semiautomatic rifle; and a bottle printed with “Alpha 66" which contained “Hispanic propaganda

. . . , . . . crayons, razors, stuff of that nature.” Id. at 10431-33, 10434. He also participated in an

investigation of a vessel south of Little Torch Key, about ten miles south of Marathon, Florida,

on 11 July 1993. Id. at 10433-34. The vessel was carrying four men, numerous weapons, and

“Alpha 66 type propaganda.” Id. at 10434. The weapons on the vessel included an AR 15, two

7.6 millimeter rifles and ammunition magazines. Id. at 10438. Following this investigation, the

men were not arrested, and the weapons and vessel were not seized. Id. at 10438-39.

United States Customs Agent Rocco Marco said that he encountered four anti-Castro

militants on 27 October 1997, after their vessel, the “Esperanza”, was stopped in waters off

Puerto Rico. R90-10449. He explained that U.S. Coast Guard officers searched the vessel and

found weapons and ammunition “hidden in a false compartment underneath the stairwell leading

to the lower deck.” The officers found food, water bottles, camouflage military apparel, night

vision goggles, communications equipment, binoculars, two Biretta 50 caliber semiautomatic

rifle with 70 rounds of ammunition, ten rounds of 357 hand gun ammunition, and magazines and

clips for the firearms. R90 at 10453-59. The leader of the group, Angel Manuel Alfonso of

Alpha 66, confessed to Rocco that they were on their way to assassinate Castro at ILA

Marguarita, where he was scheduled to give a speech. Id. at 10452, 10467. Alfonso explained to

Rocco that “his purpose in life was to kill [Castro]” and that it did not “matter if he went to jail

or not. He would come back and accomplish the mission.” Id. at 10468.

Debbie McMullen, the chief investigator with the Federal Public Defender’s Office,

testified that Ruben Dario Lopez-Castro was an individual associated with a number of anti-

Castro organizations, including PUND and Alpha 66. R97 at 11267. Lopez and Orlando Bosch

planned to ship weapons into Cuba for an assassination attempt on Castro. Id. at 11254. Bosch

had a long history of terrorist acts against Cuba, and prosecutions and convictions for terrorist-

related activities in the United States and in other countries. Campa Exh. R77 at 18-35.

53

Rodolfo Frometa testified that, although he was born in Cuba, he was a citizen of the

United States. R91 at 10531. He explained that he was a United States representative of a

Cuban organization called Comandos F4, which was organized “to bring about political change

in a peaceful way in Cuba” and included members both inside of and exiled from Cuban. Id. at

10532. He identified himself as

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