# Petition — Scibelli v. United States

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## Record

- **Collection:** Supreme Court brief
- **Document type:** Petition
- **Published:** January 1, 1977
- **Citation:** 431 U.S. 960

## Text

Supreme Court, U. &
-e FILED |

MAR 2 1977

ge CLERK
In the . —
Supreme Court of the United States

Octoser Term, 1976

No. 26°1212

FRANCESCO SCIBELLI,
PETITIONER,

v.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
RESPONDENT.

PETITION FOR WRIT OF CERTIORARI TO
THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FIRST CIRCUIT

JoszePH J. Bauiiro
Joan C. Scpmmt
One Center Plaza,
Boston, Massachusetts 02108
(617) 227-5822
Attorneys for the Petitioner

| $$$ _______—_
Blanchard Press, Inc., Boston, Mass. — Law Printers

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page
od oo ae de ie eae 1
EEE ae RE evar Ce nT ee 2
Question Presented for Review ..................... 2
I Ss ns fs Ssh barns oes bes ee 2
ee a. ew ak bu ewe uwaceee ce 2

Reasons for Granting the Writ,

A. The Opinion of the Court of Appeals for the
First Circuit Is Contrary to the Intent of Con-
gress in Passing 18 U.S.C. § 2518(1)(c) and
Eg ea oot ce nahh awk Ge ee ree Gees 4

B. There Appears To Be a Wide Divergence of
Opinion Among the Several Circuit Courts of
Appeal Concerning the Extent to Which the
Government Must Aver Its Exhaustion of Nor-
mal Investigative Techniques and the Extent
to Which It Actually Must Pursue Alternative

Means to Electronic Surveillance... ..s—s—s«i«w‘iw“ an 7
IS gti t ot i ee as ko Ne 8
Appendix A: Opinion of the United States Court of

Appeals for the First Cireuit........ 9
Appendix B: United States Code, Title 18, Sections 2,
i OF Ee 24

TaBLE or AUTHORITIES

Cases
United States v. Armosida, 515 F.2d 29 (3rd Cir. 1975),
cert. denied, 423 U.S. 858 (1976) ................. 8
United States v. Giordano, 416 U.S. 505 (1974) 6
United States v. Kahn, 415 U.S. 143 (1974) ........ 4,

6
United States v. Kalustian, 519 F.2d 585 (9th Cir. 1976) 7
United States v. Verto, 533 F.2d 838 (3rd Cir. 1976) .. 8

ii Table of Contents
Statutory Provisions

United States Code, Title 18,
a va ew tea Mad
Chapter 19, Section S71 .........................
ts SI Ves Nodes ducueeedews

Chapter 119, Section 2518 ............. 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8

Miscellaneous

S. Rep. No. 1097, 90th Cong., 2d Sess., U.S. Code Cong.
es, Se EE 5s. c's oss Sabo s ceed ead ences

In the
Supreme Court of the United States

Octoser Term, 1976

No.

FRANCESCO SCIBELLI,
PETITIONER,

Vv.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

RESPONDENT.

PETITION FOR WRIT OF CERTIORARI TO
THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
- FOR THE FIRST CIRCUIT

Petitioner Francesco Scibelli respectfully prays that a
writ of certiorari issue to review the judgment and opinion
of the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
entered on January 31, 1977.

Opinion Below

The opinion of the Court of Appeals for the First Cireuit
has not yet been published in the official reports. A copy of
the opinion is attached hereto as Appendix A. (App. 9).

2
Jurisdiction

_ The judgment sought to be reviewed was entered by the
United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit on
January 31, 1977. No petition for rehearing was filed
because of the limitation of such petitions to new matters
under Local Rule 15 of the First Circuit.

Jurisdiction is conferred upon this Court by 28 U.S.C.
§ 1254(1) to review the judgment of the Court of Appeals
by writ of certiorari.

Question Presented for Review

1. Whether or not the Government failed to comply with
the relevant provisions of 18 U.S.C. § 2518(1)(¢), requiring
that the affidavits, applications and orders used to secure
permission for electronic surveillances set forth with suffi-
cient particularity that investigative procedure, other than
electronic surveillances, were tried and failed or reason-
ably appeared unlikely to succeed?

Statutes Involved

18 U.S.C. §§ 2, 371, 1955 and 2518 are involved. The text of
those sections is attached hereto as Appendix B. (App. 24).

Statement of the Case

The petitioner was charged and convicted with others of
operating an illegal gambling business and with conspiracy
to commit the substantive offense in violation of 18 U.S.C.
§§ 1955, 2, and 371. In the course of a six-month investi-
gation into gambling operations in western Massachusetts,
the F.B.I. derived evidence against the petitioner (and the
other co-defendants) from three periods of electronic sur-

3

veillance. The petitioner’s pre-trial motion to suppress this
evidence was denied after an evidentiary hearing. All
defendants, including the petitioner, waived trial by jury
and agreed to be tried by the Court on the basis of stipu-
lated facts and opinions. The petitioner, as well as the other
defendants, specifically reserved ‘‘their challenge to the
validity of the court orders herein discussed, their challenge
to the manner in which the said court orders were imple-
mented, or any other matter heretofore raised on motion.’’
(App. 11).

The three affidavits in support of the Government’s ap-
plications for wiretap orders contained the following con-
clusionary language:

‘‘normal investigative procedures have failed to gather
evidence necessary to sustain prosecution for viola-
tions of these offenses and appear unlikely to succeed
if tried further.’’ (App. 12)

However, during cross-examination, F.B.I. Special Agent
Ringgold, who was in charge of the investigation, admitted
that contrary to the allegations contained in the affidavits,
he did not consider discussing with his informants the
possibility of their being given immunity, of their being
placed in protective custody, or of their being relocated
with a new identity in return for testifying. (App. 18)

The petitioner’s appeal to the United States Court of
Appeals for the First Circuit concerned itself with the sole
issue of whether the Trial Court erred in denying the
petitioner’s motion to suppress the evidence acquired dur-
ing the three electronic surveillances for the reason that the
Government failed to comply with 18 U.S.C. § 2518(1)(c),
which requires that an application for a wiretap order
include ‘‘a full and complete statement as to whether or

4

not other investigative procedures have been tried and
failed or why they reasonably appear to be unlikely to
succeed if tried or to be too dangerous.’’

Reasons for Granting the Writ

A. Tue Opryion or THe Court or AppEALs For THE Fist
Crrcurt Is Contrary To THE INTENT or CONGRESS IN
Passtne 18 U.S.C. § 2518(1)(c) anv (3)(c).

18 U.S.C. § 2518(1)(c) and 2518(3)(c) require an appli-
cation for authority to make any wire interception to state,
and the judge authorizing any such wire interception to find,
thet ‘‘normal investigative procedures’’ have either failed
or appeal unlikely to succeed. In United States v. Kahn,
415 U.S. 143 (1974) the Court makes reference at page 151
to Sena.e Report No. 1097 of the 90th Congress, which
contains the legislative history of the aforesaid provisions
and explains the Congressional intent behind them.

With respect to § 2518(1)(c) the Senate Report indicated
that

‘*{s]ubparagraph (c) requires a full and complete
statement as to whether or not normal investigative
procedures have been tried and have failed or why
these are unlikely to succeed if tried, or to be too
dangerous. This requirement is patterned after tra-
ditional search warrant practice and present English
procedure in the issuance of warrants to wiretap by
the Home Secretary. Compare Report of the Commit-
tee of Councillors Appointed to Inquire into the Inter-
ception of Communication, par. 64 (1957); Read v.
Case, 4 Conn. 166 (1822). The judgment would involve
a consideration of all the facts and circumstances.
Normal investigative procedure would include, for ex-
ample, standard visual or aural surveillance techniques

5

by law enforcement officers, general questioning or in-
terrogation under an immunity grant, use of regular
search warrants, and the infiltration or conspiratorial
groups by undercover agents or informants. Merely
because a normal investigative technique is theoreti-
cally possible, it does not follow that it is likely. See
Giancana v. United States, 353 F.2d 921 (7th) certio-
rari denied, 86 S. Ct. 437, 382 U.S. 959 (1965); New
York v. Saperstewm, 2 N.Y. 2d 210, 140 N.E. 2d 252
(1957). What the provision envisions is that the
showing be tested in a practical and common-sense
fashion. Compare United States v. Ventresca, 85 S. Ct.
741, 380 U.S. 102 (1965).’’

S. Rep. No. 1097, 90th Cong., 2d Sess., 1968 U.S.
Code Cong. & Admin. News, 2190.

Section 2518(3) (c) authorizes a Federal judge to enter
an ex parte order authorizing or approving the intercep-
tion of wire or oral communications. What the judge must
determine before he can issue an order, based on the facts
submitted to him, is specified in subparagraphs (a) through
(d). The legislative history then makes the following obser-
vation with respect to these requirements:

‘‘Together they are intended to meet the test of the
Constitution that electronic surveillance techniques be
used only under the most precise and discriminate cir-
cumstances, which fully comply with the requirement
of particularity (Berger v. New York, 87 S. Ct. 1873,
388 U.S. 41, 58-60 (1967); Katz v. United States, 88 S.
Ct. 507, 389 U.S. 347, 355-356 (1967).’’

S. Rep. No. 1079, 90th Cong., 2d Sess., 101, U.S. Code
Cong. & Admin. News, 1968, p. 2112 at 2191.

It is plain that Title III of the Omnibus Crime Control and
Safe Streets Act of 1968 was the studied reaction of Con-

6

gress to an awakening realization that our form of govern-
ment will not permit an intrusion by electronic devices into
the privacy of our citizens without the most careful judicial
scrutiny and supervision. Although recognizing that the
sophistication of modern-day crime and the employment
by those who seek to break the law of telephonic communica-
tion requires that law enforcement be given an equally ef-
fective tool, with which to uncover such crime, Congress
nonetheless displayed its concern with potential abuse by
insisting that every application for electronic surveillance
contain :

‘*A full and complete statement as to whether or not
other investigative procedures have been tried and
failed or why they reasonably appear to be unlikely to
succeed if tried or to be too dangerous.’’

18 U.S.C. 2518(1) (ce) (1968),

and that a Court order permitting electronic surveillance
may be authorized only if a United States District Court
Judge or a United States Court of Appeals Judge finds
that

‘*‘Normal investigative procedures have been tried and
have failed or reasonably appear to be unlikely to
succeed if tried or to be too dangerous.”’

18 U.S.C. 2518(3) (ce) (1968).

In the opinion below, the Court of Appeals, quoting
United States v. Kahn, supra and United States v. Giordano,
416 U.S. 506 (1974), observed that ‘‘ ‘ the purpose of the
statutory language is simply designed to assure that wire-
tapping is not resorted to in situations where traditional
investigative techniques would suffice to expose the crime’,’’

.. *fand that the Section safeguards against wiretapping
‘procedures [being] routinely employed as the initial step
in the criminal investigation’.’’

(App. 16)

7

In footnote 5 of its opinion the Court below dismissed
the petitioner’s contention that Agent Ringgold’s affidavits
were insufficient because he had failed to discuss immunity,
failed to discuss the possibility of protective custody, and
failed to discuss relocation with his informants, stating that
‘*to limit the Government’s investigation by requiring it to
use every available incentive to induce informants to testify
prior to seeking a wiretap order would constitute unwarrant-
ed Court interference with legitimate investigative discre-
tion, and would effectively foreclose electronic surveillance
until every other imaginable method of investigation has
been successfully attempted.’’ (App. 18).

Contrary to the opinion of the Court of Appeals, what
Sections 2518(1) (c) and (3) (c) require is not an actual at-
tempt at every other possible investigative technique, but
rather a detailed statement as to why certain normal inves-
tigative techniques are inappropriate and impossible for the
particular matter under investigation. Only then can the
judge before whom the application is brought make an
independent and considered judgment that a wiretap is
necessary, and not merely the path of least resistance for
the Government.

B. Tuere Appears TO Be a Wive Divercence or Opinion
AMoNG THE SEvERAL Circuits oF ApPpEAL CONCERNING
THE Extent To WHICH THE GovERNMENT Must AvVER
ExHavustTion or NorMAu INVESTIGATIVE TECHNIQUES AND
tHE Extent to Wuicu Ir Acruatty Must Pursve
ALTERNATIVE Means To ELEctTRONIC SURVEILLANCE.

In United States v. Kalustian, 529 F.2d 585 (9th Cir.
1976), the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit estab-
lished what probably represents the most rigid standards
that must be followed in order that an affidavit pass mus-
ter, requiring that

8

‘*the Government must (1) inform him of every tech-
nique which is customarily used in police work in inves-
tigating the type of crime involved, and (2) explain
why each of them has either been unsuccessful or is
too dengerous or unlikely to succeed because of the
particular circumstances of that case.’’

At the opposite end of the spectrum is the more ‘‘prag-
matic’’ approach represented by the decisions of the Third
Circuit in United States v. Armosida, 515 F.2d 29 (3rd
Cir. 1975) cert. denied 423 U.S. 858 (1976); and more
recently in United States v. Vento, 533 F.2d 838 (3rd Cir.
1976.)

To secure the right of the individual citizen to be free
from unwarranted and unjustified wiretap intrusions is the
obvious purpose of 18 U.S.C. 2518. A determination by this
Court as to what particulars must be presented to a judge
before a wiretap order is made is necessary to ensure
uniformity in the application of 18 U.S.C. 2518(1) (c) and
(3) (c) among the several Circuits.

Conclusion

For the foregoing reasons, the petition for writ of
certiorari should be granted: to determine whether the
opinion of the Court of Appeals for the First Circuit failed
to take into account the intent of Congress in passing 18
U.S.C. 2518(1) (ce) and (3) (c); and to resolve inconsis-
tencies between the several Circuit Courts of Appeals.

Respectfully submitted,

JosEPH J. BaLLrro
Joan C, Scomipt
One Center Plaza,
Boston, Massachusetts 02108
Attorneys for the Petitioner
(617) 227-5822

9

APPENDIX A

United States Court of Appeals

For the First Circuit
No. 76-1214

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
APPELLEE,
Vv.
FRANCESCO SCIBELLI,
DEFENDANT, APPELLANT.
No. 76-1215

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
APPELLEE,
v.
ANDREW TORINO,

DEFENDANT, APPELLANT,

No. 76-1216
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
APPELLEE,
v.
DANIEL SACCO,
DEFENDANT, APPELLANT.
No. 76-1217

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
APPELLEE,
v.
ADOLFO BRUNO,

DEFENDANT, APPELLANT,

APPEALS FROM THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS
[Hon. Franx H. Freepman, U.S. District Judge]

10

Befcere Corrin, Chief Judge,
McEnter anp CaMPBELL, Circuit Judges.

Joseph J. Balliro for Francesco Scibelli, appellant.

Jay M. Forgotson for Andrew Torino, appellant.

James M. Pool, by appointment of the Court, for Daniel Sacco,
appellant.

John E. Barrett, with whom Jerry E. Benezra was on brief, for
Adolfo Bruno, appellant.

Edward L. Donnellan, with whom Keyes, Donnellan and Dana-
her was on brief, for Lawrence Stone, appellant.

Robert H. Abrams, by appointment of the Court, for Joseph
Albano, appellant.

Michael O. Jennings, by appointment of the Court, for Rocco
Albano, appellant in case no. 76-1221, and for Anthony Maloni in
ease no. 76-1220.

George F. Kelly, Attorney, United States Department of Justice,
with whom James N. Gabriel, United States Attorney, and Gerald
E. McDowell, Attorney, United States Department of Justice,
were on brief, for appellee.

January 31, 1977

CaMPBELL, Circuit Judge. The two-count indictment in
this case charged appellants, eight in number, and two
others, with operating an illegal gambling business and
with conspiracy to commit the substantive offense in vio-
lation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1955! and 2.2 The indictment arose
out of a six-month investigation by the FBI and the Massa-
chusetts State Police in 1974 into gambling operations in
western Massachusetts. After denial of pre-trial defense
motions to suppress evidence derived from three periods

——————

1 Section 1955 provides in pertinent part:

‘* Whoever conducts, finances, manages, supervises, or owns
all or part of an illegal gambling business shall be fined not
more than $20,000 or imprisoned not more than five years,
or both.”’

2 Section 2, entitled ‘‘Principals’’, provides:

‘*(a) Whoever commits an offense against the United
States or aids, abets, counsels, commands, induces or procures
its commission, is punishable as a principal.

‘“(b) Whoever willfully causes an act to be done which if
directly performed by him or another would be an offense
against the United States, is punishable as a principal.’’

11

of electronic surveillance, defendants waived jury trial,
and the Government, counsel for the defendants and the
defendants themselves agreed to a ‘‘Stipulation’’ of ‘‘facts
and opinions’’ which ‘‘together with such physical and
testimonial evidence as may be offered and admitted into
evidence shall constitute the evidence upon which the issues
of fact and law in this case are to be determined, subject
however, to those objections as are enumerated herein.’’
Defendants specifically reserved ‘‘their challenge to the
validity of the court orders herein discussed, their chal-
lenge to the manner in which the said court orders were
implemented, or any other matter heretofore raised on
motion.’’ Based on the Stipulation, the district court found
all appellants guilty as charged on both counts. Apart
from the Stipulation, the record in this case contains the
Government’s three applications for wiretap orders, the
defense motions to suppress, and the transcript of the
pre-trial hearing on those motions.

The arguments upon appeal may be conveniently divided
into two groups. Six® of the eight appellants argue that
the district court erred in denying defense motions to sup-
press the evidence derived from the Government’s elec-
tronic surveillance. This argument is based on the conten-
tion that the Government failed to comply with 18 U.S.C.
§ 2518(1)(¢c), which requires the Government in making
application for a wiretap order to include ‘‘a full and com-
plete statement as to whether or not other investigative
procedures have been tried and failed or why they reason-
ably appear to be unlikely to succeed if tried or to be too
dangerous.’’ The remaining two appellants* argue solely
that the evidence in the Stipulation implicating them was
insufficient to convict.

3 Francesco Scibelli, Andrew Torino, Daniel Sacco, Joseph Al-
bano, Anthony Maloni, and Rocco Albano.
* Adolfo Bruno and Lawrence Stone.

12

I

A brief review of the facts surrounding the three orders
of the district court approving electronic surveillance will
help to clarify our discussions of appellants’ argument that
the Government did not comply with 18 U.S.C. § 2518
(1)(c). FBI Special Agent Ringgold testified at the hear-
ing on the motions to suppress that he began investigating
gambling operations in western Massachusetts in June,
1974. He said that he first suggested to his supervisors
the need for electronic surveillance four to six weeks later.
On October 15, 1974, the district court issued an order,
E.B.D. 74-224, on application from the Government, direct-
ing interception of wire communications on two telephone
numbers in western Massachusetts for a period of twenty-
one days. The Government’s application was supported by
a 78-page affidavit of Agent Ringgold. In pertinent part,
the affidavit stated in conclusory terms that ‘‘Normal in-
vestigative procedures have failed to gather evidence neces-
sary to sustain prosecution for violations of these offenses
and appear unlikely to succeed if tried further.’’ Agent
Ringgold stated later in the affidavit more specifically
why normal investigative procedures appeared unlikely to

succeed.
‘*While execution of search warrants involving indi-
viduals and locations relevant to this investigation
may well produce gambling related paraphernalia, it
is my experience that gambling records are often
sketchy in nature, often contain code names, and rarely
establish a provable connection between all the par-
ticipants in the illegal gambling business. None of
the informants cited above is willing to testify as to
information they have imparted for fear of their per-
sonal safety. ... [W]ith respect to [A], immunity
has been tried before the Grand Jury currently in-
vestigating organized gambling in the Western Massa-

13

chusetts area[,| ... [and his] testimony is not likely
to result in the indictment of any other gamblers... .
[I]t is apparent from the conduct of the subjects
that meaningful admissions or evidence of criminal
associations and the roles played by the various mem-
bers of this organized gambling business are not likely
to be secured by a continuation of this form of in-
vestigation. In addition, the repeated presence of...
undercover individuals may well reveal the fact that
the subjects are under law enforcement scrutiny. For
example, it is apparent that the subjects continually
utilize the table in the right rear area of the lounge
on a consistent basis in order to hold subdued con-
versation. ...[T] oll record information, while valu-
able in providing circumstantial proof that certain
known bookmakers and bettors are in regular tele-
phone contact, they do [sic] not establish the actual

identify of the participants[,] ... provide any evi-
dence whatsoever as to the contents of the conversa-
tion[,| ... for] reveal contact ... among bookmakers

and bettors residing within the same dialing area.’’
The district court issued a second wiretap order, E.B.D.
74-275, on November 14, 1974, directing interception of
wiretap communications on four new numbers in western
Massachusetts for a twenty-one day period. The support-
ing affidavit, which incorporated by reference the first
affidavit, again represented that ‘‘Normal investigative
procedures have failed to gather evidence svfficient to
sustain prosecution against all of the individuals believed
to be committing these offenses’’, and went on to detail
the need for electronic surveillance. Agent Ringgold ex-
plained that surveillance by means of a listening device
planted in one location was ‘‘complicated by extraneous
noise[,] . . . caused by a rather loud band... .’’; he
alleged facts tending to show ‘‘that the subjects of this

14

investigation are extremely sensitive to what they con-
sider to be law enforcement scrutiny’’; and he stated that
‘‘(t}he informants cited in connection with this investi-
gation continue to be unwilling to testify.’’

The third order for electronic surveillance, E.B.D. 74-
295, directed interception of wire communications on two
new numbers and was issued by the district court on
December 10, 1974, for a period of twenty days. The
supporting affidavit repeated that ‘‘Normal investigatory
procedures have failed to gather evidence sufficient to
sustain prosecution against all of the individuals believed
to be committing these offenses.’’ Agent Ringgold came
to this conclusion though he was ‘‘familiar with all the
contents of all the tape recordings and contemporaneous
log entries resulting from [the prior] interceptions ... .”’
and had been informed by the other state and federal
investigators ‘‘as to any record checks, physical surveil-
lances or other information which they have acquired from
their direct participation in this investigation.’’ The affi-
davit also stated again that ‘‘{i]nformants knowledgeable
of this operation continue to be unwilling to testify for
fear of their personal safety.’’

Appellants claim that each of the Government’s appli-
cations failed to satisfy the requirement of 18 U.S.C.
§ 2518(1)(c). That section requires that all applications
include

‘*a full and complete statement as to whether or not
other investigative procedures have been tried and
failed or why they reasonably appear to be unlikely
to succeed if tried or to be too dangerous’’.
Section 2518(3)(c) of Title 18 attempts to assure that
this requirement will be satisfied by imposing upon the
district judge reviewing the application an independent
obligation to

15

‘‘determin[e] on the basis of the facts submitted by
the applicant that ... normal investigative procedures
have been tried and have failed or reasonably appear
to be unlikely to succeed if tried or to be too
dangerous’’.

The judge’s determination is, of course, reviewable on
appeal, by which time the wiretap will normally have
been authorized, the evidence gathered, and a conviction
obtained. An appeals court’s role is not to make a de
novo determination of sufficieney as if it were a district
judge, but to decide if the facts set forth in the appli-
cation were minimally adequate to support the determi-
nation that was made. United States v. DiMuro, 540 F.2d
503, 510-11 (1st Cir. 1976) cert. denied, 45 U.S.L.W. 3463
(U.S., Jan. 10, 1977). In re Dunn, 507 F.2d 195, 197
(1st Cir. 1974); accord, United States v. Kalustian, 529
F.2d 585, 589 (9th Cir. 1975); United States v. Kahn,
471 F.2d 191, 200-01 (7th Cir. 1972) (Stevens, J., con-
curring in part and dissenting in part), rev’d on other
grounds, 415 U.S. 143 (1974). As in reviewing the validity
of a search warrant, the inquiry is whether the affidavit
provided a sufficient basis for a finding of probable cause.
See United States v. Falcone, 505 F.2d 478, 481 (3d Cir.
1974), cert. denied, 420 U.S. 955 (1975).

And in determining the sufficiency of the application a
reviewing court must test it in a practical and common-
sense manner. The legislative history makes clear that
section 2518(1)(c) is not designed to force the Govern-
ment to have exhausted all ‘‘other investigative proce-
dures’’.

‘‘The judgment [of the district judge] would involve
a consideration of all the facts and circumstances.
Normal investigative procedure would include, for ex-
ample, standard visual or aural surveillance techniques
by law enforcement officers, general questioning or in-

we

16

terrogation under an immunity grant, use of regular
search warrants, and the infiltration of conspiratorial
groups by undercover agents or informants. Merely
because a normal investigative technique is theoreti-
cally possible, it does not follow that it is likely.
What the provision envisioris is that the showing be
tested in a practical and commonsense fashion.’’
S. Rep. No. 1097, 90th Cong., 2d Sess., 1968 U.S. Code
Cong. & Admin. News 2190 (citations omitted). The Su-
preme Court has observed that the purpose of the statu-
tory language ‘‘is simply designed to assure that wire-
tapping is not resorted to in situations where traditional
investigative techniques would suffice to expose the crime’’,
United States v. Kahn, 415 U.S. 143, 153 n. 12 (1974),
and that the section safeguards against wiretapping ‘‘pro-
cedures [being] routinely employed as the initial step in
criminal investigation.’’? United States v. Giordano, 416
U.S. 505, 515 (1974). The fifth circuit has said,
‘‘(T]he purpose of the requirement in section 2518
(1)(e) is not to foreclose electronic surveillance until
every other imaginable method of investigation has
been unsuccessfully attempted, but simply to inform
the issuing judge of the difficulties involved in the use
of conventional techniques. ”’
United States v. Pacheco, 489 F.2d 554, 565 (1974), cert.
denied, 421 U.S. 909 (1975). Acccrd, United States v. Vento,
533 F.2d 838, 849 (3d Cir. 1976); United States v. Smith,
519 F.2d 516, 518 (9th Cir. 1975); United States v. Robert-
son, 504 F.2d 289, 293 (5th Cir. 1974), cert. denied, 421
U.S. 913 (1975).

Viewing the applications in light of these considerations,
we find no error in the district court’s refusal to suppress
the wiretap evidence. Appellants contend that the affidavits
of Agent Ringgold supporting the applications for the wire-
tap orders failed to give the necessary ‘‘full and complete

17

statement’’ as they contain only bare, conclusory statements
based on the affiant’s experience. See United States v.
DiMuro, supra. It is true that in his initial affidavit Agent
Ringgold referred to his investigatory experience, stating
that execution of a search warrant would likely be unavail-
ing, that toll record information would not provide the
hard information necessary to the Government’s case, and
that immunized gamblers ‘‘are extremely reluctant and
unwilling to implicate other bookmaking associates ... .’’
If this were all the affidavit had to offer in support of
its conclusion that ‘‘normal investigative procedures .. .
reasonably appear to be unlikely to succeed if tried... .’’,
the question whether the affidavit met the statutory require-
ment would be closer; in DiMuro we expressed some un-
easiness with such statements alone, fearing they might
amount to little more than ‘‘mere conclusions based solely
on past experience that gambling conspiracies are ‘tough
to crack’... .’’ Jd. On the other hand, we earlier said,
and we adhere to this view, that in deciding whether an
application for a wiretap satisfied the statutory require-
ment, the court may ‘‘consider the nature of the alleged
crimes.’’? In re Dunn, supra, 507 F.2d at 197. A large-scale
gambling conspiracy may by its structure and modus
operandi give rise to a reasonable inference that ‘‘other
investigative procedures ... reasonably appear to be un-
likely to sueceed if tried.’’

But we need not decide whether Agent Ringgold’s sur-
mises based on investigatory experience would have been
enough, since Agent Ringgold’s affidavit in E.B.D. 74-224
did not stop there; the agent went on to specify the prob-
lems with using normal investigative procedures in that
investigation. Ringgold stated that none of the several
informants was willing to testify and observed that the
one informant who had testified with immunity was unable
or unwilling to give information to the grand jury that

18

would lead to the indictment of other individuals. The
affidavit also explained why continued physical surveillance
would provide only cumulative evidence. The ‘‘conduct”’
of the subjects under investigation, according to Ringgold,
led him to believe that normal surveillance techniques
would not produce ‘‘meaningful admissions or evidence
of criminal associations and the roles played by various
members of this organized gambling business ....’’ This
conclusion was tied specifically to the physical layout of
the premises where most of the personal transactions
between the subjects took place. Testing the affidavit ‘‘in
a practical and commonsense fashion’’, we have no doubt
that it was adequately specific in explaining why continued
physical surveillance would not lead to substantial new
evidence. Under the first application, therefore, the district
court was fully justified in concluding that ‘‘normal inves-
tigative procedures . . . reasonably appear to be unlikely
to succeed... .’’®

° Appellant Scibelli argues that Agent Ringgold’s testimony at
the suppression hearing to the effect that he did not consider dis-
cussing with his informants the possibility of being given immun-
ity, being placed in protective custody, or being related with a
new identity in return for testifying because of his experience
that all informants will resist testifying in gambling cases under-
scores the Government’s failure to consider other investigative
procedures prior to applying for the first wiretap order. We dis-
agree. Agent Ringgold stated at the hearing, as he swore in the
affidavit, that he had discussed with each informant, the possibility
of testifying, and each indicated an unwillingness to do so. From
their responses, Agent Ringgold was entitled to conclude that it
would be futile to pursue with them the possibility of immunity,
protective custody and relocation. To limit the Government’s
investigation by requiring it to use every available incentive to
induce informants to testify prior to seeking a wiretap order would
“‘constitute unwarranted court interference with legitimate investi-
gative diseretion’’, United States vy. Robertson, 504 F.2d 289, 293
(5th Cir. 1974), cert. denied, 421 U.S. 913 (1975), and would
effectively ‘‘foreclose electronic surveillance until every other
imaginable method of investigation has been successfully attempted
....'', United States vy. Pacheco, 489 F.2d 554, 565 (5th Cir. 1974),
cert. denied, 421 U.S. 909 (1975). The Government, moreover,

19

The two subsequent applications had also, of course, to
meet the requirement of section 2518(1)(c), but incorpo-
ration of the affidavit in E.B.D. 74-224 in the latter two
applications went a long way towards meeting the require-
ment; and each of the two subsequent applications alleges
sufficient additional facts showing the continuing failure
of normal investigative procedures to satisfy the standard
of section 2518(1)(c). The affidavit in E.B.D. 74-275 re-
vealed the unsuccesful attempt to gather evidence by means
of a listening device, indicated that several targets of the
investigation were becoming suspicious of law enforcement
scrutiny, and reiterated that the informants remained un-
willing to testify. In the affidavit supporting the third
application, in addition to incorporating his previous two
affidavits and repeating that the informants were unwilling
to testify, Agent Ringgold stated that he was familiar with
the results of the two periods of surveillance and that he
had been informed of information acquired by other inves-
tigators, and he still concluded that electronic surveillance
was necessary. Considering together all factors mentioned
in each affidavit, each was sufficient for the district court
to find it met the requirement of section 2518(1)(c).°

would have been justified in concluding that the forced testimony
of informants or individual bettors might not have been sufficient
to reveal the scope of this ‘‘large-scale’’ betting operation. See
United States v. Vento, 533 F.2d 838, 849-50 (3d Cir. 1976). Agent
Ringgold’s statement in the first affidavit that according to the
United States Attorney directing the grand jury’s investigation
into the gambling operation, the testimony of one informant before
the grand jury was ‘‘not likely to result in the indictment of any
other gamblers in the Western Massachusetts area’’ supports the
Government’s decision not to rely solely on such testimony to fur-
ther its investigation.

6 Appellants Scibelli and Torino included in their statements of
the issues two additional challenges to the sufficiency of the wiretap
applications, but did not develop these issues in_ their briefs.
Neither has merit. Their claim that by failing to disclose in his
affidavit a payment of $50 to an informer, Agent Ringgold mis-
represented an essential fact plaintiff falls short of affording a
ground for overturning the wiretap order: the fact of the payment

20

Il
Appellants Bruno and Stone attack their convictions
solely on the ground that the evidence against them con-
tained in the Stipulation was insufficient to convict.
The evidence against Bruno contained in the Stipulation
included the following:
‘* Adolfo Bruno — Interceptions over [one of the num-
bers wiretapped] show defendant Adolfo Bruno dis-
cussing the sports line with defendant Daniel Sacco
and indicated that he was formerly ‘using’ a particu-
lar game at ‘121/2’ but was now using it at ‘13’.
Defendant Daniel Sacco also requested that defendant
Bruno provide him with ten sports line sheets that
had been filled in with line information.’’
There was also evidence from phone toll records of 51
phone calls over a three-month period made from two
phones to which Bruno had access, 29 of which calls were
placed from his residence phone, to the J.K. Sports Jour-
nal, which ‘‘provided a recording of up-to-date sports
results.’’? The Stipulation included an ‘‘Early Analysis’’
by FBI Agent Harker, who the parties agreed was ‘‘quali-
fied to render an opinion concerning bookmaking based
upon the physical evidence, tape recordings, and stipu-
lations ....’’ He deseribed the term ‘‘line’’ as a ‘‘figure
which is picked [by a bookmaker] which, it is believed,
will get people to bet on both sides of the game. ... [A]s
the betting starts out at the beginning of the week gener-
ally all bookmakers in all parts of the country start with
the same line information. Then the bookmaker is free
to alter that line as he sees fit.’’ Agent Harker coneluded

had little obvious bearing on the statutory requirements for obtain-
ing a wiretap, and Agent Ringgold plausibly testified that he did
not volunteer the information in his affidavit because he thought
it to be irrelevant. Compare United States vy. Belculfine, 508 F.2d
58 (1st Cir. 1974). Their second claim, that the application did not
adequately state the particular offenses under investigation, is
simply incorrect.

21

that Bruno functioned as a ‘‘bookmake[r] who utilized
the office as a source of line information and as an actual
or potential outlet for lay-off wagers.’’ He also gave his
opinion that Bruno ‘‘provided a valuable service to the
gambling business of Daniel Sacco by providing him with
copies of line sheets which were apparently being used by
him and other bookmakers.’’

Considered ‘‘in the light most favorable to the govern-
ment, together with all legitimate inferences to be drawn
therefrom’’, United States v. Doran, 483 F.2d 369, 372
(1st Cir. 1973), cert. denied, 416 U.S. 906 (1974), the evi-
dence against Bruno was sufficient to convict. Evidence
of the discussion between Bruno and Sacco indicating that
Bruno had decided to ‘‘use’’ a higher ‘‘line’’ on ‘‘a par-
ticular game’’ is convincing proof that Bruno was a book-
maker, and this sharing of ‘‘line’’ information suggests
his connection with the larger gambling operation. The
request from Sacco for sports line sheets is additional
evidence of Bruno’s participation in the overall operation.
The evidence in the Stipulation, therefore, is adequate to
prove the Government’s case. ‘‘The exchange of line and
other gambling information are necessary and useful func-

tions in a gambling enterprise and persons who carry out

such functions have been held to be engaged in ‘an illegal
gambling business.’ ’’ United States v. DiMuro, supra, 540
F.2d at 508, and cases cited.’

7 Bruno argues that Agent Harker’s opinion that Bruno ‘‘uti-
lized the office as a source of line information and as an actual
or potential outlet for lay-off wagers’’ and his conclusion that
Bruno “‘provided a valuable service to the gambling business of
Daniel Sacco by providing him with copies of line sheets which
were apparently being used by him and other bookmakers’’ were
unsupported by the evidence in the Stipulation and therefore
inadmissible. See Gray v. Shell Oil Co., 469 F.2d 742, 750 (9th
Cir. 1972), cert. denied, 412 U.S. 943 (1973). Bruno seems correct
that the evidence does not afford a factual basis for the expert’s
opinion that he ‘‘ utilized the office’’ in his bookmaking transactions.
On the other hand, Agent Harker’s conclusion that Bruno aided

22

The evidence against appellant Stone is as follows:
‘*Lawrence Stone—On one interception dated October
22, 1974 . . . defendant Stone was revealed placing
horse wagers with defendant Daniel Sacco. On this
one occasion, defendant Stone and defendant Sacco
were discussing defendant Francesco Scibelli and the
betting habits of an individual referred to as ‘Carm
Mazbo’ (PH). On one interception . . . defendant Stone
was revealed calling co-conspirator Andrew Pradella
and informing Pradella as to the betting preferences
of someone referred to as ‘that guy’ on two particular
pre. - . +l football games on this one occasion. In-
tercepr.... ... revealed a conversation between de-
fendant Maloni and co-conspirator Florian referring
to defendant Stone as someone who had accepted
horse wagers from a betting customer of Florian and
Maloni.’’
There was also evidence that Stone was present at the
‘‘office’’ on two occasions. With respect to Stone, the
expert stated that he ‘‘operated as a bookmaker associated
with defendant Francesco Scibelli and acted on behalf of
defendant Scibelli as a conduit of sports wagering infor-
mation to Pradella for the purpose of influencing Pradella’s

Sacco’s gambling business by providing him with copies of line
sheets is a fair inference from the stipulated evidence. The evidence
would be adequate, in any event, without reference to Agent
Harker’s opinion on these matters.

® Included in the Stipulation is Stone’s statement that he does
‘not agree that he was a participant in this conversation ... .’’
Countering this assertion is Agent Ringgold’s statement in the
Stipulation that ‘‘based upon all his familiarity with Stone’s voice
and from listening to the [voice] exemplar [given by Stone]
Ringgold identifies Stone as a participant in the telephone conver-
sation with Defendant Sacco occurring on October 22, 1974... .”’
Considering the evidence most favorably to the Government, we
must conclude that the district court credited Agent. Ringgold’s
identification of Stone’s voice and found that Stone participated
in this conversation.

23

operation of the ‘office’.’”” Commenting specifically on the
phone call between Stone and Pradella, Agent Harker
stated his opinion that Stone placed this call ‘at the request
of defendant Scibelli, . . . and informed [Pradella] as to
two teams which someone referred to as ‘the guy’ chose
as most likely to beat a certain point spread... . This
information was utilized by Pradella when he adjusted the
line in a discussion with Torino at 11:39 a.m. on the same
day ... .’’ The expert’s opinions regarding Stone’s
involvement in the larger gambling operation do not suffer
from the alleged weaknesses in his opinions with respect
to appellant Bruno’s participation, see note 7, supra; for
the most part they are clearly based on facts apparent in
the Stipulation.® Evidence of the October 22, 1974, dis-
cussion between Stone and Sacco supports the conclusion
that Stone was a bookmaker and was associated with
Seibelli. The ‘‘Expert Analysis’’ of the conversation be-
tween Stone and Pradella indicates that Stone was passing
Pradella important line information, and evidence pre-
sented elsewhere in the Stipulation provides a basis for
Agent Harker’s conclusion that Pradella used this informa-
tion to adjust the line at the office. This evidence was
sufficient to convict Stone of the substantive offense of
conducting ‘‘an illegal gambling business’’ and of con-
spiracy to conduct such a business, See United States v.
1iMuro, supra, 540 F.2d at 508.
Affirmed.

® Only the expert’s conclusion that Stone called Pradella ‘‘at the
request of Scibelli’’ and acted ‘‘as the conduit of sports wagering
information to Pradella’’ is arguably unsupported by evidence in
the Stipulation, and we therefore do not rely on this part of the
expert’s opinion in considering whether sufficient evidence exists
connecting Stone to the larger operation. See note 7, supra,

24
APPENDIX B
TITLE 18
CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE

Chapter1 General Provisions

SEcTION 2. PRINCIPALS

(a) Whoever commits an offense against the United
States or aids, abets, counsels, commands, induces or pro-
cures its commission, is punishable as a principal.

(b) Whoever willfully causes an act to be done which
if directly performed by him or another would be an offense
against the United States, is punishable as a principal.
June 25, 1948, ¢. 645, 62 Stat. 684; Oct. 31, 1951, e. 655,
§ 17b, 65 Stat. 717.

Chapter 19. Conspiracy

Section 371. Conspiracy To CoMMIT OFFENSE OR TO
Derraup UNITED STATES

If two or more persons conspire either to commit any
offense against the United States, or to defraud the United
States, or any agency thereof in any manner or for any
purpose, and one or more of such persons do any act to
effect the object of the conspiracy, each shall be fined not
more than $10,000 or imprisoned not more than five years,
or both.

If, however, the offense, the commission of which is the
object of the conspiracy, is a misdemeanor only, the punish-
ment for such conspiracy shall not exceed the maximum
punishment for such misdemeanor.

June 25, 1948, ce. 645, 62 Stat. 701.

ee A cena

25

Chapter 95. Racketeering

Section 1955. Proxisition or ILLEGAL GAMBLING BUSINESSES

(a) Whoever conducts, finances, manages, supervises,
directs, or owns all or part of an illegal gambling business
shall be fined not more than $20,000 or imprisoned not more
than five years, or both.

(b) As ased in this section —

(1) ‘‘illegal gambling business’’ means a gambling
business which —

(i) is a violation of the law of a State or politi-
eal subdivision in which it is conducted;

(ii) involves five or more persons who conduct,
finance, manage, supervise, direct, or own all
or part of such business ; and

(iii) has been or remains in substantially con-
tinuous operation for a period in excess of thirty
days or has a gross revenue of $2,000 in any single
day..

(2) ‘‘gambling’’ includes but is not limited to pool-
selling, bookmaking, maintaining slot machines, roulette
wheels or dice tables, and conducting lotteries, policy,
bolita or numbers games, or selling chances therein.

(3) ‘*State’’ means any State of the United States,
the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico,
and any territory or possession of the United States.

(c) If five or more persons conduct, finance, manage,
supervise, direct, or own all or part of a gambling business
and such business operates for two or more consecutive
days, then, for the purpose of obtaining warrants for
arrests, interceptions, and other searches and seizures,
probable cause that the business receives gross revenue in
excess of $2,000 in any single day shall be deemed to have
been established.

26

(d) Any property, including money, used in violation of
the provisions of this section may be seized and forfeited to
the United States. All provisions of law relating to the seiz-
ure, summary, and judicial forfeiture procedures, and con-
demnation of vessels, vehicles, merchandise, and baggage
for violation of the customs laws; the disposition of such
vessels, vehicles, merchandise, and baggage or the proceeds
from such sale; the remission or mitigation of such forfei-
tures ; and the compromise of claims and the award of com-
pensation to informers in respect of such forfeitures shall
apply to seizures and forfeitures incurred or alleged to have
been incurred under the provisions of this section, insofar
as applicable and not inconsistent with such provisions.
Such duties as are imposed upon the collector of customs
or any other person in respect to the seizure and forfeiture
of vessels, vehicles, merchandise, and baggage under the
customs laws shall be performed with respect to seizures
and forfeitures of property used or intended for use in
violation of this section by such officers, agents, or other
persons as may be designated for that purpose by the At-
torney General.

(e) This section shall not apply to any bingo game, lot-
tery, or similar game of chance conducted by an organiza-
tion exempt from tax under paragraph (3) of subsection (c)
of section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as
amended, if no part of the gross receipts derived from such
activity inures to the benefit of any private shareholder
member, or employee of such organization except as comp-
ensation for actual expenses incurred by him in the conduct
of such activity.

Added Pub.L. 91-452, Title VIII, § 802(a), Oct. 15, 1970, 84
Stat. 937.

A ee ahi PEE a ae

ie ate tte

27

Chapter 119. Wire Interception and Interception
of Oral Communications

SEcTION 2518. PRocepuRE For INTERCEPTIONS OF WIRE
oR ORAL COMMUNICATIONS

(1) Each application for an order authorizing or approv-
ing the interception of a wire or oral communication shall
be made in writing upon oath or affirmation to a judge of
competent jurisdiction and shall state the applicant’s auth-
ority to make such application. Each application shall in-
clude the following information:

(a) the identity of the investigative or law enforce-
ment officer making the application, and the officer
authorizing the application ;

(b) a full and complete statement of the facts and
circumstances relied upon by the applicant, to justify
his belief that an order should be issued, including (i)
details as to the particular offense that has been, is
being, or is about to be committed, (ii) a particular
description of the nature and location of the facilities
from which or the place where the communication is to
be intercepted, (iii) a particular description of the type
of communications sought to be intercepted, (iv) the
identity of the person, if known, committing the offense
and whose communications are to be intercepted;

(c) a full and complete statement as to whether or
not other investigative procedures have been tried and
failed or why they reasonably appear to be unlikely to
succeed if tried or to be too dangerous ;

(d) a statement of the period of time for which the
interception is required to be maintained. If the nature
of the investigation is such that the authorization for
interception should not automatically terminate when
the described type of communication has been first
obtained, a particular description of facts establishing

28

probable cause to believe that additional communica-
tions of the same type will occur thereafter;

(e) a full and complete statement of the facts con-
cerning all previous applications known to the individ-
ual authorizing and making the application, made to
any judge for authorization to intercept, or for ap-
proval of interceptions of, wire or oral communications
involving any of the same persons, facilities or places
specified in the application, and the action taken by
the judge on each such application; and

(f) where the application is for the extension of an
order, a statement setting forth the results thus far
obtained from the interception, or a reasonable expla-
nation of the failure to obtain such results.

(2) The judge may require the applicant to furnish
additional testimony or documentary evidence in support
of the application.

(3) Upon such application the judge may enter an ex
parte order, as requested or as modified, authorizing or
approving interception of wire or oral communications
within the territorial jurisdiction of the court in which the
judge is sitting, if the judge determines on the basis of the
facts submitted by the applicant that —

(a) there is probable cause for belief that an indi-
vidual is committing, has committed, or is about to
commit a particular offense enumerated in section 2516
of this chapter ;

(b) there is probable cause for belief that particular
communications concerning that offense will be ob-
tained through such interception ;

(c) normal investigative procedures have been tried
and have failed or reasonably appear to be unlikely
to succeed if tried or to be too dangerous ;

(d) there is probable cause for belief that the facil-

-itie from which, or the place where, the wire or oral

OO ea Rs OR Fe OE OH 0 es

29

communications are to be intercepted are being used,
or are about to be used, in connection with the commis-
sion of such offense, or are leased to, listed in the name
of, or commonly used by such person.
(4) Each order authorizing or approving the intercep-
tion of any wire or oral communication shall specify —

(a) the identity of the person, if known, whose
communications are to be intercepted;

(b) the nature and location of the communications
facilities as to which, or the place where, authority to
intercept is granted ;

(ec) a particular description of the type of communi-
cation sought to be intercepted, and a statement of the
particular offense to which it relates;

(d) the identity of the agency authorized to inter-
cept the communications, and of the person authorizing
the application ; and

(e) the period of time during which such interception
is authorized, including a statement as to whether or
not the interception shall automatically terminate when
the described communication has been first obtained.

An order authorizing the interception of a wire or oral
communication shall, upon request of the applicant, direct
that a communication common earrier, landlord, custodian
or other person shall furnish the applicant forthwith all
information, facilities, and technical assistance necessary
to accomplish the interception unobtrusively and with a
minimum of interference with the services that such carrier,
landlord, custodian, or person is according the person whose
communications are to be intercepted. Any communication
common carrier, landlord, custodian or other person furn-
ishing such facilities or technical assistance shall be comp-
ensated therefor by the applicant at the prevailing rates.
(5) No order entered under this section may authorize or
approve the interception of any wire or oral communication

30

for any period longer than is necessary to achieve the
objective of the authorization, nor in any event longer than
thirty days. Extensions of an order may be granted, but
only upon application for an extension made in accordance
with subsection (1) of this section and the court making
the findings required by subsection (3) of this section. The
period of extension shall be no longer than the authorizing
judge deems necessary to achieve the purpose for which
it was granted and in no event for longer than thirty days.
Every order and extension thereof shall contain a provision
that the authorization to intercept shall be executed as soon
as practicable, shall be conducted in such a way as to min-
imize the interception of communications not otherwise
subject to interception under this chapter, and must term-
inate upon attainment of the authorized objective, or in any
event in thirty days.

(6) Whenever an order authorizing interception is en-
tered pursuant to this chapter, the order may require re-
ports to be made to the judge who issued the order showing
what progress has been made toward achievement of the
authorized objective and the need for continued intercep-
tion. Such reports shall be made at such intervals as the
judge may require.

(7) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter,
any investigative or law enforcement officer, specially
designated by the Attorney General or by the principal
prosecuting attorney of any State or subdivision thereof
acting pursuant to a statute of that State, who reasonably
determines that —

(a) an emergency situation exists with respect to
conspiratorial activities threatening the national secur-
ity interest or to conspiratorial activities characteris-
tic of organized crime that requires a wire or oral com-
munication to be intercepted before an order authoriz-

AEA a Ne ly it a el ne el taal

31

ing such interception can with due diligence be ob-
tained, and
(b) there are grounds upon which an order could be

entered under this chapter to authorize such intercep-

tion,
may intercept such wire or oral communication if an ap-
plication for an order approving the interception is made in
accordance with this section within forty-eight hours after
the interception has occurred, or begins to occur. In the
absence of an order, such interception shall immediately
terminate when the communication sought is obtained or
when the application for the order is denied, whichever is
earlier. In the event such application for approval is denied,
or in any other case where the interception is terminated
without an order having been issued, the contents of any
wire or oral communication intercepted shall be treated as
having been obtained in violation of this chapter, and an
inventory shall be served as provided for in subsection (d)
of this section on the person named in the application.

(8) (a) The contents of any wire or oral communication
intercepted by any means authorized by this chapter shall,
if possible, be recorded on tape or wire or other comparable
device. The recording of the contents of any wire or oral
communication under this subsection shall be done in such
way as will protect the recording from editing or other
alterations. Immediately upon the expiration of the period
of the order, or extensions thereof, such recordings shall be
made available to the judge issaing such order and sealed
under his directions. Custody of the recordings shall be
wherever the judge orders. They shall not be destroyed
except upon an order of the issuing or denying judge and in
any event shall be kept for ten years. Duplicate recordings
may be made for use or disclosure pursuant to the provi-
sions of subsections (1) and (2) of section 2517 of this chap-
ter for investigations. The presence of the seal provided for

32

by this subsection, or a satisfactory explanation for the
absence thereof, shall be a prerequisite for the use or dis-
closure of the contents of any wire or oral communication
or evidence derived therefrom under subsection (3) of
section 2517.

(b) Applications made and orders granted under this
chapter shall be sealed by the judge. Custody of the applica-
tions and orders shall be wherever the judge directs. Such
applications and orders shall be disclosed only upon a show-
ing of good cause before a judge of competent jurisdiction
and shall not be destroyed except on order of the issuing
or denying judge, and in any event shall be kept for ten
years.

(c) Any violation of the provisions of this subsection may
be punished as contempt of the issuing or denying judge.

(d) Within a reasonable time but not later than ninety
days after the filing of an application for an order of ap-
proval under section 2518(7) (b) which is denied or the
termination of the period of an order or extensions thereof,
the issuing or denying judge shall cause to be served, on the
persons named in the order or the application, and such
other parties to intercepted communications as the judge
may determine in his discretion that is in the interest of
justice, an inventory which shall include notice of—

(1) the fact of the entry of the order or the applica-
tion;

(2) the date of the entry and the period of autho-
rized, approved or disapproved interception, or the
denial of the application ; and

(3) the fact that during the period wire or oral com-
munications were or were not intercepted.

The judge, upon the filing of a motion, may in his dis-
cretion make availiable to such person or his counsel for
inspection such portions of the intercepted communications,
applications and orders as the judge determines to be in the

ee Sere ree ee ees

33

interest of justice. On an ex parte showing of good cause
to a judge of competent jurisdiction the serving of the
inventory required by this subsection may be postponed.

(9) The contents of any intercepted wire or oral com-
munication or evidence derived therefrom shall not be re-
ceived in evidence or otherwise disclosed in any trial, hear-
ing, or other proceeding in a Federal or State court unless
each party, not less than ten days before the trial, hearing,
or proceeding, has been furnished with a copy of the court
order, and accompanying application, under which the inter-
ception was authorized or approved. This ten-day period
may be waived by the judge if he finds that it was not pos-
sible to furnish the party with the above information ten
days before the trial, hearing, or proceeding and that the
party will not be prejudiced by the delay in receiving such
information.

(10) (a) Any aggrieved person in any trial, hearing, or
proceeding in or before any court, department, officer,
agency, regulatory body, or other authority of the United
States, a State, or a political subdivision thereof, may move
to suppress the contents of any intercepted wire or oral
communication, or evidence derived therefrom, on the
grounds that—

(i) the communication was unlawfully intercepted ;
(ii) the order cf authorization or approval under
which it was intercepted is insufficient on its face; or
(iii) the interception was not made in conformity
with the order of authorization or approval.
Such motion shall be made before the trial, hearing, or pro-
ceeding unless there was no opportunity to make such -mo-
tion or the person was not aware of the grounds of the
motion. If the motion is granted, the contents of the inter-
cepted wire or oral communication, or evidence derived
therefrom, shall be treated as having been obtained in vio-
lation of this chapter. The judge, upon the filing of such

34

motion by the aggrieved person, may in his discretion make
available to the aggrieved person or his counsel for inspec-
tion such portions of the intercepted communication or
evidence derived therefrom as the judge determines to be in
the interests of justice.

(b) In addition to any other right to appeal, the United
States shall have the right to appeal from an order granting
a motion to suppress made under paragraph (a) of this
subsection, or the denial of an application for an order of
approval, if the United States attorney shall certify to the
judge or other official granting such motion or denying
such application that the appeal is not taken for purposes
of delay. Such appeal shall be taken within thirty days after
the date the order was entered and shall be diligently
prosecuted.

Added Pub.L. 90-351, Title III, § 802, June 19, 1968, 82 Stat.
218.

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/brief%3Amicro_IA40385004_1367%3A1. Public record. Not legal advice.
