Gerald L. Shargel, New York City (Maurice Edelbaum, Jay Goldberg, John Pollok, and Fischetti & Shargel, and Hoffman, Pollok, Mass & Gasthalter, New York City, on the brief), for appellant.
Barbara S. Jones, and Steven K. Frankel, Asst. U.S. Attys., New York City (Robert B. Fiske, Jr., U.S. Atty., and Howard W. Goldstein, Asst. U. S. Atty., New York City, on the brief), for appellee.
Before FRIENDLY, TIMBERS and VAN GRAAFEILAND, Circuit Judges.
TIMBERS, Circuit Judge:
On this appeal from a judgment entered after a seven day jury trial in the Southern District of New York, Charles M. Metzner, District Judge, convicting appellant of conspiracy to pay a kickback to a union pension and welfare fund trustee to obtain favorable action on a loan proposal, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 371 and 1954 (1976), we find the following to be the principal questions raised on appeal:
(1) Whether the evidence was sufficient to support the conviction;
(2) Whether the district court erred in its charge to the jury; and
(3) Whether the district court erred in denying appellant's motions for a new trial based on asserted non-compliance by the government with the disclosure requirements of Brady v. Maryland,
373 U.S. 83 (1963), and the Jencks Act, 18 U.S.C. § 3500 (1976).
For the reasons below, we affirm.
I.
The essence of the crime of which appellant was convicted was that he and co-defendant Anthony Bentro conspired to pay a kickback to Rocco DePerno ("Rock"), a union pension and welfare fund trustee, to obtain DePerno's favorable action on a proposed mortgage loan to the Woodstock Hotel in Manhattan. DePerno's kickback, as well as substantial sums for Bentro, Provenzano and other conspirators, were to come from so-called "bonus points", i. e. large, under-the-table amounts to be paid by the borrower in addition to legal interest.
In view of appellant's challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence, we summarize here in some detail those facts believed to be necessary to an understanding of our rulings on the legal issues raised.
A.
The instant indictment resulted from "Operation Cleveland", a special joint federal-city undercover project which was established to investigate corruption and organized crime in the garment center of New York City. Toward that end, the Gerro Trucking Company was set up as a front for the investigation. An FBI informant, Herman Goldfarb, was installed as the trucking company's president. Before long, Goldfarb was approached by one Lawrence Paladino, who later was named as an unindicted conspirator. He offered the Gerro company labor tranquility in exchange for extortion payments of $150 a month.
Those in charge of the investigation decided to pay the sum demanded. They hoped to use Paladino as an entree to other criminal groups preying on the clothing industry. They were not disappointed. Paladino and Goldfarb soon began to discuss arranging loans for various parties from labor union funds. Paladino and Goldfarb were to retain substantial sub rosa "commissions" for their efforts. Paladino told his new business associate that Provenzano "Tony Pro" would be able to obtain the mortgage money required for their loans.
During a March 6, 1974 conversation, for example, Paladino told Goldfarb that he had informed Provenzano of a possible.$2.5 million loan deal. Paladino said he would arrange a meeting for Goldfarb to talk the matter over with Sam Provenzano, a New Jersey union leader and appellant's brother. Paladino and Goldfarb had discussed charging 12 per cent interest for the loan itself, plus "13 points" of "bonus money", or $325,000, for themselves. Paladino stated, however, that "over there I don't know what the percentage is". He urged Goldfarb to be candid with "Sammy", suggesting that "we split down the middle."
The Woodstock Hotel mortgage loan transaction was first discussed in June 1974. At that time Goldfarb learned through Hyman Schwartz, a mutual friend, that one of the hotel's new owners, Gilbert Federbusch, was seeking a mortgage loan for refurbishing and to retire old debts. The three men met at the Gerro office shortly thereafter. Federbusch agreed to the terms outlined by Goldfarb: a.$2.5 million mortgage loan would be obtained from a union, with interest of one per cent a month plus a 13 per cent "bonus".
At a meeting on July 2 Paladino told Goldfarb that arrangements for the mortgage had been completed. He stated, however, that the 13 per cent bonus would have to be split with others. He informed Goldfarb that he planned to funnel the loan "through Utica", the home of DePerno's local. He warned Goldfarb not to "even mention Tony Pro."
On July 11 a meeting took place in a midtown Manhattan office. Goldfarb, Provenzano, Bentro, Paladino and others were present. They discussed several transactions, including the Woodstock mortgage. Viewing this discussion in the light most favorable to the government, as we must at this stage of the case, the jury could have found that the following is substantially what took place.
There was a brief initial discussion of the Woodstock deal. Provenzano interjected questions about the hotel's name and location. Goldfarb outlined the supporting documentation for the deal. He explained the tax advantage the hotel owner was obtaining. Then Bentro, addressing Provenzano, said that "Rock" had told him, "I gotta give it to Harold Silverberg" for approval. Silverberg was the accountant for DePerno's pension fund. Provenzano asked Bentro whether the reference to an accounting approval indicated a lack of interest on the part of Bentro. The latter replied, "Oh, Rock, I can't." Provenzano warned, "He's gonna take ten", referring to Rock. Bentro then stated that he anticipated that the accountant's scrutiny of the transaction would be purely pro forma. According to Bentro, "Harold puts the okay. Harold puts the okay if it's good. Not good. If it's on the line he'll take it an' say okay."
Provenzano then established through questioning of Bentro and others that DePerno would finance "The whole thing." After a brief discussion of restaurant concessions in Utica, the men turned to the matter of what additional documentation would be needed to close the Woodstock deal. Goldfarb wanted some guarantee of the loan before spending "a few thousand bucks" for a realtor's appraisal of the property. Bentro explained that before he could provide a letter of intent he had to "get some approval, half ass approval from the board", adding, "with Rock DiPerna (sic) from the board."
Bentro told Goldfarb to see the accountant Silverberg the following day. He assured him that Rock was fully familiar with the details of the deal legitimate and otherwise:
"See, I told Rock the whole bit . . .. I gave it to Rock, and I told him, look at the numbers . . . (unintelligible), thirteen per cent plus monthly . . . (unintelligible) . . . whatever they want." (emphasis added).
Paladino was alarmed. He feared that Bentro had agreed that DePerno would get the entire "bonus". Paladino said to Bentro, "Thirteen, you told him he was gonna get thirteen?" Bentro replied that the legal interest rate on the loan would be 12 per cent. There was further discussion, initiated by Paladino, regarding "the percentage over here that we're gonna make under", referring to the bonus points.
Bentro then commented on the large amount of money at DePerno's disposal in the pension and welfare fund, and the relatively few governmental restrictions on its use. There was further discussion of the bonus money and its division. Bentro assured Paladino and Goldfarb that, although "the ten" that DePerno would likely seek was "the going rate", Tony (Provenzano) would talk to the trustee because "Tony can do (unintelligible) . . . with Rock." As Bentro had stated earlier on this matter:
"So you, you tell Tony what you're gettin' an' Tony'll tell you what you gonna give away, whatever he can cut off comes back."
Shortly after the July 11 meeting Paladino brought good news to Goldfarb. The latter testified at trial that Paladino told him that their share of the bonus had been upped from five to eight "points", with the remaining five going to the union, i. e. to DePerno. At a meeting on July 17 Paladino again confirmed that "his side" would be getting eight points. He also explained, "(T) here's three on their side . . . Tony, Tony and another guy (unintelligible)", to which Goldfarb replied, "Must be DePerna (sic)." Paladino responded, "I don't even want to know. That's who I'm speaking of. Don't go into that." (emphasis added).
B.
The mortgage loan transaction for the Woodstock Hotel never was consummated. By October 1974 the government had closed down Operation Cleveland and had sold the Gerro Trucking Company.
On December 9, 1975 a Southern District grand jury returned indictment 75 Cr. 1194 which charged Provenzano and Bentro with a conspiracy to offer DePerno, a union official, a kickback to influence actions in his official capacity. A superseding indictment, also 75 Cr. 1194, was returned on September 21, 1977 naming the same two defendants.
The history of the indictments in 75 Cr. 1194 is set forth in Judge Bonsal's opinion of November 11, 1977. United States v. Provenzano, 440 F.Supp. 561 (S.D.N.Y.1977). The upshot was that Judge Bonsal, upon motions by both defendants, ordered the original and superseding indictments in 75 Cr. 1194 dismissed without prejudice to the government's seeking a new indictment. Between the time of informant Goldfarb's cooperation and his testimony before the second grand jury, he had had a change of heart about the case. In a letter dated October 7, 1977 to Barbara Jones, the Assistant United States Attorney in charge of the case, Goldfarb recited his dissatisfaction with the treatment accorded him by the government and hedged significantly on his testimony against Provenzano. He informed Miss Jones that he had not been looking at Provenzano when the "He's gonna take ten" remark was made at the July 11, 1974 meeting and he had assumed by the process of elimination that it was Provenzano talking. Judge Bonsal dismissed the superseding indictment because the government had failed to bring Goldfarb before the second grand jury but had relied instead on his earlier, less equivocal grand jury testimony.
On December 19, 1977, approximately a month after Judge Bonsal's decision, another indictment, 77 Cr. 889, charging substantially the same kickback conspiracy was returned. This third indictment led to the instant convictions of Provenzano and Bentro.
The trial began before Judge Metzner on March 17, 1978. The government again relied on the testimony of informant Goldfarb. Goldfarb by this time professed an inability to identify Provenzano's voice on the tape of the crucial July 11, 1974 meeting. This was the only meeting at which Provenzano was present.
The government therefore introduced other evidence on the issue of identity. It relied on the testimony of another witness, Ralph Picardo, for that purpose. Picardo was a former associate of Provenzano. He had been taken into the federal witness protection program. He was a man with a checkered past. He had been convicted of murder in a New Jersey state court. That conviction was reversed on appeal. He never was retried.
The government made certain disclosures to the defense regarding Picardo pursuant to Brady v. Maryland, supra, and the Jencks Act. The Brady material included information that Picardo had been convicted of murder, that his conviction had been reversed, and that he was in the federal witness protection program. The Jencks Act material consisted of Picardo's testimony before the grand jury which returned the instant indictment. Judge Metzner, on motion of the government, entered an ex parte order which permitted the government to withhold the Brady and Jencks Act material relating to Picardo until the day before his testimony. Judge Metzner entered this order upon representations by the government that special security measures were necessary for Picardo's protection. The order was not disclosed to the defense until shortly before the argument of the original appeal in our Court.
Despite the information which Provenzano's trial counsel had about Picardo from the government's disclosures and from Provenzano himself, he chose not to cross-examine Picardo. Judge Metzner concluded, in denying the motions for a new trial based on alleged failure to make full disclosure under Brady and the Jencks Act, that the defense had waived cross-examination of Picardo as a matter of trial tactics.
The jury returned its verdict convicting Provenzano on March 25, 1978. On July 11, 1978 Judge Metzner sentenced him to four years in prison, the term to be served concurrently with a term of life imprisonment imposed by a New York State court for murder.
From the judgment of conviction of July 11, 1978, the instant appeal has been taken.
II.
In the light of these facts and prior proceedings, we turn directly to the question whether the evidence was sufficient to support appellant's conviction. We hold that it was.
Aside from appellant's general claim that the evidence of his guilt was insufficient to warrant submitting the case to the jury, he asserts two specific claims regarding the evidence of a conspiracy and appellant's connection with it.
First, appellant argues that there was insufficient evidence to establish the alleged object of the conspiracy, namely, to offer or promise a kickback to DePerno to influence his action as a pension and welfare fund trustee.
It is elemental, of course, that a person "cannot conspire to commit a specific crime unless he is aware of all the elements of the crime," United States v. DeMarco,
488 F.2d 828, 832 (2 Cir. 1973). From this, however, it does not follow that in this case the government was required to prove that DePerno either accepted or was offered as a kickback his share of the bonus points. It was sufficient that the government proved that Provenzano knowingly joined the group which agreed to make such a payment to DePerno. We are satisfied that the act which constituted the gravamen of the alleged offense of conspiracy "concert in criminal purposes, rather than concert in crime", United States v. Krulewitch,
336 U.S. 440, 447 n.4 (1949) (Jackson, J., concurring) was adequately established here.
Accordingly, we hold that there was sufficient evidence from which the jury could find that there was a conspiracy to commit a particular offense and not merely a vague agreement "to do something wrong". United States v. Rosenblatt,
554 F.2d 36, 38-40 (2 Cir. 1977); United States v. Gallishaw,
428 F.2d 760, 763 (2 Cir. 1970).
Second, appellant argues that his connection with the alleged conspiracy was not established sufficiently to permit the admission of the testimony of the conspirator Goldfarb. In United States v. Geaney,
417 F.2d 1116 (2 Cir. 1969) (Friendly, J.), cert. denied,
397 U.S. 1028 (1970), we set forth the standard by which the trial judge should determine whether to admit in evidence hearsay statements of a conspirator, namely, whether a "fair preponderance of the evidence independent of the hearsay utterances" has established the participation in the conspiracy of the defendant against whom such hearsay statements are offered. Id. at 1120. Put another way:
"The threshold requirement of admissibility is satisfied by a showing of a likelihood of an illicit association between the declarant and the defendant. . . ." United States v. Glazer,
532 F.2d 224, 228 (2 Cir.), cert. denied,
429 U.S. 844 (1976), quoting United States v. Ragland,
375 F.2d 471, 477 (2 Cir. 1967), cert. denied,
390 U.S. 925 (1968).
At the time the Goldfarb testimony was offered, the evidence had established clearly that Provenzano was involved in efforts to obtain a mortgage loan for the Woodstock. He does not dispute this. The only issue is whether the evidence supports the inference that the loan was to be facilitated by a bribe to DePerno. It is clear, however, that Bentro assured all those present at the July 11 meeting that Provenzano would work matters out with DePerno, and that Bentro, Provenzano and DePerno would share in the bonus points.
Paladino and Goldfarb surely understood that DePerno was to receive a kickback for his efforts. The effect of the statements made by Provenzano at the July 11 meeting, at which the details of the loan were fully discussed, was that he, too, was aware of and had joined the conspiracy. "When, as in this case, the existence of a conspiracy has been shown, evidence sufficient to link another defendant with it need not be overwhelming. . . ." United States v. Head,
546 F.2d 6, 9-10 (2 Cir. 1976), cert. denied,
430 U.S. 931 (1977).
Accordingly, we hold that Judge Metzner correctly concluded that the Geaney test had been complied with and that he properly admitted the Goldfarb testimony.
Finally, as for appellant's general claim that the evidence of his guilt was insufficient to warrant submitting the case to the jury, we disagree.
The standard for making that determination is so well established in this Circuit that we shall not dilate upon it. United States v. Rivera,
513 F.2d 519, 528-30 (2 Cir.) (Friendly, J.) cert. denied,
423 U.S. 948 (1975); United States v. Taylor,
464 F.2d 240 (2 Cir. 1972) (Friendly, J.). As stated in Rivera, supra, 513 F.2d at 529, the test is whether
" 'upon the evidence, giving full play to the right of the jury to determine credibility, weigh the evidence, and draw justifiable inferences of fact, a reasonable mind might fairly conclude guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.' ", quoting Curley v. United States,
160 F.2d 229, 232-33 (D.C. Cir.), cert. denied,
331 U.S. 837 (1947).
Accord, United States v. Daley,
564 F.2d 645, 652 (2 Cir. 1977), cert. denied,
435 U.S. 933 (1978); United States v. De Garces,
518 F.2d 1156, 1159 (2 Cir. 1975); United States v. Freeman,
498 F.2d 569, 571 (2 Cir. 1974).
In the instant case, on the basis of the facts summarized above, we hold that there was sufficient evidence from which the jury could find directly and by proper inference that appellant knowingly participated in the conspiracy. It is a rare case indeed where all aspects of a conspiracy can be laid bare in court with the precision of a surgeon's scalpel. A conspiracy by its very nature is a secretive operation. Applying the test set forth above, however, we are satisfied that there was sufficient evidence to support the jury's guilty verdict.
III.
We turn next to appellant's claim that the district court erred in its charge to the jury in two respects, namely, in failing to charge specifically that mere association was an insufficient basis upon which to predicate a conspiracy conviction, and in failing to charge that the testimony of Goldfarb as an informant and perjurer should be examined with special care. We find no merit in either aspect of this claim of error.
First, with respect to the court's failure to give the so-called mere association instruction, we believe that the charge read as a whole made it abundantly clear to the jury that the converse of mere association, i. e. active participation with intent to further the objectives of the conspiracy, was required. For example, Judge Metzner charged the jury as follows:
"If you satisfy yourselves beyond a reasonable doubt that the conspiracy as alleged in the indictment existed, then you must determine beyond a reasonable doubt as to each defendant whether the defendant knowingly and wilfully was an active participant in the unlawful plan with the intention of furthering its objectives. Mere knowledge by a defendant of an alleged illegal act on the part of some other defendant or alleged co-conspirator is not sufficient. Merely acting in a way which incidentally furthers the purpose of a conspiracy without knowledge that a conspiracy exists does not make a person a member of the conspiracy." (emphasis added).
Appellant cites various cases which he says make the giving of the mere association charge mandatory. We think his reliance on these cases is misplaced under the circumstances of this case. For example, in United States v. MacDougal-Pena,
545 F.2d 833, 836 (2 Cir. 1976), the propriety of such a charge was mentioned only by way of dictum, such a charge not having been requested in the trial court. In United States v. Terrell,
474 F.2d 872, 876 (2 Cir. 1973), we held that "a Garguilo charge" (referred to below) was not required except where the evidence was close. The leading case in this Circuit is United States v. Garguilo,
310 F.2d 249 (2 Cir. 1962) (Friendly, J.), where we said:
"The closeness of the issue against Macchia imposed an obligation on the trial judge to instruct the jury with extreme precision, as he realized, and on us to review the charge with what, in a less doubtful case, would be undue meticulousness. (citations omitted). Reading the entire charge, we cannot overcome a fear that the judge, quite unwittingly and simply by emphasis, may have led the jury to believe that a finding of presence and knowledge on the part of Macchia was enough for conviction. . . . Never were the jurors told in plain words that mere presence and guilty knowledge on the part of Macchia would not suffice unless they were also convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that Macchia was doing something to forward the crime that he was a participant rather than merely a knowing spectator." Id. at 254 (emphasis added).
The "closeness of the issue against Macchia" finds no counterpart in the instant case. Here appellant was not merely present with the other conspirators at the critical July 11 meeting; he was an active participant with full knowledge of the unlawful plan and plainly intended to further its objectives. That is precisely what Judge Metzner charged that the jury must find before it could convict appellant.
Second, with respect to the asserted failure of the court to charge the jury to examine Goldfarb's testimony with special care and caution because he was an informant and perjurer, this claim can be disposed of summarily. Judge Metzner did give the standard charge regarding the jury's exclusive function to determine the credibility of witnesses and the weight and value to be given their testimony. He went further and instructed the jury that Goldfarb was a paid informant whose relationship to the government was a factor which should be considered in evaluating his testimony. Still referring to Goldfarb, the judge told the jury that "(e)vidence that he has been convicted of a crime may be considered by you in assessing his credibility as a witness and the weight you will give to his testimony." More than that was not required.
We hold that the district court did not err in its charge to the jury in either respect claimed by appellant.
IV.
This brings us to the final question raised on appeal whether the district court erred in denying appellant's motions for a new trial based on asserted non-compliance by the government with the disclosure requirements of Brady v. Maryland,
373 U.S. 83 (1963), and the Jencks Act, 18 U.S.C. § 3500 (1976). We hold that it did not.
In Brady v. Maryland, supra, 373 U.S. at 87, the Supreme Court held that
"the suppression by the prosecution of evidence favorable to an accused upon request violates due process where the evidence is material either to guilt or to punishment, irrespective of the good faith or bad faith of the prosecution." (emphasis added).
Subsequently, in United States v. Agurs,
427 U.S. 97 (1976), the Court formulated guidelines for determining whether evidence should be considered "material" for the purpose of invoking the Brady rule. When the prosecution is or should be aware that it is presenting perjured testimony, a strict standard of materiality must be applied. Thus, a defendant's conviction will be set aside "if there is any reasonable likelihood that the false testimony could have affected the judgment of the jury." Id. at 103; see Napue v. Illinois,
360 U.S. 264 (1959); Mooney v. Holohan,
294 U.S. 103 (1935). There is no claim of perjured testimony in the instant case.
This strict standard of materiality also is applied when a defendant has made a specific request for information that is withheld by the government. In such cases, as in cases involving perjury, the defendant is entitled to a new trial if there is any reasonable likelihood that the evidence could have affected the outcome of the trial. United States v. Agurs, supra, 427 U.S. at 104-06; Ostrer v. United States,
577 F.2d 782, 786 (2 Cir. 1978), cert. denied,
439 U.S. 1115 (1979).
Finally, there are those cases in which the defendant has made no request for the undisclosed information, or only a general request. In such instances, the defendant is entitled to a new trial only if the undisclosed evidence, viewed in the context of the entire record, creates a reasonable doubt as to his guilt. United States v. Agurs, supra, 427 U.S. at 112-13; Ostrer v. United States, supra, 577 F.2d at 786.
The information which was not disclosed to the defense in this case relates solely to the motivation of a single government witness, Ralph Picardo. Picardo's testimony at trial was used to help identify Provenzano's voice on a tape recording. The testimony did not otherwise bear upon the evidence of Provenzano's illegal activities, or the details of the "workup" of the Woodstock mortgage.
Provenzano initially contended that the government violated Brady by failing to disclose the following information: (1) the circumstances surrounding the federal government's removal of Picardo from the Trenton (New Jersey) State Prison where he was incarcerated on his murder conviction; (2) the federal government's involvement in obtaining bail for Picardo pending his appeal of that conviction; (3) the federal government's intervention with the New Jersey appellate courts to keep alive Picardo's appeal from his murder conviction; (4) the federal government's intervention which might have led to the state's decision not to retry Picardo on the murder charge; (5) the federal government's involvement in obtaining the dismissal of a larceny indictment against Picardo; and (6) Picardo's mental and physical health records. Provenzano also contended that he was not given Jencks Act material consisting of the transcript of an earlier appearance by Picardo before a grand jury investigating unrelated charges and the transcript of an interview with the FBI.
Subsequently Provenzano supplemented his list of undisclosed Brady material by adding the following: (1) government promises to Picardo of executive clemency if he were convicted again on the reversed murder charge; (2) promises of immunity to Picardo in return for his cooperation with New Jersey authorities; (3) Picardo's escape from a Maine prison facility; (4) Picardo's history of prior criminal conduct; (5) conflicting statements made by Picardo to government officials concerning Provenzano's activities; (6) discussions by Picardo about illegal methods of overturning his conviction; and (7) attempts by Picardo to tamper with a jury in his own case. Provenzano also contended that additional Jencks Act material had been withheld.
There is some dispute on this appeal over whether the above listed material was the subject of specific defense requests for production and therefore is reviewable under the strict Agurs standard of materiality. There also is some dispute over how much of the material in fact was producible under Brady indeed, whether some of the material existed at all.
After careful consideration of the contentions of both sides, we find that resolution of these disputes is unnecessary to the proper disposition of this appeal. We assume arguendo that all of the material sought by the defense was the subject of specific requests for production and was properly producible by the government. We conclude that there is no reasonable likelihood that the undisclosed evidence would have affected the outcome of the trial and that Provenzano was not denied due process by the government's failure to produce the material. We reach this conclusion because we are satisfied that the defense never would have used this undisclosed evidence to impeach Picardo.
Provenzano's experienced trial counsel chose not to cross-examine Picardo after the latter gave direct testimony identifying Provenzano's voice on tape recorded conversations. In denying Provenzano's motions for a new trial, Judge Metzner found that the defense decision not to cross-examine Picardo was a tactical one which would not have been affected by the disclosure of additional Brady material. He concluded that the withholding of the Brady material had no effect whatsoever on the conduct of the trial let alone its outcome; defense counsel would not have cross-examined Picardo under any circumstances, for reasons discussed below. We agree.
Even if we did not agree with the trial judge's assessment of the situation, we still would not reverse his determination except upon a far more compelling showing than is presented by this record. After all, Judge Metzner was at the trial. We were not. He obviously was in the best position to appraise the possible effect of the Brady material. His conclusion that the outcome of the trial was not affected by its nondisclosure is entitled to great weight. United States v. Sternstein,
596 F.2d 528, 531 (2 Cir. 1978). In the instant case, moreover, there is substantial support in the record for the trial judge's view. We are in full agreement with it. Our independent examination of the role played by Picardo as a witness, the impeachment material that the government did disclose to Provenzano, and the nature and potential use of the undisclosed material leads us likewise to the conclusion that the outcome of the trial would not have been changed by the disclosure of the additional Brady material.
Picardo's testimony at trial was limited solely to the identification of voices on a tape recording. Although Picardo's voice identifications were important, there was other substantial evidence that supported the jury's finding of guilt. Indeed, there was other evidence which identified Provenzano's voice on the tape. Because of Picardo's limited role as a witness at trial, it is understandable that counsel for Provenzano would refrain from cross-examining Picardo if there was any likelihood that such cross-examination would open the door for additional, damaging testimony beyond the limited scope of the witness' direct testimony. Keeping the door closed to such additional testimony is exactly what occurred.
There were two aspects of Picardo's background which defense counsel understandably would try to avoid at trial. First, they would be expected to avoid Picardo's past criminal activities. The jury knew of Provenzano's close association with Picardo. To apprise the jury of the sordid nature of Picardo's background would result in spillover prejudice to Provenzano far outstripping the impeachment value of such evidence with respect to Picardo. Second, at the time of trial Picardo was enrolled in the federal witness protection program. It was important for the defense to try to keep this information from the jury, lest the jury infer, or even be told, that Picardo was receiving this protection out of fear of Provenzano.
Before Picardo took the witness stand, Provenzano's counsel was informed by the government that Picardo had been convicted of murder, that the conviction had been reversed on appeal, and that Picardo was receiving benefits from the government as part of the witness protection program. Armed with this limited Brady material, defense counsel chose not to cross-examine Picardo, having concluded that the risk of harm to Provenzano inherent in such cross-examination outweighed any possible benefit from trying to impeach Picardo. This risk of harm in opening the door for prejudicial testimony from Picardo would have outweighed the benefit of cross-examination even if all the Brady material had been disclosed at trial.
The undisclosed Brady material, which Provenzano now claims he would have used to impeach Picardo, falls into the two categories mentioned above Picardo's prior criminal conduct and benefits conferred upon Picardo by the government. Counsel knew that Picardo had once been convicted of murder (although this conviction had been reversed on appeal), and chose not to cross-examine him. It is unlikely that knowledge of lesser acts of criminal conduct, which were not even the subject of a conviction, would have resulted in such cross-examination. Moreover, as stated above, defense counsel surely did not want the jury to hover upon Provenzano's association with a person of Picardo's shady background. It therefore is most unlikely that defense counsel would have focused the jury's attention on Picardo's past criminal conduct through cross-examination of him.
The government benefits received by Picardo likewise would have inhibited defense counsel in cross-examining Picardo. Any inquiry into such benefits inevitably would have led to damaging testimony from Picardo beyond the scope of his direct examination. Questions about Picardo's removal from the Trenton State Prison or his freedom on bail pending appeal, for example, undoubtedly would have resulted in answers reflecting concern for his safety. Questions concerning promises of executive clemency, use immunity, or aid in obtaining parole would have focused the jury's attention on Picardo's criminal background and further risked eliciting testimony from Picardo concerning past crimes involving Provenzano.
In short, all of the Brady material involving government benefits to Picardo, which Provenzano now claims would have been used to cross-examine Picardo, was linked either to Picardo's past crimes or to his participation in the witness protection program. Any reference to such material would have been crippling to Provenzano's defense. That is why counsel for Provenzano chose not to cross-examine Picardo in the first place. Considering the limited extent of Picardo's direct testimony, it is understandable that experienced defense counsel chose to ignore the witness rather than open the door to new, highly damaging testimony. If defense counsel in fact had wanted to show motive or bias on Picardo's part, the Brady material which was disclosed to them would have permitted them to do so. But defense counsel, wisely in our view, steered clear of the potential landmines.
We wish to make it clear that our decision on the Brady issue here turns on the unique facts of this case. We recognize that courts should not lightly infer that undisclosed Brady material would not have been used by the defense. Nevertheless, in view of all the circumstances of this case, we certainly agree with the trial judge that the defense decision not to cross-examine Picardo would not have been changed by the disclosure of additional Brady material. Therefore, even applying the strict standard of materiality to the undisclosed Brady material here in question, we hold that Provenzano was not denied a fair trial.
We have carefully considered all of appellant's claims of error and find that they are without merit. Appellant was convicted after a fair trial on the basis of substantial evidence of a serious crime committed more than five years ago.
Affirmed.
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