BRIAN K. EPPS, Magistrate Judge.
Before the Court are the various pre-trial discovery motions filed by Defendant. Many (if not all) discovery issues should be addressed in full by the Court's rulings below and the liberal discovery policy that the government has confirmed it is applying in this case. To the extent, if any, either party believes there are specific inadequacies in the discovery exchanged to date that are not addressed below, the Court directs such party to confer in good faith with the opposing party and file, if necessary, a discovery motion and supporting brief within seven days from the date of this Order.
As to Defendant's general discovery requests, Defendant does not allege any specific inadequacies in the discovery provided by the government to date, presumably because of the government's statement that it has followed in this case its customary practice of providing liberal discovery by furnishing Defendant with the investigative reports, scientific reports (if any), and other documents which are material to the case, excepting attorney and agent work product. (Doc. no. 173, p. 1.) All known statements by Defendant, as well as any criminal record, have also been provided. (
Defendant is charged with one count of Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 846, one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute a Schedule II Controlled Substance, three counts of Use of a Communication Facility in Causing or Facilitating the charged conspiracy, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 843(b), and one count of Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c). Defendant filed this motion seeking from the government information concerning the exact time, date and place the alleged crimes as set forth in the indictment occurred; whether Defendant is charged as an aider or abettor, or a principal, and if as an aider and abettor, how she aided and abetted the alleged offenses in the indictment; the exact manner in which Defendant is alleged to have participated in the charged conspiracy; the places at which each overt act on which the prosecution intends to rely at trial were allegedly performed; the specific nature of the acts Defendant is alleged to have personally performed; the identification of all of the persons present during each of the acts allegedly performed; the names of all witnesses who testified before the Grand Jury whether or not each witness testified from personal knowledge or through hearsay; whether the government obtained any information concerning the matters alleged in the indictment by means of electronic listening devices, wiretaps, telephonic tapes or other forms of electronic surveillance, and if so, the circumstances in each instance, giving the date, time, place and means used in obtaining such information; whether any leads or evidence procured by the government resulted from any search of any premises, personal property or vehicles owned by Defendant; whether the government performed or caused to be performed any scientific tests in connection with the matters in the indictment; the identity of "others" wherever set forth in the indictment; and, the identity of any unindicted co-conspirators or co-racketeers known to the government. (Doc. no. 117, pp. 1-3.)
Rule 7(f) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure provides that a defendant may seek from the Court a bill of particulars setting forth the time, place, manner, and means of commission of the crime alleged in the indictment. The purpose of the bill of particulars is to give notice of the offenses charged in the indictment so that a defendant may prepare a defense, avoid surprise, or raise pleas of double jeopardy when the indictment itself is too vague for such purposes.
The determination of whether a bill of particulars should be ordered may only be decided in light of the particular circumstances of each case.
The Court
Defendant moves for a pre-trial hearing to determine the admissibility of out-of-court statements by alleged co-conspirators. To lay the proper foundation for admission of a co-conspirator statement pursuant to Federal Rule of Evidence 801(d)(2)(E) and under the standard enunciated in
As the need for a
The Jencks Act, 18 U.S.C. § 3500, requires the government to provide a defendant with statements of witnesses immediately following their testimony in court. There is no authority for the Court to grant an early release or disclosure of that material.
SO ORDERED.