United States v. ACRI WSLE. GROCERY CO., Crim. No. 74-63.

• Decision Date: 11 March 1976
• Docket Number: Crim. No. 74-63.
• Citation: 409 F. Supp. 529
• Parties: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff, v. ACRI WHOLESALE GROCERY COMPANY, a corporation, et al., Defendants.
• Court: U.S. District Court — Southern District of Iowa

409 F. Supp. 529

UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff, v. ACRI WHOLESALE GROCERY COMPANY, a corporation, et al., Defendants.

Crim. No. 74-63.

United States District Court, S. D. Iowa, C. D.

February 24, 1976.

Nunc Pro Tunc Order, March 11, 1976.

COPYRIGHT MATERIAL OMITTED

Allen L. Donielson, U. S. Atty., George H. Perry and Paul A. Zoss, Asst. U. S. Attys., Des Moines, Iowa, for plaintiff.

Louis A. Lavorato, West Des Moines, Iowa, for defendants.

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

HANSON, Chief Judge.

This is an appeal from defendants' convictions for violation of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, 21 U.S.C. §§ 301 et seq. (1970). Defendants' convictions followed a trial before the Honorable Ronald E. Longstaff, United States Magistrate for the Southern District of Iowa, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3401 (1970).

The scope of review by a district court following a conviction before a magistrate is "the same as on appeal from a judgment of a district court to a court of appeals." Rules of Procedure for the Trial of Minor Offenses before United States Magistrates, Rule 8(d), Title 18, United States Code; 18 U.S.C. § 3402 (1970).

Therefore, in reviewing the sufficiency of evidence, the Court will view the evidence in its entirety and in the light most favorable to the Government. The judgment below and the Magistrate's denial of defendants' motion for judgment of acquittal will be upheld if supported by substantial evidence of record. United States v. Kelton, 519 F.2d 366, 367 (8th Cir. 1975); United States v. Prionas, 438 F.2d 1049 (8th Cir. 1971), cert. denied, 402 U.S. 977, 91 S.Ct. 1683, 29 L.Ed.2d 144. Finally, in reviewing alleged errors in the admission of evidence, where there is substantial, competence evidence to support the conviction without consideration of the allegedly inadmissible evidence, then a defendant has failed to show prejudicial error. Alexander v. United States, 241 F.2d 351, 356-57 (8th Cir. 1957).

Defendants were charged in a four-count information alleging, in substance, that the defendants permitted food, held after shipment in interstate commerce, to become adulterated within the meaning of 21 U.S.C. §§ 342(a)(3) and (4) (1970);¹ this being a prohibited act under 21 U.S.C. § 331(k) (1970). The information named as defendants Acri Wholesale Grocery Company, a corporation; Joseph D. Acri, president of the corporation; and Anthony Acri, vice-president of the corporation.

The relevant facts are as follows: In July and October of 1973, inspectors from the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) conducted extensive inspections of the Acri Wholesale Grocery Company warehouse in Des Moines, Iowa. The inspections were conducted during normal business hours. At both inspections, the FDA inspectors presented credentials and a written notice of inspection to Anthony Acri. Further, all indications pointed to routine inspections for contaminated or adulterated foodstuffs. The inspectors were occasionally accompanied by Anthony Acri or other employees on inspection tours of the warehouse. Photographs were taken by the inspectors at both inspections and a stroboscopic light source was utilized for photographs of the warehouse interior. No clandestine measures were taken by the inspectors to hide their photographic activities. The photographs depicted conditions existing inside and immediately adjacent to the exterior of the warehouse, including areas from which the inspectors obtained testing samples. These samples were taken from food substances, usually flour and sugar, which appeared to the inspectors to be contaminated by rodents. Receipts for all samples taken by the inspectors were given to Anthony Acri; and written reports of warehouse conditions, as observed and recorded by the inspectors, were given to Anthony Acri following both inspections.

Generally, relations between the FDA inspectors and defendants Joseph and Anthony Acri were cordial and business-like. Anthony Acri acknowledged to the inspectors that the warehouse had some rodent control problems, and elicited suggestions from the inspectors on efficient methods to deal with the problems. In some instances, Acri followed these suggestions, including weed clearance and contracting with a rodent extermination company.

Analysis of the samples obtained in the warehouse showed the existence of cat and rodent urine, excrement and hair in most of the flour and sugar samples. The inspectors also reported live and dead rodents and a live cat in the warehouse and around lots of foodstuffs. High weed growth was observed outside the warehouse which, according to the inspectors, substantially contributes to rodent infestation by providing nesting areas. Several of the inspectors testified that, in their opinion, the Acri warehouse was one of the most rodent contaminated warehouses they had ever inspected.

A report of the samples analysis was not given to defendants until approximately two to four weeks prior to trial, although Anthony Acri indicated to the inspectors that he desired an analysis report fairly soon after the inspections. However, about three weeks after the October inspection, a complaint for forfeiture of certain food lots was served upon defendants and the lots were destroyed. Most of the allegedly contaminated food lots were voluntarily destroyed by the defendants during the inspections.

On appeal to this Court, the defendants assign as error the following issues:

1. The introduction at trial of photographs taken by the FDA inspectors during the warehouse inspections.

2. The FDA's failure to furnish the defendants with portions of the samples taken from the warehouse and a copy of the sample analysis results.

3. The trial court's denial of the motions for judgment of acquittal by Joseph Acri and Anthony Acri. The motions asserted the lack of personal responsibility of these individual defendants for the actions of the corporation.

I. PHOTOGRAPHS

The defendants initially contend the trial court erred in admitting into evidence photographs taken during the inspections. In the first instance, defendants argue that the photographs were taken without their permission and are, therefore, inadmissible because the photographic activities were outside the scope of 21 U.S.C. § 374(a) (1970). Section 374(a) provides in pertinent part:

(a) For purposes of enforcement of this chapter, officers or employees duly designated by the Secretary, upon presenting appropriate credentials and a written notice to the owner, operator, or agent in charge, are authorized (1) to enter, at reasonable times, any factory, warehouse, or establishment in which food, drugs, devices, or cosmetics are manufactured, processed, packed, or held, for introduction into interstate commerce or after such introduction, or to enter any vehicle being used to transport or hold such food, drugs, devices, or cosmetics in interstate commerce; and (2) to inspect, at reasonable times and within reasonable limits and in a reasonable manner, such factory, warehouse, establishment, or vehicle and all pertinent equipment, finished and unfinished materials; containers, and labeling therein.

Pursuant to Section 374(a), a flexible standard of "reasonableness" defines the contours of an FDA inspection. Cf. Durovic v. Palmer, 342 F.2d 634 (7th Cir. 1965). The Court believes, under the circumstances present in this case, the photographing of warehouse conditions by FDA agents was not unreasonable. The agents were in the warehouse pursuant to lawful authority and following all procedural requirements mandated under Section 374, supra. Further, although it is an unnecessary basis for an inspection, the defendants fully consented to the inspections by FDA. See United States v. Del Campo Baking Mfg. Company, 345 F.Supp. 1371 (D.Del.1972).² The photographs were taken as part of the inspection, and the inspectors made no efforts to conceal the fact that photographs were being taken. Moreover, in this case the photographs introduced into evidence at trial were merely cumulative of the inspectors' testimony regarding the insanitary conditions in the warehouse.

Defendants also argue their rights under the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution were violated by the inspectors photographic activities which exceeded their statutory authority. However, as previously discussed, the FDA agents were properly acting pursuant to statutory procedures. Assuming arguendo, the photographing of evidence in this case is a "search and seizure" under the Fourth Amendment, the Court believes that once the validity of the inspection is established, the propriety of a photographic "search" is co-extensive with the validity of the inspection. Cf. Carter v. Beto, 426 F.2d 242 (5th Cir. 1970). The Court therefore finds that the inspection was conducted pursuant to proper authority, and that no illegal or unwarranted intrusion resulted from the photographic activities.

Finally, it is asserted by the defendants that they should have been given Miranda³ warnings prior to any photographic activities. The Court finds this contention meritless. Defendants were neither in "custody" nor deprived of their freedom at any time in question. See United States v. Thriftimart, Inc., 429 F.2d 1006, 1011 n.6 (9th Cir. 1970), cert. denied, 400 U.S. 926, 91 S.Ct. 188, 27 L.Ed.2d 185; United States v. Del Campo Baking Mfg. Company, supra. Moreover, and contrary to defendants' contention, there is no evidence of record that the focus of the Government's intent in inspecting the warehouse had, at any relevant time, shifted from a mere inspection to a criminal investigation.

II. SAMPLES AND ANALYSES

The defendants also complain that the FDA agents did not furnish them portions of the samples taken from the warehouse or provide a copy of the sample analyses results. Sections 372(b) and 374(d) of Title 21, United States Code, defendants contend, require the FDA to provide these items, and a failure to provide sample portions or...