State v. Williams

• Decision Date: 30 August 2017
• Docket Number: NO. 16-KA-417.,16-KA-417.
• Citation: 227 So.3d 371
• Parties: STATE of Louisiana v. Robert C. WILLIAMS
• Court: Court of Appeal of Louisiana — District of US

227 So.3d 371

STATE of Louisiana

v.Robert C. WILLIAMS

NO. 16-KA-417.

Court of Appeal of Louisiana, Fifth Circuit.

August 30, 2017

COUNSEL FOR PLAINTIFF/APPELLEE, STATE OF LOUISIANA, Paul D. Connick, Jr., Terry M. Boudreaux, Juliet L. Clark

COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANT/APPELLANT, ROBERT C. WILLIAMS, Bruce G. Whittaker

Panel composed of Judges Fredericka Homberg Wicker, Marc E. Johnson, and Hans J. Liljeberg

JOHNSON, J.

Defendant/Appellant, Robert C. Williams, appeals his convictions and sentences from the 24^th Judicial District Court, Division "M". For the following reasons, we affirm.

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

On February 26, 2015, Defendant and 20 other co-defendants were charged in a 36–count indictment for various acts of racketeering committed in furtherance of a narcotics distribution network on the West Bank of Jefferson Parish operated by a street gang known by its members as the "Harvey Hustlers."¹ Specifically, Defendant was charged with racketeering, in violation of La. R.S. 15:1352 (count one), attempt or conspiracy to distribute cocaine, in violation of La. R.S. 40:979 and La. R.S. 40:967(A) (count two), conspiracy to distribute heroin and marijuana, in violation of La. R.S. 40:979 and La. R.S. 40:966(A) (count three), two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, in violation of La. R.S. 14:95.1 (counts fifteen and eighteen),² illegal possession of a stolen firearm, in violation of La. R.S. 14:69.1 (count sixteen), and possession with intent to distribute cocaine, in violation of La. R.S. 40:967(A) (count nineteen).³ Defendant pleaded not guilty to the charged offenses at his arraignment on March 26, 2015.

On October 8, 2015, the trial court heard and denied Defendant's motion to suppress wiretaps. The trial court also denied two of Defendant's oral motions to sever co-defendant Smith during trial on October 27 and 30, 2015.

Trial before a 12–person jury commenced against Defendant and codefendant Smith on October 27, 2015. At trial, evidence was presented that this case arises from a federal investigation conducted by a task force identified as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) New Orleans Gang Task Force, comprised of federal and state officers, into drug trafficking in Jefferson Parish. Through the investigation, law enforcement learned that a narcotics distribution network was being operated on the West Bank of Jefferson Parish by a violent street gang known as the "Harvey Hustlers." It was discovered that members of this narcotics organization would obtain controlled dangerous substances transported into the New Orleans area from known source locations, including the State of Texas, from fellow gang members and other associates. The acquired narcotics were then converted into saleable form and provided to street level dealers working for the Harvey Hustlers, who in turn would sell the product for the profit of the gang's members.

According to the testimony established at trial, while operating their narcotics network, the members of the Harvey Hustlers and their known associates committed various drug offenses and other criminal acts including, but not limited to, murder, solicitation to commit murder, obstruction of justice, and illegal possession of firearms. Witness testimony confirmed that Defendant, Robert Williams aka "Lil Rob," held a leadership role in the Harvey Hustlers and as such, directed the illegal activities of other gang members, while co-defendant, Alcus Smith aka "Bug," participated in the transportation and distribution of wholesale amounts of powder cocaine to Harvey Hustler members. Information regarding the inner workings of this criminal enterprise were further obtained from numerous wiretaps secured on cellular telephones belonging to Defendant, co-defendant Smith, and other members and/or associates of the Harvey Hustlers.

As a result of the multi-agency investigation, which spanned several years, 21 defendants were indicted in both federal and state courts and charged with over 50 acts of racketeering and 30 additional criminal offenses. The specific facts adduced at trial surrounding the offenses for which Defendant was charged are as follows.

The drug trafficking investigation

FBI Special Agent Todd Schliem testified regarding the multi-agency investigation spanning the course of years of the Harvey Hustlers, recognized for extreme acts of violence associated with drug distribution in Jefferson Parish. According to Special Agent Schliem, the members of the Harvey Hustlers and their known associates totaled over 100 and their purpose was to make money through the sale of narcotics. He explained that in 2005—in the time period following Hurricane Katrina—there was a limited supply of narcotics available in Jefferson Parish, with one exception. In the Scottsdale neighborhood on the West Bank of Jefferson Parish, the Harvey Hustlers were able to establish and/or maintain a significant drug supply, thereby creating high demand for their product. Special Agent Schliem noted that from that time forward, the Harvey Hustlers exerted influence in Scottsdale and other neighborhoods in Jefferson Parish, establishing a hierarchy inside their gang.

Defendant's brother, David Williams aka "Mr. Harvey," was identified as the leader of the Harvey Hustlers until his murder in 2010. It was discovered that during the time period when the Harvey Hustlers were experiencing very profitable drug sales, there was an internal strain amongst the gang members vying for leadership positions. A "civil war" broke out, dividing the group into those who supported David Williams and those who supported brothers Melvin and Jermaine Hudson. Special Agent Schliem described the events leading up to David Williams' murder as a "domino effect" beginning with the murder of Chad Jones, a close associate of David Williams. He explained that when David Williams discovered that a fellow gang member by the name of Laval London had participated in Jones' murder, David Williams had London killed in retaliation. Consequently, in retaliation for the murder of London—who was a close associate of the Hudson brothers—David Williams was killed.⁴ During this turmoil, the Harvey Hustlers separated into subgroups based on their identified loyalties. Those loyal to the Hudson brothers grouped into subsets of the gang identified as the "Murder Squad" and the "Young, Black and Successful" (YBS), while those loyal to David Williams and his brother, Defendant, identified as "HH."

Based on the investigation into the members of the Harvey Hustlers, approximately ten federal and state court indictments were obtained resulting in over 20 convictions. At the time the state and federal indictments were returned, Defendant was recognized as one of the leaders of the Harvey Hustlers.

Several investigative techniques were employed while conducting the investigation into the Harvey Hustlers, including basic surveillance, analysis of phone records, witness interviews, use of confidential informants, controlled narcotics purchases, and wiretaps. Among the relevant wiretaps were those placed on the cellular telephones of Defendant, Defendant's brother, Clifford Sonnier, and Nathan Carter beginning in October of 2013. Special Agent Schliem identified for the jury numerous intercepted phone calls purported to capture the voices of Defendant and/or Sonnier and their alleged associates. Specifically, testimony was elicited regarding a November 6, 2013 intercept wherein Defendant received a phone call from an unidentified female who alerted him that the police had been by his residence at 1104 Clydesbank and reminded him that he "put his mojo [synthetic marijuana] in there." Defendant then replied, "[y]ep and my hammer," which Special Agent Schliem explained is street vernacular for a firearm. Special Agent Schliem noted that the referenced firearm was stolen and had been seized from the residence by Detective John Wiebelt.

Detective Wiebelt of the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office (JPSO) confirmed that on November 6, 2013, he assisted in an eviction at 1104 Clydesbank. The home was unoccupied, and inside, officers seized a firearm and a black bag containing synthetic marijuana (also known as "mojo" or "gas") and a digital scale. It was discovered that the firearm seized had been stolen.⁵

Special Agent Schliem also identified various phone calls and text messages exchanged between members of the gang and their known associates including codefendant Smith and Sonnier, leading up to a meeting to conduct a drug transaction at a daiquiri shop in Harvey, Louisiana, on November 18, 2013.

The relevant intercepted communications began with a text message sent by Sonnier to Carter at 2:55 p.m., in which Sonnier texted Carter: "Sup Big Homie." At 3:10 p.m., Carter responded, "I'm 'bout to call him." Carter then sent another text message to Sonnier that said: "he 'bout to call you from a 758 num." Special Agent Schliem noted that "758" is the first three digits of the phone number used by co-defendant Smith. A phone call was then made at 3:17 p.m., by co-defendant Smith wherein co-defendant Smith told Sonnier, "Nathan gave me your number" and Sonnier told co-defendant Smith, "give me three of them," prompting codefendant Smith to respond, "like last time."⁶ Two subsequent conversations between Sonnier and an unidentified female reflect Sonnier's effort to obtain "about $1500." Then, at 5:29 p.m. co-defendant Smith texted Sonnier, "I'm ready when you ready." Sonnier then texted co-defendant Smith at 5:55 p.m. inquiring as to his whereabouts, to which co-defendant responded, "I'm on Ames." Sonnier informed co-defendant Smith that he was at the daiquiri shop, and co-defendant Smith replied, "K. On my way." Meanwhile, a phone call was also intercepted between Sonnier and Willie Thornton during which Sonnier told Thornton that he wants him to "work his magic for me"⁷ and that he will pick him up. At 6:17 p.m., Sonnier asked co-defendant Smith where he...