-
JUDICIAL TRANSCRIBERS OF TEXAS, LLC
1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
HOUSTON DIVISION
UNITED STATES OF AMERCIA CASE NO. 4:03-CR-436-1
HOUSTON, TEXAS
VERSUS TUESDAY,
AUGUST 6, 2013
KOYODE LAWRENCE, ET AL 2:04 P.M. TO 3:08 P.M.
PRETRIAL CONFERENCE
BEFORE THE HONORABLE NANCY F. ATLAS
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
APPEARANCES:
FOR PLAINTIFF/DEFENDANT: SEE NEXT PAGE
COURT RECORDER: RISHONA SMITH
COURT CLERK: SHEILA ASHABRANNER
TRANSCRIPTION SERVICE BY:
JUDICIAL TRANSCRIBERS OF TEXAS, LLC
935 ELDRIDGE ROAD, #144
SUGAR LAND, TEXAS 77478
Tel: 281-277-5325 Fax: 281-277-0946
www.judicialtranscribers.com
Proceedings recorded by electronic sound recording;
transcript produced by transcription service.
Case 4:03-cr-00436 Document 488 Filed in TXSD on 08/20/13 Page 1
of 62
-
JUDICIAL TRANSCRIBERS OF TEXAS, LLC
2
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
APPEARANCES:
FOR THE GOVERNMENT: STUART ALAN BURNS
U.S. ATTORNEYS OFFICE
1000 LOUISIANA, STE. 2300
HOUSTON, TEXAS 77002
713-567-9580
FOR THE DEFENDANT,
KOYODE LAWRENCE: GREGORY CHARLES GLADDEN
BIANCA MARTINEZ
ATTORNEY AT LAW
3017 HOUSTON AVE.
HOUSTON, TEXAS 77009
713-880-0333
ALSO ATTENDING:
US MARSHALS OFFICE
515 RUSK, 10TH FLOOR
HOUSTON, TEXAS 77002
713-718-4800
Case 4:03-cr-00436 Document 488 Filed in TXSD on 08/20/13 Page 2
of 62
-
JUDICIAL TRANSCRIBERS OF TEXAS, LLC
3
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
HOUSTON, TEXAS; TUESDAY, AUGUST 6, 2013; 2:04 P.M.
THE COURT: Okay, do I have the parties on
United States versus Koyode Lawrence?
THE CLERK: Yeah.
MR. BURNS: Yes, Judge. Good afternoon.
Stuart Burns for the United States.
THE COURT: Good afternoon.
MR. GLADDEN: Good morning, Judge.
Im Greg Gladden.
THE COURT: Mr. Gladden.
And who do you have with you?
MR. GLADDEN: Ms. Bianca Martinez. Shes a --
well, I dont know what you call her. She just took the Bar
last week.
THE COURT: Okay.
MR. GLADDEN: Shes waiting for her results.
THE COURT: All right. And I --
MR. GLADDEN: Were working on that.
THE COURT: -- see that Mr. Lawrence is here.
There -- this is an Initial Pretrial Conference in
this case. The case was filed and other Defendants were
prosecuted in 2003 and 04. The case number is 03-436 and
it was opened in November of 2003.
Mr. Lawrence has been -- I dont know if you call
it a fugitive, but he hasnt been -- he has not been taken
Case 4:03-cr-00436 Document 488 Filed in TXSD on 08/20/13 Page 3
of 62
-
JUDICIAL TRANSCRIBERS OF TEXAS, LLC
4
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
into custody here in the United States until very recently.
I do know that there is a Motion to Dismiss based on speedy
trial grounds. It was filed only recently so I need a
response from you, Mr. Burns.
I did read it and I need to say that, Mr. Gladden,
youve set out the test, but you only addressed two out of
the four factors. You did -- you said it was an egregiously
long time and that there was prejudice that you felt was
inherent in the delay, but theres no comment about the
cause of the delay or really the reasons for or who was at
fault, whos to blame for the delay.
MR. GLADDEN: May I be heard, Your Honor?
THE COURT: Yes.
MR. GLADDEN: I was appointed on July 19th. I
received an email from the Magistrates Deputy Clerk on the
18th after 5:00 when I got back to the office asking if I
was available and I responded I was available. And I went
out to see Mr. Lawrence that evening --
THE COURT: Uh-huh.
MR. GLADDEN: -- of the 18th actually before I was
appointed. And met him for the first time and learned for
the first time that he had been in custody at the request of
the United States of America since March of 2004 in Nigerian
prisons or jails.
THE COURT: Uh-huh.
Case 4:03-cr-00436 Document 488 Filed in TXSD on 08/20/13 Page 4
of 62
-
JUDICIAL TRANSCRIBERS OF TEXAS, LLC
5
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
MR. GLADDEN: At some point, he arrived here on, I
believe, July 3rd, 2013, just this last month. After
visiting with him, I was also advised by the Magistrate
Court at the time they asked me if I was available, that
there was a Scheduling Order in place with the Dispositive
Motions due that Friday, the same day I was to be appointed,
the next day in other words --
THE COURT: Oh well.
MR. GLADDEN: -- so --
THE COURT: What was the Magistrate Judge?
(Pause.)
THE COURT: I think I can tell you.
MR. GLADDEN: Judge --
THE COURT: George Hanks.
MR. GLADDEN: Yes. He had had --
THE COURT: I dont know, how could there have
been a --
MR. GLADDEN: -- there was an appointment of the
Pretrial Services. They represented one of the primary
witnesses --
THE COURT: Public defender.
MR. GLADDEN: -- Im sorry, Public Defenders
Office. They represented one of the primary witnesses in
the trial that was before you --
THE COURT: Years ago.
Case 4:03-cr-00436 Document 488 Filed in TXSD on 08/20/13 Page 5
of 62
-
JUDICIAL TRANSCRIBERS OF TEXAS, LLC
6
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
MR. GLADDEN: -- almost 10 years ago.
THE COURT: Okay.
MR. GLADDEN: So they had a conflict. They -- I
was appointed on that Friday. Their office is closed on
that Friday because of the sequestration. I did speak with
the prosecuting attorney that was mentioned as being
representing the State in this case that day, on that
Friday. I told him I was going to be filing a Motion to
Dismiss on a speedy trial grounds and that Id like to have
him consent to that because it seems like nine years and
four months might be enough and we could resolve the case
expeditiously that way, rather than trying to try something
that happened 10 or 12 or more years ago. He did not agree
to it.
The Scheduling Order had the Motion due that day
on the 19th. I filed the Motion that day on the 19th.
THE COURT: Okay.
MR. GLADDEN: His response was due on the 24th.
He was, Im told, and that Friday he told me he was going to
be out of town for a few days, so I suspect hes going to
advise you that he was out of town beyond the 24th. There
still has not been a response filed.
Now, my client was delivered here from Nigeria
with the clothes he had on. He was not allowed to bring his
legal documents involving 11 years of being over there
Case 4:03-cr-00436 Document 488 Filed in TXSD on 08/20/13 Page 6
of 62
-
JUDICIAL TRANSCRIBERS OF TEXAS, LLC
7
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
trying to get out. He didnt have his address book. He had
no recollection of telephone numbers or email addresses for
his family, his lawyer.
THE COURT: His family in Nigeria or here?
MR. GLADDEN: In Nigeria. Hes never been in the
United States before this last month. He was brought here
for the first time to address these charges. I have spent a
lot of time in getting to know the ins and outs of social
media this last month and have --
THE COURT: Time for everybody.
MR. GLADDEN: And have -- as of this morning,
located the lawyer that has represented him in Nigeria since
2004.
THE COURT: Uh-huh.
MR. GLADDEN: Also, as of this morning, spoke to
and -- his older sister in Nigeria who gave me the correct
number for the lawyer that I have exchanged emails with and
just in the last hour have received documents evidencing --
evidence that would be material to the point --
THE COURT: The Motion.
MR. GLADDEN: -- that hed bring up. That being
apparently years of foot dragging and delays that -- and Im
just reading the documents in your courtroom for the first
time in the last few minutes. But the pleadings and the
scheduling and the delays that were all in the part of the
Case 4:03-cr-00436 Document 488 Filed in TXSD on 08/20/13 Page 7
of 62
-
JUDICIAL TRANSCRIBERS OF TEXAS, LLC
8
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
Government over the last many years, I think will speak to
that point and Id like to move to amend my Motion to
Dismiss with some of this evidence.
Frankly, it appears from what Ive seen so far and
Ive asked the Government and I wrote them a letter last
week asking them to get me all documents, emails, pleadings,
text messages, document, you know, relative to his detention
in Nigeria, what caused it, what kept him there, what didnt
get him back here in something less than nine years and four
months. And Ive not received a response to that.
Ive not received a response to my Motion so Im
feeling a little bit ambushed but I would like leave to
modify my Motion. I think its probably the biggest quantum
contention that Ive also read the transcript of the five-
day long trial you had in 2004 and I supplied that to my
client. I have seen one of five large binders that the
Government has of DEA reports and FBI reports related to the
case. Ive not spent any time looking at those because
of -- and the last few months having been a witness to the
prosecution in the -- of the District Attorney in
Brownsville that was being -- is prosecuted and the Judge
and the various lawyers and actually I was scheduled to be a
witness for the United States tomorrow in Corpus Christi on
another one of those Defendants.
Ive been so disappointed in the FBI reports of my
Case 4:03-cr-00436 Document 488 Filed in TXSD on 08/20/13 Page 8
of 62
-
JUDICIAL TRANSCRIBERS OF TEXAS, LLC
9
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
interviews and Im not a target, Im a Government witness
but, to paraphrase in the words of a Texas, those FBI
reports dont seem to be worth a warm bucket of -- and he
said, piss, but I think they changed it to spit for the
press. Therere about 80 percent wrong. Ive not -- Ive
struggled with that for my clients and their alleged
confessions for years but when its my statements that
theyre flipping 150 degrees for their own benefit even
though Im their witness, Ive decided Id rather be reading
a transcript than five big binders of their reports that I
dont put much credit in.
THE COURT: I see.
MR. GLADDEN: And with --
THE COURT: Okay. So the bottom line from your
perspective is that you want some discovery and time to file
an amended motion and/or fresh motion.
MR. GLADDEN: Well, I havent filed a response
yet.
THE COURT: I know but the responses are due or a
way with this just to --
MR. GLADDEN: There was the --
THE COURT: -- usually its 10 days, not a week.
MR. GLADDEN: Well, your Scheduling Order had it
due July 24th.
THE COURT: Thats not my Scheduling Order.
Case 4:03-cr-00436 Document 488 Filed in TXSD on 08/20/13 Page 9
of 62
-
JUDICIAL TRANSCRIBERS OF TEXAS, LLC
10
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
MR. GLADDEN: Okay.
THE COURT: So I --
MR. GLADDEN: Thats what I was talking --
THE COURT: -- Id never make the Government or
anybody else respond in five days to a motion of this
nature.
MR. GLADDEN: Okay.
THE COURT: So I appreciate your point and I dont
know Judge Haynes put it down that way, but anyway, it is
what it is, but nobody who practices before me thinks that
thats real so I might as well just enlighten you that --
MR. GLADDEN: I --
THE COURT: -- the Magistrate Judges Order is
never pointed anything on me and so Ill give you whatever
you want in the way of an extension of time. Thats not a
problem.
MR. GLADDEN: Okay.
THE COURT: But Mr. Burns needs to have the formal
motion before he -- and a full motion and the fact that I
need a full motion before Im going to rule.
So the way Im interpreting all that youve said
is that you want some discovery. You need to get documents
from Nigeria from your -- from the Defendants family and on
this -- in order to even make this motion and that you want
to re-file something that is more fulsome and persuasive.
Case 4:03-cr-00436 Document 488 Filed in TXSD on 08/20/13 Page
10 of 62
-
JUDICIAL TRANSCRIBERS OF TEXAS, LLC
11
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
Mr. Burns, whats the story on the discovery?
MR. BURNS: Theres no problem with discovery.
Just to make it clear, hes written -- theres not been a
formal request for discovery. What he asked for is what I
would consider work product relating to the extradition. He
wants emails that might have been exchanged between the
existing attorney and the case agent which I would say would
be --
THE COURT: The existing attorney meaning you?
MR. BURNS: No, I -- and here, this is Peter Mason
and James Alstons case and I recently just inherited within
the last probably 30 days, so Im just going to go to press,
but Counsels asked for stuff that I dont think is
discoverable. I have no problem complying with Rule 16,
Brady, Giglio, all that relating to discovery and I told him
so. I invited him over to my office and I -- that --
THE COURT: Right. But thats the merits. I
think the issue thats being raised at the moment, I mean,
the merits are also important, of course, but whats being
raised is the issue of why Mr. Lawrence was not extradited
far sooner. Frankly, Im interested in that too because
based on what I heard from the trial and Mr. Gladdens going
to read the transcript -- Mr. Lawrence is accused of having
been the mastermind if I recall correctly.
MR. BURNS: Thats correct. And --
Case 4:03-cr-00436 Document 488 Filed in TXSD on 08/20/13 Page
11 of 62
-
JUDICIAL TRANSCRIBERS OF TEXAS, LLC
12
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
THE COURT: And has been for a while.
MR. BURNS: Thats correct. And from the little I
know, Judge, a probation arrest and Im in the process of
obtaining these documents. I dont have a single document
relating to this.
THE COURT: Oh.
MR. BURNS: But from what I understand, a
provisional arrest warrant was sent to Nigeria and he was
arrested four months later and if he wouldnt have contested
-- it was his contesting of the extradition that led to the
delay, you know, we sometimes -- we cant control what other
jurisdictions do and the way they handle their extradition
but it was based upon his accusations that he couldnt get a
fair trial in the United States that led to the lengthy
delay in the extradition. And the final judgment of the
Judge in Nigeria states that those were the grounds that he
denied his Motion upon. Now, why it took --
THE COURT: Well -- but how do we happen to get
moved or extradited now?
MR. BURNS: We cant -- the United States cant do
anything until the extraditions judgment takes effect and
it wont take effect until its appeals are exhausted and so
they go through a process fighting the extradition and
appealing any rulings. Again, I dont know exactly what
happened in these circumstance, but I do know that within
Case 4:03-cr-00436 Document 488 Filed in TXSD on 08/20/13 Page
12 of 62
-
JUDICIAL TRANSCRIBERS OF TEXAS, LLC
13
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
six months of the Indictment, he was arresting in Nigeria.
And had he not fought the extradition, would have been sent
over fairly immediately to address his charges here.
THE COURT: So your position is based on what you
know -- limited amount you know now is that the delay was
attributable to his fighting extradition going through the
court system and trying to -- then appeal.
MR. BURNS: Yes, Judge.
THE COURT: What do you have to say?
MR. GLADDEN: According to the Affidavits that
are --
THE COURT: Oh, the --
MR. GLADDEN: -- part of the pleadings in Nigeria
that I have received copies -- of certified copies of this
morning or this afternoon actually. There was an attempted
abduction in late 2003 that was foiled of my client where
the persons claimed he was doing it at the behest of the
United States and that there was a warrant issued for him
over here. That didnt work out. The person got away
before he was actually abducted. I dont remember if he was
actually arrested and had to face charges for that illegal
behavior.
He was arrested pursuant to the United States
Request in March of 2004. He did contest that, but then
there was a series of years and years of the Government at
Case 4:03-cr-00436 Document 488 Filed in TXSD on 08/20/13 Page
13 of 62
-
JUDICIAL TRANSCRIBERS OF TEXAS, LLC
14
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
someones behest not showing up and leaving him parked in
prison without a day in court.
THE COURT: Uh-huh.
MR. GLADDEN: And it was apparently numerous, over
and over and over delay tactics on the part of the
Government over there. I --
THE COURT: Government being --
MR. GLADDEN: The Government --
THE COURT: -- the United States Government or the
Nigeria Government?
MR. GLADDEN: Thats why the Brady material Ive
asked for about all the communications; why was the Nigerian
Government housing him, feeding him and holding him at our
behest and refusing to come to court for years and years and
years.
THE COURT: I see.
MR. GLADDEN: I believe that they --
THE COURT: Maybe they wanted to be paid off.
MR. GLADDEN: -- I believe that -- I dont know
that thats possible. I dont know --
THE COURT: I have no idea --
MR. GLADDEN: -- who had anything to pay --
THE COURT: -- but it -- I dont either.
MR. GLADDEN: -- while he was in jail, but --
after all those years. But according to the records I
Case 4:03-cr-00436 Document 488 Filed in TXSD on 08/20/13 Page
14 of 62
-
JUDICIAL TRANSCRIBERS OF TEXAS, LLC
15
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
received this morning, it was -- you couldnt get the
Government attorneys to come --
THE COURT: He was --
MR. GLADDEN: -- enjoin -- join the fray, no.
MR. GLADDEN: -- he --
MR. GLADDEN: No, no, the people that were holding
him at the United States -- the agents of the United States
that were holding him in custody at our request --
THE COURT: Oh, agents.
MR. GLADDEN: -- would not come to court.
THE COURT: Who are the agents that youre
referring to?
MR. GLADDEN: The Attorney Generals Office of
Nigeria that had picked him up at the United States --
THE COURT: Oh, so youre saying --
MR. GLADDEN: -- request.
THE COURT: -- oh, okay, yeah, youre saying that
the agents of the United States Government are the --
MR. GLADDEN: I think the things Im asking for is
the communications that would answer your question --
THE COURT: Okay. Fine.
MR. GLADDEN: -- why was the Attorney General --
THE COURT: Youre entitled to it.
MR. GLADDEN: -- not going forward on the
extradition matter? And, in fact, he has now been
Case 4:03-cr-00436 Document 488 Filed in TXSD on 08/20/13 Page
15 of 62
-
JUDICIAL TRANSCRIBERS OF TEXAS, LLC
16
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
extradited or sent to this country while this appeal was
pending --
THE COURT: Uh-huh.
MR. GLADDEN: -- at the objection of his lawyers.
THE COURT: Oh.
MR. GLADDEN: So there wasnt waiting for some
appeal to be over.
THE COURT: Okay. Well find some --
MR. GLADDEN: And Im curious why hes here now
but what the state of the evidence is such that they --
theyre ready to go forward now at this late date --
THE COURT: Right.
MR. GLADDEN: -- 9-1/2 years after they charged
him. I dont think theres been any diligence and part of
the pleadings and part of the complaints --
THE COURT: Mr. Gladden?
MR. GLADDEN: -- are --
THE COURT: Im really interested in this but Im
not ruling today and --
MR. GLADDEN: I understand.
THE COURT: -- youre arguing as if you think Im
going to rule today.
MR. GLADDEN: I understand. I dont --
THE COURT: I cant rule today. I hope you
understand that.
Case 4:03-cr-00436 Document 488 Filed in TXSD on 08/20/13 Page
16 of 62
-
JUDICIAL TRANSCRIBERS OF TEXAS, LLC
17
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
MR. GLADDEN: I understand and I dont want you to
rule on the state of my Motion because I just got this
evidence today but I dont want a long delay. The
Scheduling Order that the Magistrate gave me has it set for
trial later this month on the 26th.
THE COURT: Do you want to go to trial on the
26th? I thought you didnt. I thought you really were
focused on the speedy trial issue.
MR. GLADDEN: I, having read the transcript, I
think our strongest defense right now is the fact that we
dont have a defense because of the delay and the change --
the train has left the station on his ability to get a
speedy trial and thats a fair trial so I would like a very
short delay with my clients permission to get my Motion to
you in order, a response from that and then some hearing
where we can present evidence. I believe once my Motion is
amended with the documents I just received.
THE COURT: Where did you get these documents?
MR. GLADDEN: I -- from his lawyers office --
THE COURT: Oh.
MR. GLADDEN: -- in Nigeria.
THE COURT: Are you going to share them?
MR. GLADDEN: Ive going to attach them to my
Motion.
THE COURT: Okay. Okay. Great.
Case 4:03-cr-00436 Document 488 Filed in TXSD on 08/20/13 Page
17 of 62
-
JUDICIAL TRANSCRIBERS OF TEXAS, LLC
18
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
MR. BURNS: I merely -- Judge, if I may, I merely
offered in this very simply discovery that I also be
entitled to at least receive copies of the documents that he
received from --
MR. GLADDEN: Im going to attach them to my
Motion and hes going to be --
THE COURT: All of them?
MR. GLADDEN: -- served with them. Yes, maam.
THE COURT: Okay.
MR. GLADDEN: Everything Ive got so far and Id
like to get more. And Id like to once he sees them, Id
like to have some notice as to whether hes going to
challenge -- they appear to be certified copies, copies of
certified copies with court stamps and all that kind of
stuff.
THE COURT: Okay.
MR. GLADDEN: Id like --
THE COURT: Great.
MR. GLADDEN: -- Id like to save a trip to
Nigeria to get originals.
THE COURT: Yeah, I totally agree with you there.
MR. GLADDEN: And Ive already talked to him about
going to Nigeria and hes not interested in going over there
to do any discovery so.
THE COURT: Okay. Okay. Well, Im trying to be
Case 4:03-cr-00436 Document 488 Filed in TXSD on 08/20/13 Page
18 of 62
-
JUDICIAL TRANSCRIBERS OF TEXAS, LLC
19
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
accommodating to your request, Im just getting mixed
signals here so Im trying to figure out exactly what it is
youre asking for. You -- on the one hand you want
discovery. On the other hand you have some documents and
you want to push forward and you want them to be in quick
order.
On the third hand, we -- Mr. Burns is saying I
can give you everything Ive got on the trial but I dont
have much yet on how the extradition went and hes --
Mr. Burns as I understand it, is trying to gather that stuff
so he can make it available to you which I --
MR. GLADDEN: Okay.
THE COURT: -- wholeheartedly believe is
necessary.
MR. GLADDEN: Thats not what I heard him say. I
heard him say it was a work product and he was not going to
make it available.
THE COURT: No, he said that what he has so far is
work product and wasnt making that, but he said it was
communications between lawyers is what I heard.
MR. BURNS: What I said, Judge -- what he was
asking for -- part of -- most of what he was asking for was
emails that would take place between the existing attorney
and the agent that might be writing the Affidavit saying,
Oh, you might need to put this in here or there might be
Case 4:03-cr-00436 Document 488 Filed in TXSD on 08/20/13 Page
19 of 62
-
JUDICIAL TRANSCRIBERS OF TEXAS, LLC
20
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
additional information that you need or communication from
the Office of International Affairs where from here, where
the lawyers are saying, What exactly do you mean in my
extradition package? I dont even know if those emails
exist, but thats generally -- theres -- the nature of the
communications and once we send the extradition package up,
we usually have no contacts with OIA. Ill find out if
thats been --
THE COURT: Well, you know --
MR. BURNS: -- the case.
THE COURT: -- but OIAs part of the Federal
Government so their communications are relevant in terms of
discovery.
MR. BURNS: I dont know if I said discovery, I
certainly -- I mean, Judge rule, however you rule but --
THE COURT: Right.
MR. BURNS: -- I certainly -- if its internal
communication that relates to an investigation that might
still be ongoing or might somehow compromise some
information, Id at least ask the Court allow me to submit
it in-camera before we turn over anything I have.
THE COURT: Well, yeah, sure, but, Jesus, so when
are they going to get the documents --
MR. BURNS: You know, I --
THE COURT: -- from OIA or State or whatever it
Case 4:03-cr-00436 Document 488 Filed in TXSD on 08/20/13 Page
20 of 62
-
JUDICIAL TRANSCRIBERS OF TEXAS, LLC
21
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
is?
MR. BURNS: Im not even sure what we have. Ive
asked for everything they have.
THE COURT: And who have you asked?
MR. BURNS: Ive asked the paralegal that --
THE COURT: Right.
MR. BURNS: -- her name --
THE COURT: Paralegal where?
MR. BURNS: -- paralegal at the office -- a
paralegal at the Office of International Affairs. And the
only reason I came in contact with her because she sent an
email actually this morning asking for the Judgment --
asking for the Judgment that I received when I first got
this case from the Court actually.
THE COURT: What judgment are you talking about?
MR. BURNS: The Judgment out of Nigeria stating
that the extradition was denied.
THE COURT: Extradition, see -- I -- okay. Im --
MR. BURNS: So --
THE COURT: -- coming into the middle of the movie
here. I dont --
MR. BURNS: When I and Counsel who was appointed
in the case received the same document. This is documents
we received -- weve made its initial appearance. Thats
the same day that I was told and actually appeared and I got
Case 4:03-cr-00436 Document 488 Filed in TXSD on 08/20/13 Page
21 of 62
-
JUDICIAL TRANSCRIBERS OF TEXAS, LLC
22
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
a package from the Court that had -- you know, they
generally have the arrest warrant, the Indictment that lets
the Defense know exactly what hes charged with and thats
the only document -- that and the Judgment which was a long,
maybe 25-30 page document from the -- from Nigeria. Those
are the only documents I had related to this case and so
thats the Judgment I guess that they used as a basis to
finally extradite him here saying his contesting of his
extradition that was finally denied --
THE COURT: And when was that?
MR. BURNS: -- and therefore he should --
THE COURT: Roughly what year?
MR. BURNS: I want to say this year.
THE COURT: Okay. 2013 or 12?
MR. BURNS: Yes.
THE COURT: Something like that.
MR. BURNS: I believe it was 2103. Im not
absolutely sure on that.
THE COURT: I see. Okay.
And -- well, what about Mr. Alston and Mr. whoever
it is that had this case before?
MR. BURNS: Well, you know Alston is a defense
attorney now.
THE COURT: Well, I know but he didnt take his
files with him, those are Government files.
Case 4:03-cr-00436 Document 488 Filed in TXSD on 08/20/13 Page
22 of 62
-
JUDICIAL TRANSCRIBERS OF TEXAS, LLC
23
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
You dont think he left the files on his case with
the office?
MR. BURNS: Oh, I have -- those files I have. I
havent found anything related to extradition.
THE COURT: Oh.
MR. BURNS: Thats -- I -- when I talk about
discovery, thats the files Im referring to that are
discoverable --
THE COURT: Okay.
MR. BURNS: -- and related to the investigation.
But there -- I couldnt find an extradition package so I
called the woman I spoke with today and asked her to send me
the actual extradition package and anything else related to
the case.
THE COURT: I see. Okay. So how about we get
together in two more weeks and at that point I need
Mr. Alston here or some sort of a report from you about what
hes given you and we need the OIG or whatever, the OIA or
whatever the organization is that the Federal Government has
that works on extradition. They have to have a whole file
on this. I mean, my recollection is that it was represented
to me when I sentenced some of these other people that the
Government was working getting Mr. Lawrence over here. I
mean, I dont think the individual standing in front of me
were working on it but they understood that that was what
Case 4:03-cr-00436 Document 488 Filed in TXSD on 08/20/13 Page
23 of 62
-
JUDICIAL TRANSCRIBERS OF TEXAS, LLC
24
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
was happening and that he was fighting extradition. This
was just sort of informal --
MR. BURNS: Right.
THE COURT: -- comment when I would ask at the end
of the sentencing or --
MR. BURNS: But Im pretty sure that our role in
that, Judge, is when the Office of International Affairs
simply sends a bunch of certified documents to the Embassy
that is subsequently given to the proper authorities and we
pay, I believe, absolutely nothing --
THE COURT: We being?
MR. BURNS: United States -- the United States.
THE COURT: Oh.
MR. BURNS: As if somebody -- you know, when we
extradite somebody from this country, the foreign Government
doesnt play a role in our process. We go through our
process here in subsequently extraditing --
THE COURT: Right.
MR. BURNS: -- same as there. You know,
certainly, if thats not the case, I need --
THE COURT: Well, yeah, and it doesnt sound like
you know much about it yet so I dont want to put you on the
spot and I know Mr. Gladden seems to be in a rush, I
understand that so we need, in two weeks, to get a full
status report and, frankly, Id like -- you need to make a
Case 4:03-cr-00436 Document 488 Filed in TXSD on 08/20/13 Page
24 of 62
-
JUDICIAL TRANSCRIBERS OF TEXAS, LLC
25
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
chronology of what happened as best you can put it together,
okay? Im asking you to do that so that we all know whats
going -- and the Office of International Affairs has to turn
over its entire file to you and then you can tell me and
tell Mr. Gladden what it is that you think is privilege and
redact the privilege stuff. You have to do a privilege log
and then you turn over everything else thats not privilege,
the packet and all that. I mean, Im not interested in the
communications that are classically work product but I am
interested -- or attorney-client privilege, but I am
interested in knowing what youre not turning over in a
privilege log and I am interested in knowing what the
timeline was and, frankly, what documents were sent over --
prepared and sent as part of the process of getting the
extradition.
And we need -- well, we will need somebody from
whatever the office is that was dealing with Nigeria to
explain to us and to document the file because thats not
privileged. Give us the documents from that file.
MR. BURNS: I would just ask, Judge, that we dont
-- certainly this deserves proper attention --
THE COURT: Right.
MR. BURNS: -- but, you know, its possible for us
to sort of get too bogged down because, I mean, as a matter
of fact, the Government would have no interest in delaying
Case 4:03-cr-00436 Document 488 Filed in TXSD on 08/20/13 Page
25 of 62
-
JUDICIAL TRANSCRIBERS OF TEXAS, LLC
26
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
his extradition.
THE COURT: I -- that may be, but I -- youre
representation of that is not insufficient.
MR. BURNS: But the point -- no, my point is: the
only thing thats really relevant, I believe, are the dates,
the dates that are --
THE COURT: The dates in the documents that
establish those dates.
MR. BURNS: Exactly.
THE COURT: Yeah.
MR. BURNS: And once we find those dates, I mean,
I think the case law will walk us through everything else.
THE COURT: Maybe, but were entitled to know what
the Government did to get Mr. Lawrence here, okay?
MR. BURNS: I understand.
THE COURT: And --
MR. BURNS: Sure.
MR. GLADDEN: And what they did to keep him from
getting here.
THE COURT: Or didnt do, yes.
MR. GLADDEN: And for the Government to suggest
that the United States has no interest or role or any
authority over foreign Governments holding people in prison
for us is not --
THE COURT: Is this the first international case
Case 4:03-cr-00436 Document 488 Filed in TXSD on 08/20/13 Page
26 of 62
-
JUDICIAL TRANSCRIBERS OF TEXAS, LLC
27
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
youve ever had?
MR. GLADDEN: Does not comport -- no, maam, it
does not comport with the published news reports of us
having people held in prison by other Government at our
behest --
THE COURT: Okay.
MR. GLADDEN: -- all over the country --
THE COURT: Okay. Great.
MR. GLADDEN: -- all over the world.
THE COURT: Youre entitled to whatever your view
is and thats fine. Im just going to litigate this case;
do you hear me?
MR. GLADDEN: Yes.
THE COURT: Im not interested in the views --
MR. GLADDEN: I understand.
THE COURT: -- whether the CIA or some other
defense department is -- God knows what other agency is
doing something along the lines youre describing, okay? I
can watch 24 just like you can watch 24.
MR. GLADDEN: Yes.
THE COURT: So the point is: Im not interested.
What I am interested in is this case.
MR. GLADDEN: Yes.
THE COURT: okay? And I know what was represented
to me eight -- ten whatever number of years ago it was which
Case 4:03-cr-00436 Document 488 Filed in TXSD on 08/20/13 Page
27 of 62
-
JUDICIAL TRANSCRIBERS OF TEXAS, LLC
28
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
is: Mr. Lawrence was hotly contesting his extradition. Now,
maybe that accounts for a couple of years, but not all of
them splaying right into your argument or maybe there was
something else that went on, but Ive just finished telling
Mr. Burns that he has to give me the documents relating to
the efforts the United States made to get Mr. Lawrence here,
okay?
MR. GLADDEN: Yes, maam.
THE COURT: Now, if you have some other source of
documents that you think is appropriate for us to get, then
you may make whatever requests of Mr. Burns you want or
requests of me and Ill deal with those specifics when I get
them, okay? Im very interested. I dont know what it is
that you think may have happened in this case and so you
have access to lots of information that Mr. Burns doesnt
seem to have so youll have your opportunity to present that
too, okay?
MR. GLADDEN: Yes.
THE COURT: Im very interested.
MR. BURNS: Yes.
THE COURT: So --
MR. BURNS: Yes, maam.
THE COURT: -- I would like a report in two weeks.
MR. BURNS: Before we set that certain date --
THE COURT: Okay.
Case 4:03-cr-00436 Document 488 Filed in TXSD on 08/20/13 Page
28 of 62
-
JUDICIAL TRANSCRIBERS OF TEXAS, LLC
29
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
MR. BURNS: -- I have a personal conflict with it.
THE COURT: Oh, okay.
MR. BURNS: Maam, Im taking my kid to college,
but --
THE COURT: Uh-huh. You have --
MR. BURNS: -- I could make it three --
THE COURT: -- a kid that could go to college?
MR. BURNS: -- but could we do it -- make it three
weeks?
THE COURT: Must be a child -- yes, we can.
MR. BURNS: No.
THE COURT: Is it a child prodigy or what?
MR. BURNS: Youd be surprised, Judge, I think Im
the oldest one in the courtroom right now.
THE COURT: Wrong, that is so wrong.
MR. BURNS: If thats okay.
THE COURT: When -- well, what do you think two
weeks is? Lets see --
MR. BURNS: Its the week of the 20th in there.
THE COURT: The 20th is the same.
MR. GLADDEN: I think if we did in the afternoon
of the 27th works for me, Judge.
THE COURT: Okee dokee.
MR. GLADDEN: And I take it thats just to get our
heads all together and see where we are.
Case 4:03-cr-00436 Document 488 Filed in TXSD on 08/20/13 Page
29 of 62
-
JUDICIAL TRANSCRIBERS OF TEXAS, LLC
30
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
THE COURT: See where we are, right.
MR. GLADDEN: Okay.
THE COURT: Yeah, Im going to be here, Im going
to be in trial.
You want to do it at 3:30?
MR. BURNS: Im -- sure, Your Honor.
THE COURT: On the 27th?
MR. GLADDEN: Okay.
THE COURT: All right.
MR. BURNS: And secondly --
THE COURT: And I do want, Mr. Gladden, for you to
turn over what youve got.
MR. GLADDEN: Uh-huh.
THE COURT: I dont consider this privileged in
the way youre describing it. If theres some privilege --
MR. GLADDEN: Okay.
THE COURT: -- material you think you want to
withhold, you can do a privilege log also, okay?
MR. GLADDEN: It appears from the court documents
from Nigeria, theres certified copies and I was going to
just --
THE COURT: So --
MR. GLADDEN: -- attach them to my Motion and give
them a copy.
THE COURT: -- well, youre welcome to go ahead
Case 4:03-cr-00436 Document 488 Filed in TXSD on 08/20/13 Page
30 of 62
-
JUDICIAL TRANSCRIBERS OF TEXAS, LLC
31
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
and make it -- Im going to just deny your Motion without
prejudice so you can make a fresh motion that actually
covers the waterfront, that is, the current motion. But --
and I understand and appreciate that you did it in a rush so
you would preserve your right and it was interesting, but
the whole point is that Id like a fresh motion with
meaningful documentation cited and attached so we have it
all in one place.
I am prepared to give you a date if want it, but I
was thinking that we would get together in three weeks. You
will have more information. Mr. Burns will have his
chronology and his documents and you will get them and
hopefully in advance of the meeting. And you will do the
same in exchange and then well make an informed schedule;
would that make sense?
MR. GLADDEN: It makes sense to me.
THE COURT: Okay. Because --
MR. GLADDEN: It --
THE COURT: -- with all due respect to
Mr. Lawrence, you have a motion pending and Im going to say
that because this issue as youve said on more than one
occasion here, that the speedy trial issue is your -- is a
very strong issue for you and so Im going to just ask that
you find out if your client wants to waive the Speedy Trial
Act and if you are asking me to count this period while we
Case 4:03-cr-00436 Document 488 Filed in TXSD on 08/20/13 Page
31 of 62
-
JUDICIAL TRANSCRIBERS OF TEXAS, LLC
32
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
sort out the speedy trial issue as excludable delay,
otherwise, Im just going to have to put you to trial and I
dont think you want that.
MR. GLADDEN: Right.
THE COURT: Its okay with me to wait. I should
tell you. I just think if were going to do the speedy
trial motion then we need to do it and do it right.
MR. GLADDEN: I think we would not object to
agreeing that from this day to --
THE COURT: No, from the date you filed your
Motion, I assume, you mean.
MR. GLADDEN: -- from --
THE COURT: The original Motion, no?
MR. GLADDEN: Well --
THE COURT: That would be the typical time where
we count.
MR. GLADDEN: -- okay. From the day we file that
Motion until that is resolves, we will not be contesting
that delay --
THE COURT: Sure.
MR. GLADDEN: -- contributing to his denial of
getting a speedy trial.
THE COURT: Right, and thats without prejudice to
your arguments regarding the period from 2003 through to the
date you filed your Motion. Thats without prejudice to
Case 4:03-cr-00436 Document 488 Filed in TXSD on 08/20/13 Page
32 of 62
-
JUDICIAL TRANSCRIBERS OF TEXAS, LLC
33
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
that and your argument you might make at that time.
MR. BURNS: May I also point out, Judge, that the
case has been certified as complex by this Court which --
THE COURT: You mean, from the -- previously,
true.
MR. BURNS: Yes. And just as a future reference,
when we start talk about setting a trial date, you know,
there are volumes of documents that need to be explored,
both from Mr. Gladdens perspective as well as mine. And
while, you know, I understand Mr. Gladden is about to hurry
up things, I believe that he --
THE COURT: He would want to see --
MR. BURNS: -- would most respectively --
THE COURT: -- this discovery.
MR. BURNS: Yes.
THE COURT: He would want to see it Im sure.
MR. BURNS: Yes.
THE COURT: Okay. Well, fine, so youre going to
turn that stuff over, this -- the merits-type documents.
Youre -- are you making that all available?
MR. BURNS: Yes.
THE COURT: Is it scanned?
MR. BURNS: Well, no, it -- in the action, we
dont turn over reports.
THE COURT: Right, you have them come read them.
Case 4:03-cr-00436 Document 488 Filed in TXSD on 08/20/13 Page
33 of 62
-
JUDICIAL TRANSCRIBERS OF TEXAS, LLC
34
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
MR. BURNS: Yes, but that -- theyve been put in
binders and easily accessible so.
THE COURT: And the trial transcript he already
has.
MR. BURNS: He already has trial transcript.
THE COURT: And the exhibits to the extent there
were any.
MR. BURNS: If there was a trial notebook, he
certainly -- Im certain well let him look at the exhibits
and certainly have copies of anything that would be
relevant.
THE COURT: Well, appeal, Im sure there were
appeals.
MR. BURNS: Its just kind of hard.
MR. GLADDEN: There was an appeal and Ive got the
trial transcript from the appellate lawyer. I do not have
the exhibits but they should be somewhere available.
THE COURT: Well, I would think that -- whats the
name of one of the Defendants that went to trial?
Can you figure that out?
MR. GLADDEN: Yes, Your Honor. Aransiola,
A-R-A-N --
THE COURT: What is it?
MR. GLADDEN: A-R --
THE COURT: Deronzio?
Case 4:03-cr-00436 Document 488 Filed in TXSD on 08/20/13 Page
34 of 62
-
JUDICIAL TRANSCRIBERS OF TEXAS, LLC
35
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
MR. GLADDEN: No, Aransiola, A-R-A-N-S-I-O-L-A.
THE COURT: Adeniji. Just a minute.
MR. GLADDEN: There was also a Kassim,
K-A-S-S-I-M, first name --
THE COURT: Kassim.
MR. GLADDEN: -- T-A-I-Y-E.
THE COURT: Yeah, Ive read that, thank you,
Kassim, Aransiola, okay. I tried this case in June 2004
with Alston, Mason and Kuniansky and Catherine ODaniel and
Edmond OSugi. I tried it for the Defense. And --
MR. GLADDEN: I can feel your pain having read the
transcripts.
THE COURT: I know. So anyway, it was a five-day
trial. The point is that there are tons of exhibits in that
trial and I marked them for identification and for
admission, of course, so --
MR. GLADDEN: All of them --
THE COURT: -- I am sure they are available
somewhere. I would think they were in the Appellate Record
but its possible the Government maintained them. You need
to appeal although I don't know.
MR. GLADDEN: My research --
THE COURT: I just dont know.
MR. GLADDEN: -- my research has identified most
of the witnesses in that case are swallowers, mules that
Case 4:03-cr-00436 Document 488 Filed in TXSD on 08/20/13 Page
35 of 62
-
JUDICIAL TRANSCRIBERS OF TEXAS, LLC
36
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
swallowed stuff --
THE COURT: Right.
MR. GLADDEN: -- and came from Nigeria.
THE COURT: And al lot of them pled guilty and
testify.
MR. GLADDEN: And they were all sentenced to
anything from time served to 3-1/2 years to five years and
theyre all out.
THE COURT: Okay.
MR. GLADDEN: And may be back in Nigeria. I dont
know.
THE COURT: Yes, a lot of them were Nigerians so
they probably did get deported, youre right.
MR. GLADDEN: Well, actually, most of them had
dual citizenship but they had never really lived here except
to --
THE COURT: Oh, okay.
MR. GLADDEN: -- smuggle heroin in.
THE COURT: Oh.
MR. GLADDEN: They had been born here but left the
country in infancy and because they had the passports --
THE COURT: Oh, right, thats right.
MR. GLADDEN: -- they were able to get in a little
easier than non-citizens.
THE COURT: I see. That means no.
Case 4:03-cr-00436 Document 488 Filed in TXSD on 08/20/13 Page
36 of 62
-
JUDICIAL TRANSCRIBERS OF TEXAS, LLC
37
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
MR. GLADDEN: So I dont know that theyd still be
here. Most of them -- all their family and their roots were
in Nigeria or Ghana so --
THE COURT: Okay. Well, Ill give you the names
of the lawyers, the Defense attorneys: Catherine ODaniel
and OSugi.
MR. GLADDEN: Ive got the transcript.
THE COURT: You have it all.
MR. GLADDEN: Yeah.
THE COURT: Okay. Well, anyway, turn over the
discovery, Mr. Burns, dig it up. If you have any problems,
let me know, Im happy to make -- issue orders if they have
to be brought back from storage. I do think the exhibits
are important so we have to figure out where they are. And
Ill make the following speedy trial findings:
First of all, this is a complex case on the merits
and I find that the Defendants interest in developing --
well, in Counsels interest in gaining knowledge of the
facts and developing a legal strategy outweighs the
Defendants and the publics interest in a speedy trial.
The case does involve volumes of documents and I think that
the fact that the case is so old, does make the
reconstruction of the file a little more difficult than
usual.
I would like to make sure that the Defendant
Case 4:03-cr-00436 Document 488 Filed in TXSD on 08/20/13 Page
37 of 62
-
JUDICIAL TRANSCRIBERS OF TEXAS, LLC
38
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
himself is agreeable to the speedy trial delay from the time
of the filing of the Motion, which in this case was, I
believe, July 9th.
MR. GLADDEN: July 19th, Your Honor, I believe.
THE COURT: 19th through the time that I decide
the speedy trial motion is excludable delay under the Speedy
Trial Act.
Mr. Lawrence, are you following all this?
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: (No verbal response.)
MR. GLADDEN: There may be a little bit of a
language barrier. Hes not --
THE COURT: Now you tell me?
MR. GLADDEN: No, Im not -- well, he speaks
English, okay.
THE COURT: Mr. Lawrence, let me ask you
something.
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: Yes, maam.
THE COURT: Okay. Are you understanding whats
happening here?
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: Yes, maam.
THE COURT: Okay. Do you speak English?
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: Yes, maam.
THE COURT: What other languages do you speak?
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: My language, Yoruba.
THE COURT: What is it?
Case 4:03-cr-00436 Document 488 Filed in TXSD on 08/20/13 Page
38 of 62
-
JUDICIAL TRANSCRIBERS OF TEXAS, LLC
39
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: Yoruba?
THE COURT: Yoruba?
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: Yeah.
THE COURT: And when you were talking to your
lawyer, what language are you speaking?
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: English.
THE COURT: Okay. When you did -- do business or
dealings with the prison, were you speaking English or
Yoruba?
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: They dont understand me.
THE COURT: So who -- what do you speak at the
prison?
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: At times I write it for them.
THE COURT: Okay. And what language are you
writing?
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: English.
THE COURT: Okay. And when you speak to your
lawyer what do you say -- what language are you speaking?
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: He talks slowly to me.
THE COURT: He talks slowly to you?
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: Yes, sir.
THE COURT: In what language?
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: English.
THE COURT: English? Okay.
Do you think you need an interpreter in this case?
Case 4:03-cr-00436 Document 488 Filed in TXSD on 08/20/13 Page
39 of 62
-
JUDICIAL TRANSCRIBERS OF TEXAS, LLC
40
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: Yes, maam.
MR. GLADDEN: It would help me, Judge. Ive had
to have him write some sentences because I couldnt
understand him. Now, he speaks English as you see, but its
very difficult for me to understand his English sometimes.
THE COURT: Uh-huh. Okay. Well, that has to his
accent, I think.
But are you under -- and were going to have to
get an interpreter. I mean, I feel like we need to redo
this whole conference.
MR. GLADDEN: Im sorry I didnt mention that.
THE COURT: Yeah. So heres what well do: we
will redo this entire conference in three weeks. Mr. --
MR. GLADDEN: Lawrence.
THE COURT: -- Lawrence, do you understand that
your lawyer is asking me to dismiss this case against you
because he says that the Government of the United States
took too long to bring you over to here to the United States
from Nigeria; do you understand that?
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: Yes, maam.
THE COURT: Yes or no?
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: Yes, maam.
THE COURT: And do you understand what Im saying?
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: Yes, maam.
THE COURT: Have you understood what I was saying
Case 4:03-cr-00436 Document 488 Filed in TXSD on 08/20/13 Page
40 of 62
-
JUDICIAL TRANSCRIBERS OF TEXAS, LLC
41
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
before?
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: Yes, maam.
THE COURT: Okay. Do you understand that the
Government is supposed to be giving information papers about
the efforts the United States Government made to bring you
to the United States? The Governments supposed to find
those papers and give them to your lawyer.
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: Yes, maam.
THE COURT: Do you understand that?
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: Yes, maam.
THE COURT: I need you to answer all these
questions out loud, okay?
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: Yes, maam.
THE COURT: No, all he has to do is speak.
MR. GLADDEN: Right.
THE COURT: He just cant nod his head. Hes -- I
can hear him. Okay.
So, Mr. Lawrence?
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: Uh-huh.
THE COURT: Is lawyer -- your lawyer has received
some papers from Nigeria; do you understand that? Yes?
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: Im just -- I'm just getting
them, ma'am.
THE COURT: Youre hearing -- because you are
hearing what he was telling me?
Case 4:03-cr-00436 Document 488 Filed in TXSD on 08/20/13 Page
41 of 62
-
JUDICIAL TRANSCRIBERS OF TEXAS, LLC
42
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: Yes.
THE COURT: Yes?
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: Yes, maam.
THE COURT: Okay. So I asked the Government
lawyer to get more papers from Washington D.C. or from
wherever he can get them about what efforts the Government
of the United States made to get you here or made to keep
you in Nigeria as your lawyer would put it.
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: Yes, maam.
THE COURT: And Im also asking your lawyer to
gather what papers he can get from you and your family and
your friends and your lawyer in Nigeria or any other
place --
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: Okay.
THE COURT: -- and then your lawyer will turn
those papers over as appropriate --
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: Oh.
THE COURT: -- to Mr. Burns, the Government
lawyer.
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: Okay.
THE COURT: And your lawyer has made a motion, a
request to me to have -- to dismiss this case against you --
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: Okay.
THE COURT: -- because of the delay in your coming
here.
Case 4:03-cr-00436 Document 488 Filed in TXSD on 08/20/13 Page
42 of 62
-
JUDICIAL TRANSCRIBERS OF TEXAS, LLC
43
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: Yes, maam.
THE COURT: I have told your lawyer I am not
granting that motion right now --
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: Yes, maam.
THE COURT: -- because it is incomplete, but I am
giving him an opportunity to gather more paper and
information and make a new motion for me to consider.
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: Okay.
THE COURT: A motion will be more complete and a
motion that then the Government will respond to and then I
can decide what to do.
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: Okay.
THE COURT: I have to decide whether or not the
case is so old that it should be dismissed.
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: Okay.
THE COURT: I have to decide whether what you did
or the United States did when you were in Nigeria caused the
delay of 9-1/2 years.
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: Okay.
THE COURT: Since the case was brought here in the
United States, from then until now.
Okay. I have to decide whether the case should be
dismissed because of what you did or the United States did.
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: Okay.
THE COURT: Okay?
Case 4:03-cr-00436 Document 488 Filed in TXSD on 08/20/13 Page
43 of 62
-
JUDICIAL TRANSCRIBERS OF TEXAS, LLC
44
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: Okay, maam.
THE COURT: I cant decide that right away.
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: Okay.
THE COURT: I dont have enough information. I
have nothing. This is it so your lawyers gathering paper.
The Government lawyers gathering papers and I need to give
them time to do that because of the distances and the time
passage.
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: Okay.
THE COURT: So I would like to know if its okay
with you --
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: Okay.
THE COURT: -- that we delay some more trying this
case so that your lawyer and the Government lawyer can give
me the papers for me to decide whether to dismiss the case
without a trial.
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: Okay.
THE COURT: Now, ultimately thought, its more
delay. Its going to take a month or two months --
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: Okay.
THE COURT: -- at least for me to get the papers,
get the motion, get the response and then for me to read it
all and decide.
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: Okay, maam.
THE COURT: Is that okay that we delay for two
Case 4:03-cr-00436 Document 488 Filed in TXSD on 08/20/13 Page
44 of 62
-
JUDICIAL TRANSCRIBERS OF TEXAS, LLC
45
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
months at least?
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: Okay.
THE COURT: It could be three months, could be
a -- I just dont know until the lawyers come back and tell
me.
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: Okay, maam.
THE COURT: Is that okay?
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: Okay, maam.
THE COURT: All right. And then if I dismiss the
case because its been too old -- too long and too old then
case over. I guess youll go back to Nigeria.
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: Okay, maam.
THE COURT: If you -- if I do not dismiss the case
--
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: Okay.
THE COURT: -- then you have to stand trial
meaning Government calls witnesses, you have a free lawyer.
Are you paying anything for Mr. Gladden, any money
to him?
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: No, maam.
THE COURT: No? Okay. CJA, right? He did --
MR. GLADDEN: Thats right.
THE COURT: -- the Affidavit?
MR. GLADDEN: Thats right. First CJA case since
I agreed to be on that list.
Case 4:03-cr-00436 Document 488 Filed in TXSD on 08/20/13 Page
45 of 62
-
JUDICIAL TRANSCRIBERS OF TEXAS, LLC
46
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
THE COURT: (Laughs,) okay. So if I do not
dismiss the case -- do you know what the word dismiss
means?
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: (No verbal response.)
THE COURT: Knock the case out, require it to be
dropped. If I do not dismiss, then the case will go forward
and we will have a trial with witnesses and papers in front
of a jury if you want all that. Okay? If you want it. If
you dont want it, your lawyer and you can decide that.
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: Okay.
THE COURT: Thats not for today.
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: Okay.
THE COURT: All right. So are you agreeable -- I
mean, you have the right to make the Government bring this
case to trial within a month or two -- two months. You have
that right. You could push it to trial if you prefer.
Do you understand what Im saying?
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: (No audible response.)
THE COURT: So you and your lawyer need to talk
about whether you want to go for a trial right now, soon, in
the next two months or let me decide about this delay and
decide whether the case has to be dismissed.
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: All right.
THE COURT: Tell me what I just -- tell me -- can
you explain back to me what your choices are?
Case 4:03-cr-00436 Document 488 Filed in TXSD on 08/20/13 Page
46 of 62
-
JUDICIAL TRANSCRIBERS OF TEXAS, LLC
47
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: That I -- the Court is going
to take more time because of the time and for myself and
from --
THE COURT: Government.
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: -- So Im --
THE COURT: In order to decide --
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: -- and to decide.
THE COURT: -- what?
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: So Id already --
THE COURT: -- to decide whether or not the case
has been pending too long?
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: Yes.
THE COURT: Would you rather I do that?
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: Yes, sir.
THE COURT: Or would you rather I go -- make them
go to trial?
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: Yes, maam.
THE COURT: Which one? You can talk to him.
MR. GLADDEN: May I --
THE COURT: Yes.
MR. GLADDEN: May I, Your Honor?
THE COURT: You can talk to him privately.
THE COURT: I think what we need to decide right
now is: If we delay it, were asking for the delay so we
cant complain about these next two months. We can still
Case 4:03-cr-00436 Document 488 Filed in TXSD on 08/20/13 Page
47 of 62
-
JUDICIAL TRANSCRIBERS OF TEXAS, LLC
48
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
complain about 9-1/2 years of delay but we cannot complain
about the delay between -- in the next two or three months,
okay? You need to waive any complaint about that.
THE COURT: Yeah, but --
MR. GLADDEN: Were asking for that delay.
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: Okay.
MR. GLADDEN: Okay? So we can see if we can win
this case on our Motion to Dismiss. We dont want a jury
trial in three or four or five or six weeks. We want to try
to get the case dismissed if we can but we need more
information so were not going to complain about this little
delay later; do you understand?
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: I understand.
THE COURT: Okay.
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: Yes, maam.
THE COURT: So, all right, then I think the
Defendant does understand and the next time well have an
interpreter here and well go through it all again.
Sheila, will you put that in the minutes?
THE CLERK: I did.
THE COURT: But I think the Defendant does
understand that he has the choice about going to trial on
the merits right away or delaying for a few months to see if
the case can be dismissed just because its been so long
that hes been in a Nigerian jail.
Case 4:03-cr-00436 Document 488 Filed in TXSD on 08/20/13 Page
48 of 62
-
JUDICIAL TRANSCRIBERS OF TEXAS, LLC
49
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: Yes.
THE COURT: You understand thats the choice?
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: Yes, maam.
THE COURT: Would you rather have a little more
delay so we can sort out whether to dismiss the case?
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: Yes, maam.
THE COURT: Yes? And postpone the trial --
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: Yes, maam.
THE COURT: -- a few more months down the road?
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: Yes, maam.
THE COURT: Okay. If we do the Motion to Dismiss
and the delay process --
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: Yes, maam.
THE COURT: -- short delay process, then your
trial will be postponed till probably January if you want a
trial; do you understand?
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: I do.
THE COURT: And I dont dismiss the case.
MR. GLADDEN: Right.
THE COURT: Okay. I think the Defendant has the
fundamentals of this -- on this and youve talked to him
about it I take it.
MR. GLADDEN: Yes, Your Honor.
THE COURT: Okay. Then Im deeming that the
Defendant has waived his speedy trial rights and Im going
Case 4:03-cr-00436 Document 488 Filed in TXSD on 08/20/13 Page
49 of 62
-
JUDICIAL TRANSCRIBERS OF TEXAS, LLC
50
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
to give you a waiver paper and you can talk to him privately
about it and if he elects to sign it Id like that back
today.
MR. GLADDEN: Okay.
THE COURT: If he chooses not to sign it, Id like
you to make a record on that.
MR. GLADDEN: I just had a quick question, Judge.
THE COURT: And then youll decide when you want
to file your Motion. Im just going to leave it at that for
the time being. But, again, I guess in the interest of
justice and Speedy Trial Act, Ill leave your current Motion
pending.
MR. GLADDEN: All right.
THE COURT: I said I was denying it without
prejudice but I reversed that. Im going to leave it
pending and then you will file an amended motion.
MR. GLADDEN: That makes sense to me, Judge.
THE COURT: Which completely will supersede the
old one.
MR. GLADDEN: Yes, Your Honor.
THE COURT: But that way I think its a little
simpler for administrative purposes.
And, Sheila, will you talk to the interpreters
about the type of interpreter we need?
THE CLERK: I will get them to you.
Case 4:03-cr-00436 Document 488 Filed in TXSD on 08/20/13 Page
50 of 62
-
JUDICIAL TRANSCRIBERS OF TEXAS, LLC
51
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
THE COURT: Huh?
THE CLERK: I have them.
THE COURT: Yeah. How do you spell the language?
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: Y.
THE COURT: Yoruba.
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: Y --
THE COURT: Y --
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: -- O --
THE COURT: -- O --
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: -- R --
THE COURT: -- R --
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: -- U --
THE COURT: -- U --
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: B-A.
THE COURT: B-E?
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: B-A, Ba.
THE COURT: Y-U -- okay, B-A.
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: Yes.
THE COURT: You got it? Y --
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: Y-O --
THE CLERK: O.
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: -- R --
THE CLERK: -- R --
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: -- U --
THE CLERK: -- U --
Case 4:03-cr-00436 Document 488 Filed in TXSD on 08/20/13 Page
51 of 62
-
JUDICIAL TRANSCRIBERS OF TEXAS, LLC
52
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: -- B-A.
THE CLERK: -- B, okay.
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: B-A, yes.
THE CLERK: A?
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: Yes.
THE COURT: And can you show him this to make sure
we got it spelled correctly? Here hold it up, Sheila, for
Mr. Lawrence to see.
(Voices off the Record.)
MR. GLADDEN: Y-O-R-U-B-A.
THE COURT: Okay. Fine. Okay, once we -- you
should go down, Mr. Gladden, and talk to the interpreters
and see what theyve got because I would not mind if you
come over early the next time and meet your client with that
interpreter present or figure out if they have someone you
can fire that CJA would pay for --
MR. GLADDEN: Uh-huh.
THE COURT: -- so that you can have some
conferences with your client in Yoruba, its said, okay?
MR. GLADDEN: Yes, Your Honor.
THE COURT: And that way we can have -- assure
that hes understanding. Im concerned that this process of
a jury trial and some of what were doing is not the same in
Nigeria. I dont know that they have these rights there, in
fact, I have a distinct sense they dont. Im not trying to
Case 4:03-cr-00436 Document 488 Filed in TXSD on 08/20/13 Page
52 of 62
-
JUDICIAL TRANSCRIBERS OF TEXAS, LLC
53
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
cast dispersions, Im just thinking theres some cultural
differences and, therefore, it would pay for us to have the
translation in his native language sometimes for the essence
for what you guys are talking about just as a double check
on the English.
MR. GLADDEN: I have made an extra copy of the
thousand pages of transcripts from that trial and made them
available to him and he has read them Im told so he has
some sense of what a trials like --
THE COURT: Oh, good.
MR. GLADDEN: -- and what its about and what
happens --
THE COURT: Is that true?
DEFENDANT LAWRENCE: Yes, maam.
THE COURT: Okay.
MR. GLADDEN: And just, I mean, Im trying to stay
on top of that.
THE COURT: Yeah, Im not trying to second guess
you, its just I have occasionally had some other cases
where it looked patently obvious to me that there was no
language problem and I was assured there was no language
problem or similar kinds of problems and then after the
fact, it comes back around that someone says there was and
so Im now exceedingly cautious about this and its not
intended to cast dispersions or anything.
Case 4:03-cr-00436 Document 488 Filed in TXSD on 08/20/13 Page
53 of 62
-
JUDICIAL TRANSCRIBERS OF TEXAS, LLC
54
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
MR. GLADDEN: Im sorry I didnt bring it up. I
know that --
THE COURT: No problem.
MR. GLADDEN: -- there would have been a -- I
think Im supposed to give notice in advance if I need such
an interpreter and I think I thought about it this morning
for the first time, but --
THE COURT: Okay. Well, its okay, well -- were
going to mark it on the list so hopefully well have one
here next time and you can have one if you need it.
MR. GLADDEN: I made a client copy of the
little -- and I have it here.
THE COURT: Oh, I vacate one -- oh, I apologize,
Im vacating the Magistrate Judges Schedule. I think
thats apparent and at the next conference in three weeks,
we will set a schedule for the rest of the case.
MR. GLADDEN: Okay. I probably should be asking
the Marshal instead of you, but can I have client copies of
these documents from Nigeria I just got this afternoon?
THE COURT: Yeah, theyre legal documents. We
dont --
MR. GLADDEN: I didnt know if there was any --
THE MARSHAL: There's no --
MR. GLADDEN: -- instructions?
THE MARSHAL: Theres no paper clips.
Case 4:03-cr-00436 Document 488 Filed in TXSD on 08/20/13 Page
54 of 62
-
JUDICIAL TRANSCRIBERS OF TEXAS, LLC
55
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
MR. GLADDEN: All right. Okay. Good.
THE COURT: Oh, where theres just no paper clips
or staples?
THE MARSHAL: Right.
THE COURT: Okay. Sounds good. So youll make a
copy for Mr. Burns too?
MR. GLADDEN: Ill get him copies and is he --
now, should we expect --
THE COURT: CJA pays for the copies, dont worry
about it.
MR. GLADDEN: -- should we expect a reply before
that next meeting with the Court so we can file --
THE COURT: No. Im not going to be able in the
real world. I think that I will be able to rule if it
needs --
MR. GLADDEN: Not your reply, a reply to my
motion.
THE COURT: Oh response?
MR. GLADDEN: Yeah.
THE COURT: It depends on when you make your
motion. Im not expecting your motion to come until -- what
I was expecting at the next conference was the following:
An exchange of documents hopefully before the
conference, even if its only a couple of days because the
Government -- all Governments seem to move slowly lately.
Case 4:03-cr-00436 Document 488 Filed in TXSD on 08/20/13 Page
55 of 62
-
JUDICIAL TRANSCRIBERS OF TEXAS, LLC
56
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
But anyway, Mr. Burns has his obligation to dig up all the
documents relating to the extradition, go through them, turn
over everything he can and if he withholds anything, make a
privilege log. Youre going to do the same thing for
whatever your sources.
I would like the documents turned over at least a
couple of days before the hearing. Lets say no later than
Monday at noon. At least we have a day with them -- Monday
the 26th at noon.
And then you all will have a sense of whats out
there and you can then tell me, Mr. G