An application for bail pending disposition of applicant's
petition for certiorari to review the Court of Appeals' judgment --
which affirmed his conviction and sentences for attempted
importation of narcotics, making false statements to a Government
official, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1001, and failing to file a
report in connection with the transportation of more than $5,000
outside the United States, in violation of 31 U.S.C. § 1101 -- is
denied. None of the contentions raised by applicant, including
issues relating to statutory construction and double jeopardy
principles, is likely to command the vote of four Justices to grant
certiorari.
JUSTICE REHNQUIST, Circuit Justice.
Applicant has filed a motion for bail pending disposition of his
petition for writ of certiorari. He was arrested in Los Angeles on
May 7, 1980, while attempting to board a nonstop flight to Lima,
Peru. Prior to the scheduled departure time, a customs official had
announced that anyone taking more than $5,000 currency out of the
country was required to file a report with the Customs Service.
When stopped on the boarding ramp, applicant acknowledged that he
had heard the announcement but denied that he was carrying more
than $5,000. He repeated this denial during subsequent questioning,
but a search of his person and belongings revealed approximately
$29,000 in cash, as well as a variety of narcotics
paraphernalia.
Following a jury trial in the United States District Court for
the Central District of California, applicant was convicted of
attempted importation of narcotics; making false statements to a
Government official, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1001; and failing
to file a report in connection with the transportation of more than
$6,000 outside the United States, in violation of 84 Stat. 1122, 31
U.S.C. § 1101. He was sentenced to concurrent 5-year terms and
fined $5,000 each on
Page 462 U. S. 1309
the first two counts. He received a consecutive 1-year term and
a $5,000 fine on the third count.
Applicant was freed on bond pending appeal. The Court of
Appeals, by a divided vote, affirmed his conviction in all
respects, and this application followed. For the reasons explained
below, the application is denied.
The standards to be applied are well established. Applications
for bail to this Court are granted only in extraordinary
circumstances, especially where, as here, "the lower court refused
to stay its order pending appeal."
Graves v. Barnes,
405 U. S. 1201,
405 U. S.
1203 (1972) (POWELL, J., in chambers). At a minimum, a
bail applicant must demonstrate a reasonable probability that four
Justices are likely to vote to grant certiorari.
Bateman v.
Arizona, 429 U.S. 1302, 1305 (1976) (REHNQUIST, J., in
chambers).
Applicant raises a number of contentions in his petition, none
of which, I believe, is likely to command the vote of four
Justices. First, he argues that 18 U.S.C. § 1001 does not apply to
his statements at all, because those statements were oral, unsworn,
exculpatory, and immaterial. A fair reading of the statute,
however, brings applicant's false statements to the customs
official squarely within the prohibition of § 1001.
* Second,
applicant contends that a conviction under both 18 U.S.C. § 1001
and 31 U.S.C. § 1101 violates the Double Jeopardy Clause. But under
the principle of statutory construction established in
Blockburger v. United States, 284 U.
S. 299,
284 U. S. 304
(1932), cumulative punishments under separate statutes are
permitted provided only that each statute requires proof of a fact
not required by the
Page 462 U. S. 1310
other. Title 18 U.S.C. § 1001 requires a finding that applicant
misled a Government official by material false statements. Title 31
U.S.C. § 1101 requires a different finding that applicant failed to
file the required currency reporting form. Thus, the
Blockburger test is satisfied, and
a fortiori
there is no double jeopardy.
Applicant also claims that the evidence taken from his person
and his luggage was the fruit of unconstitutional searches, and
should have been suppressed.
But see United States v.
Ramsey, 431 U. S. 606,
431 U. S.
616-619 (1977) (border searches require neither probable
cause nor a warrant). Applicant's remaining contentions are even
less substantial.
For these reasons, the application is
Denied.
* Title 18 U.S.C. § 1001 provides in relevant part:
"Whoever, in any matter within the jurisdiction of any
department or agency of the United States knowingly and willfully
falsifies, conceals or covers up by any trick, scheme, or device a
material fact, or makes any false, fictitious or fraudulent
statements or representations, . . . shall be fined not more than
$10,000 or imprisoned not more than five years, or both."