HanaObataFineman

Period
May16,2014
IRAC

UnitedStatesv.AndrewSokolow

AndrewSokolowpurchasedtworoundtripticketstoMiamiatHonoluluInternational
AirportinJuly1984.Sokolowpurchasedhis$2,100ticketswitharollof20dollarbills,whichin
totallookedtocontain$4,000.ItwasnotedbytheticketagentthatrespondentSokolowseemed
nervoushewasabout25yearsoldhewasdressedinablackjumpsuitandworegoldjewelry
andhewasaccompaniedbyawoman.TheticketagentreportedthistoOfficerJohnMcCarthy
oftheHonoluluPoliceDepartment.OfficerMcCarthyfoundthatadditionally,thephonenumber
SokolowprovidedbelongedtohisroommateandthenameSokolowwentunder,AndrewKray,
hadnolistingsinHawaii.Duetothisinformation,theDEAproceededtostopandfriskSokolow
whenhearrivedinLosAngelesonJuly25.Theyapproachedrespondentonthesidewalkwhile
hewashailingacab.Hetoldtheagentsthathedidnothavehisticketoridentificationandthat
hehadbeentravelingunderhismothersmaidenname,Kray,andhisreallastnameisSokolow.
Sokolowsshoulderbagwasalertedbyanarcoticsdetectordogandtheagentsobtained
awarranttosearchthispieceofluggage.Inthebag,theofficersfounddocumentsindicating
respondentsinvolvementindrugtrafficking.Thisleadthemtoobtainasecondwarrantto
searchanotherbagofSokolowsthatthedetectordogalerted.TheDEAagentsfound1,063
gramsofcocaineinhiscarryonluggageandSokolowwaschargedforpossessionwiththe
intenttodistributecocaine.ThequestioninthiscaseisiftheDEAagentshadareasonable
suspicion,asneededunderTerryv.Ohio,thatrespondentwasengagedinwrongdoingwhen
theyencounteredhimonthesidewalk?
IntheTerryv.Ohiocase,theruleisclearlyestablishedthatpoliceareallowedtostop
andfriskanindividualiftheyhavereasonableandarticulableevidencethatcriminalactivityis
afoot.DidtheDEAhavereasonableandarticulableevidencethatAndrewSokolowwas
participatingincriminalactivity?Wastheirreasonforthestopbasedonmorethanjustmere
speculation?
Thepolicecanlegallyengageinastopifanofficerreasonablysuspectsthataperson
hascommitted,iscommitting,orisabouttocommitanycrime.AndrewSokolowsappearance
andbehaviorperfectlymatchedthepersonalcharacteristicsofdrugcouriers.Thefactthathe
didnotcheckanyofhisluggage,payedcashforhistickets,hadanunlistednamethatdidnot
matchhistelephonenumber,onlystayedinMiami,whichisamajorsourcecityfordrugs,for48
hoursaftera20hourflightisenoughvalidevidenceforareasonablesuspicionthatthismanhad
orwascurrentlyparticipatingincriminalactivity.
TheknowledgethatSokolowdidnotcheckanyofhisluggagesuggeststhathedidnot
wanttheairporttofindcontrabandhiddeninhisbags.Payingwithcashallowedhisidentityto
remainunknown,asopposedtoifhehadpaidwithacreditcard.Goingunderadifferentname
wouldmakeitharderforSokolowtobefoundandforinformationabouthimselftobetracked
downbyanystateofficials,suchastheDEA.Stayinginacityforonly48hoursisnotnormal
activity,especiallyaftersuchalongflighttoarriveatthechosendestination.Allofthese
observationspointinonedirection:Sokolowwasengaginginsuspicious,illegalactivity.Isit
justifiedtodenyofficerstherighttosearchandseizeSokolowjustbecausetheydidnotacquire
any"hardevidence"onhim?Theanswerisno.ItgoesagainstthepurposeoftheDEAand
policetonotactontheseextremelyreasonablesuspicions.
OfficerJohnMcCarthyandtherestoftheagentsonthiscasemadesuretobeas
preciseaspossibleintheprocessfromobtainingthewarranttoconductingthesearch.They
tooktheirtimewithacquiringthesecondwarrantandevencheckedthefirstdetectordog'swork
withaseconddogsconfirmation.TheDEAagentsdidhavethereasonablesuspicionneededto
conductthissearchandfindthe1,063gramsofcocaineinhiscarryonluggage.Andrew
SokolowcannotclaimprotectionundertheFourthAmendmentandshouldbeindictedforthis
crimehecommitted.