Defendants, Raymond Huckelby, Diane Whited, Robert Phibbs, Victor Rojas, and Robert Murr appeal their convictions arising from their participation in a cocaine distribution ring operating in Tennessee and Kentucky. In addition, Phibbs and Rojas challenge the appropriateness of their sentences.

Huckelby takes issue with the sufficiency of the evidence supporting his convictions. Along with the other defendants, he also expressly adopts and incorporates by reference all common issues raised by his co-defendants.

Whited raises the following allegations of error: (1) her convictions were not based upon sufficient evidence; (2) the district court should have granted a mistrial as a result of prejudicial statements made by a government witness; (3) the court should have severed a co-defendant who was tried in absentia; (4) the government was improperly permitted to elicit certain evidence that was prejudicial to the defense; (5) two key government witnesses should have been declared incompetent to testify; and (6) the court unduly restricted her ability to cross-examine a government agent.

Phibbs alleges that: (1) the district court's approach to the voir dire of the jury venire was in error; (2) two government agents were improperly allowed to remain in the courtroom throughout the proceedings, despite the fact that they served as witnesses; (3) the evidence underlying his convictions was insufficient; and (4) he should have been afforded a reduction in sentence due to his acceptance of responsibility for his offenses, as well as for his "minimal" role in the drug distribution ring.

Rojas argues the following points: (1) the government misused both its grand jury and its administrative subpoena powers; (2) the district court erroneously denied both his motion in limine to suppress evidence of his Colombian origins, as well as his mistrial motion predicated upon prejudicial references to his Colombian ties; (3) he was not provided with a "photospread" used by a government witness in her pre-trial identification of him; (4) he was improperly deprived of confidential presentence information; and (5) the district court should have given him a reduction in sentence due to his acceptance of responsibility for his offenses.

Murr contends that: (1) the government breached the terms of a pre-existing plea agreement with him, leading to his prosecution in the instant case; (2) the evidence presented at trial was insufficient to sustain his convictions; (3) the district court erred in denying him a bill of particulars in relation to his continuing criminal enterprise charge, as well as in refusing to give the jury special instructions requested by him; and (4) the government failed to turn over vital Brady and Jencks Act evidence to the defense.

We affirm the convictions and the sentences of all five defendants.

On February 23, 1990, Jerry Parks was detained by agents of the FBI in Nashville, Tennessee, in connection with an ongoing drug investigation. After discussions with the government, he agreed to cooperate in the probe.

Parks revealed that his friend, Robert Murr, had visited him a number of times during the summer of 1988 when Parks was residing in a federal "halfway house" in Bowling Green, Kentucky. On some of those occasions, Murr would deliver cocaine to him to sell. Murr wanted Parks to come to Knoxville, Tennessee, to work for him in his drug distribution venture. He directed Robert Phibbs, who was on the payroll of one of Murr's legitimate businesses, Automotive Enterprises, to write a letter to Parks' federal probation officer requesting that he be allowed to transfer to the Knoxville area. Murr told Phibbs to promise the probation authorities that Parks would be provided with a job at Automotive Enterprises. His efforts were rewarded, and Parks was permitted to move to Knoxville.

Parks' position at Automotive Enterprises was a subterfuge; he actually spent his time helping Murr distribute cocaine. In August of 1988, Murr arranged to sell four kilograms of cocaine to Billie Dye and David Hurt. Parks and Dye gathered approximately $100,000 in cash and, pursuant to Murr's instructions, started out for Lexington, Kentucky, where they were to meet with Murr. The pair had car trouble, however, and arrived in Lexington several hours late. After checking into a hotel, Parks called Murr's ex-wife, Judy, the following morning for guidance as to what to do next. Based on his conversation with her, he and Dye returned to Knoxville, where the transaction was consummated the next day.

Beginning in September of 1988, Parks travelled with Murr and another drug dealer named Tommy McKeehan to the Lexington area every few weeks to obtain multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine. During the first such trip, Parks became acquainted with Murr's drug source, Kenneth Lawson. Whenever Murr needed cocaine, he went with McKeehan to a pay telephone and called Lawson. After a deal had been struck, Murr, Parks, and McKeehan would meet at Judy Murr's residence early in the morning before leaving for Kentucky. Murr and McKeehan would then organize the money to be used in the sale into $1,000 bundles, putting these stacks in brown paper bags.

Aside from taking part in these trips, Parks served as the "front man" for the drug distribution ring. Murr introduced Parks to his regular cocaine customers, including Raymond Huckelby and Edward Rogers. At such meetings, Murr would instruct Parks with regard to the amount of cocaine to be supplied, the price of the drug, and how often it was to be furnished. He would then tell Parks and the purchaser to exchange telephone numbers, beeper numbers, and beeper codes in order to stay in contact. For several months, Parks delivered drugs to Murr's customers in this fashion. When Murr was unavailable, Parks would turn over the money he received in return to either Phibbs or to Judy Murr.

In October of 1988, Parks first encountered Victor Rojas while on one of the excursions to Kentucky he made with Murr and McKeehan to buy cocaine. Rojas, who was Lawson's supplier, brought the drugs to the location where the sale would take place. He usually drove a red Jeep, hiding the drugs in the back inside one or more shopping bags, and wrapped in separate kilogram packages. The bags were covered in coffee grounds to mask the odor of the cocaine.

Parks, Murr, and McKeehan would either give their money to Lawson or would leave it in Rojas' vehicle, taking the cocaine for which they had paid. McKeehan would then be given his share. After the drugs were driven back to Knoxville, Parks and Murr stashed them at the house Murr rented for his girlfriend, Diane Whited. She stored the cocaine in the attic in a green duffel bag with a padlock on it. In order for Parks to get the cocaine from Whited's house to distribute, he would have to contact Murr who, in turn, would call Whited to set up a time for the two of them to come over. Parks went to Whited's residence 15 to 20 times in the fall of 1988 to pick up drugs. On at least one occasion, Whited assisted Murr and Parks in breaking down the cocaine into salable quantities.

Keeping the cocaine at Whited's house proved to be unworkable because Parks needed ready access to the stash, and Murr would not let Parks enter the house without him. At the end of November of 1988, Murr told Parks to bury the cocaine in a pipe on the side of a hill behind Automotive Enterprises. The only person besides Parks who knew exactly where the drugs were hidden was Phibbs.

The drug distribution ring was so successful that Murr and Lawson talked about what should be done with the rather substantial profits. Murr recognized that he could "launder" some of the funds through his business partner, Ernie Nicely. The companies that he had established with Nicely were not doing well, so Murr began to funnel money to him to keep them afloat. Nicely understood that the bulk of this money was derived from drug sales.

After November of 1988, Murr no longer wanted to accompany Parks and McKeehan to Kentucky to obtain cocaine. Consequently, he sent the two of them alone to complete deals in February, March, April, and May of 1989. Around the time of the May transaction, Rojas began to get nervous about the way in which the meetings were scheduled. He approached McKeehan and gave him a slip of paper with a telephone number on it, imploring him and Parks to contact him directly in the future. When they returned to Knoxville, McKeehan asked Murr whether it would be permissible to bypass Lawson in light of Rojas' overtures. Murr indicated that this was acceptable to him. Approximately 10 days later, Parks and McKeehan set up a transaction with Rojas in the manner he suggested.

Shortly thereafter, on May 22, 1989, the Knoxville police arrested Parks for burglary. He was wounded while in the process of being apprehended. The authorities subsequently seized a set of electronic scales and six address books from him. One of these books contained records of Parks' drug-related activities that month, and included a coded list of some of Murr's customers, as well as a description of the drug ring's cocaine inventory.

Despite Parks' arrest, the drug ring continued to operate. Jim Hurt soon took over some of Parks' functions, delivering cocaine for Murr to Edward Rogers, and possibly others. However, when Rogers complained about the poor quality of the cocaine that Hurt was selling him, Murr began to personally supply Rogers. This continued until August of 1989, when Murr himself was arrested on federal drug charges. Afterwards, Phibbs tried to collect money from Rogers which he claimed Rogers owed Murr for drugs.

On April 11, 1990, Vivian Cummins observed three men sitting inside the Berea, Kentucky, restaurant where she was employed. They had been drinking coffee for over three hours, and were watching cars pass by on the adjacent highway, Interstate 75. They were eventually joined by a fourth man, later identified as Victor Rojas. Not long after Rojas arrived, Cummins saw the group leave the restaurant and gather in the parking lot around two vehicles, one of them a black Mercedes-Benz. When two of the men quickly exchanged packages, she became suspicious and called the local police.

Rojas and Kenneth Lawson, who was another of the individuals Cummins noticed in the restaurant, were riding in a black Mercedes-Benz when it was stopped by two Berea police officers. Rojas told the officers that he was in Kentucky to sell parts for electric signs. Lawson, however, claimed that he did not know Rojas.

The car was ultimately searched by the Kentucky State Police, who uncovered $124,500 in United States currency. The money was wrapped in $1,000 packets with colored rubber bands. The $1,000 bundles were combined into packages of $5,000 in several small brown lunch-type bags, a grocery bag, and a white plastic bag. These bags were then stuffed into a cardboard box which was taped shut. The box was then placed inside a brown shopping bag with handles. In addition to discovering the cash, the state police detected coffee grounds on the pavement beneath the car, on the bumper of the vehicle, and inside the brown shopping bag. A DEA chemist tested the shopping bag for the presence of controlled substances, and determined that it contained traces of cocaine.

Murr had entered into a plea agreement with the government in January of 1990 in the Eastern District of Tennessee. It was not until Parks had been questioned in late February of 1990 that the government became aware of Murr's cocaine venture extending into Kentucky. At that time, Parks had spoken of a individual named "Tony" who, with the assistance of Kenneth Lawson, furnished cocaine to Murr's drug distribution ring. After the events of April 11, 1990, Parks realized that "Tony" was actually Victor Rojas.

On May 2, 1990, a federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment charging Rojas with possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute the drug, pursuant to 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1). Upon motion of the government, the district court ordered the indictment and any subsequent pleadings sealed. In the fall of 1990, the FBI could not determine the whereabouts of Rojas. Consequently, on October 10, 1990, the district court approved the issuance of a bench warrant for his arrest.

On March 13, 1991, a federal grand jury returned a 13-count superseding indictment against Victor Rojas, Robert Murr, Robert Phibbs, Diane Whited, Raymond Huckelby, and eight other defendants, including Billie Dye, David Hurt, Kenneth Lawson, Tommy McKeehan, Mary Lawson, William Baird, Reba England, and Edward Rogers. A trial date was set for September 9, 1991.

The indictment, which was unsealed two weeks later, charged the 13 defendants with conspiring to possess cocaine with the intent to distribute the drug, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846. It also charged each of them with 11 counts of cocaine distribution, or aiding and abetting such distribution, in accordance with 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and 18 U.S.C. § 2. The incidents underlying these counts purportedly took place between August 25, 1988, and April 11, 1990. In addition, Murr was alleged to have operated a continuing criminal enterprise as defined under 21 U.S.C. § 848.

Kenneth Lawson failed to appear for trial in September of 1991, and a bench warrant for his arrest was handed down. McKeehan, Rogers, and David Hurt reached plea agreements with the government and took the stand against their co-defendants. Billie Dye and Reba England also plea bargained. Mary Lawson moved for a judgment of acquittal, which was granted by the district court. On October 9, 1991, the jury found Rojas guilty on all 12 counts against him. Huckelby and Phibbs were both convicted of conspiracy and on nine distribution counts. Whited was convicted of conspiracy and on three distribution counts. Murr was found guilty of conspiracy, managing a continuing criminal enterprise, and on 10 distribution counts. Kenneth Lawson, who was tried in absentia, was convicted of conspiracy and on 10 distribution counts. William Baird, who had been partially successful on a motion for judgment of acquittal, was found not guilty of the remaining charges against him.

Huckelby contends that the evidence presented at trial was insufficient to support his conviction for conspiracy to possess cocaine with the intent to distribute the drug (21 U.S.C. § 846); as well as on nine counts of possession of cocaine, or aiding and abetting the possession of cocaine, with the intent to distribute (21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and 18 U.S.C. § 2).

The standard of review for claims of insufficient evidence is "whether, after reviewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt." United States v. Evans, 883 F.2d 496, 501 (6th Cir.1989) (quoting Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319, 99 S.Ct. 2781, 2789, 61 L.Ed.2d 560 (1979)) (emphasis in original).

In order to obtain a conviction pursuant to 21 U.S.C. § 846, "the government must prove the existence of an agreement to violate the drug laws and that each conspirator knew of, intended to join and participated in the conspiracy." United States v. Pearce, 912 F.2d 159, 161 (6th Cir.1990) (quoting United States v. Stanley, 765 F.2d 1224, 1237 (5th Cir.1985)). No formal or express agreement is necessary to establish a conspiracy under § 846. United States v. Hughes, 891 F.2d 597, 601 (6th Cir.1989). "[A] tacit or mutual understanding among the parties" is enough. Id.

The essential elements of a violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) are "for any person knowingly or intentionally to ... possess with intent to ... distribute ... a controlled substance." See United States v. Pope, 561 F.2d 663, 669 (6th Cir.1977). "To be found guilty of the crime of aiding and abetting a criminal venture [18 U.S.C. § 2], a defendant must associate himself with the venture in a manner whereby he participates in it as something that he wishes to bring about and seeks by his acts to make succeed." United States v. Knox, 839 F.2d 285, 294 (6th Cir.1988).

At trial, Jerry Parks testified that in September of 1988, defendant Robert Murr introduced him to a number of individuals "for the distribution of cocaine in [Murr's] network." The first person that Parks met through Murr was Huckelby. Parks and Murr went to Huckelby's jewelry store in Knoxville, Tennessee, where they were taken into a back room to meet with him. While in the rear of the store, Murr asked Parks whether he and Huckelby would "ha[ve] any problem dealing with each other." Parks replied in the negative. Murr then told Huckelby "who [Parks] was and how long he'd known [him] and asked if he had any problem dealing with [Parks.]" Id. Huckelby said that he did not. Afterwards, Huckelby and Parks "exchanged telephone numbers, beeper numbers and codes." Murr informed Parks that he would be delivering ten ounces of cocaine at a time to Huckelby at a price of $1,000 an ounce. Parks testified that, after this initial introduction, he regularly provided ten-ounce quantities of cocaine to Huckelby and received cash in return. The drugs were obtained by Murr and his associates by way of Kentucky, and were transported to co-defendant Diane Whited's residence in Knoxville for storage.

Parks' testimony was corroborated by information contained in one of the books seized from his residence when he was arrested for burglary in May of 1989. Parks confirmed that the book contained records of drug transactions that took place between April 10, 1989 and May 21, 1989. He had kept similar records before that time, but Murr told him to destroy them "as soon as the drugs were paid for and out of our possession." According to Parks, ledger entries indicated that, on May 15, 1989, ten ounces of cocaine were distributed to Huckelby, who was referred to in the book as "Huck."

In addition, an address book taken from Parks' residence listed Huckelby's home, office, and beeper telephone numbers. Parks testified that he did, in fact, contact Huckelby by telephone between August 1988 and May 1989 regarding cocaine purchases. To buttress his testimony, the government introduced telephone records showing that, from August through November of 1988, as well from February through May of 1989, calls were placed on Murr-related telephones to Huckelby's office and beeper numbers. During the same periods, calls were made from Murr-related telephones to several of Huckelby's co-defendants.

Huckelby's conversation in the back of his jewelry store with Parks and Murr gave rise to the inference that he was well aware he was obtaining cocaine as part of a group venture. It demonstrated that he was not simply a street buyer engaging in a discrete transaction, but that he knew he was involved in an ongoing conspiracy of some dimension. That Murr told Parks that Huckelby was part of his drug distribution network, and the fact that Parks delivered significant quantities of cocaine to Huckelby at regular intervals, suggested that Huckelby indeed had such an understanding. See United States v. Baker, 905 F.2d 1100, 1106 (7th Cir.), cert. denied, 498 U.S. 876, 111 S.Ct. 206, 112 L.Ed.2d 167 (1990) (holding that, while mere buyer/seller relationship alone does not support conspiracy conviction, evidence of "repeat purchases or some other enduring arrangement that implies knowledge of the scope of the conspiracy" may suffice). His telephone records, as well as Parks' books, provided additional proof that Huckelby was caught up in the affairs of the charged conspiracy.

While some of this evidence was circumstantial in nature, even circumstantial evidence standing alone may sustain a conviction so long as the totality of the evidence was substantial enough to establish guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. See United States v. Green, 548 F.2d 1261, 1266 (6th Cir.1977). We are satisfied that this standard was met and find there was sufficient evidence that Huckelby knew of, intended to join, and participated in the conspiracy.1 He therefore assumed responsibility for every act committed to further its objectives which was reasonably foreseeable. See United States v. Martin, 920 F.2d 345, 348 (6th Cir.1990).

With regard to Huckelby's violations of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and 18 U.S.C. § 2, Parks described how he, Murr, and defendant Tommy McKeehan travelled to Kentucky every few weeks from September 1988 through May 1989 (the time frame of the counts upon which Huckelby was found guilty) to purchase cocaine from defendants Kenneth Lawson and Victor Rojas. Parks told the jury that the drugs sold to Huckelby were procured during these trips. The entries in Parks' books were consistent with his account of Huckelby's culpability, as were Huckelby's telephone records. Accordingly, the government showed that Huckelby, as a marketer of cocaine, "associate[d] himself" with the drug distribution ring and "[sought] by his acts to make it succeed." Knox, 839 F.2d at 294.

Huckelby nonetheless calls our attention to Parks' psychiatric history and his role as a government informant, apparently in an attempt to have us reassess his credibility. This we will not do. Credibility determinations are the province of the trier of fact, and are not to be disturbed on appeal when considering the sufficiency of the evidence underlying a defendant's conviction. Parks' alleged deficiencies as a witness were amply explored in the course of cross-examination.

Whited was convicted of conspiracy to possess cocaine with the intent to distribute the drug (21 U.S.C. § 846), as well as on three counts of possession of cocaine, or aiding and abetting the possession of cocaine, with the intent to distribute (21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and 18 U.S.C. § 2). The latter convictions were the result of conduct which occurred in September, October, and November of 1988. She challenges the sufficiency of the evidence sustaining the guilty verdicts returned against her.

At trial, Jerry Parks testified that defendant Robert Murr rented a house in the Martha Washington Heights subdivision in Knoxville, Tennessee, for Whited, who was his "girlfriend." Murr and Parks would store a large portion of the cocaine they bought in Kentucky there. In September of 1988, they went to the house for such a purpose. According to Parks, he and Murr

went upstairs and took the cocaine into a bedroom, and [Murr] told Diane Whited to go into the other room and to get the stash. She was gone a few minutes. I heard her pull out an exit door in the hallway. She climbed up in the step, secured a green duffle bag, which had a padlock on it, and brought it into the bedroom. Mr. Murr had a key on his key ring. He opened up a lock on the duffle bag and pulled out two PVC pipes. We opened it up and put one of the kilos of cocaine in there. He told Ms. Whited to go into the kitchen or wherever she kept her bags and got baggies and roll of aluminum foil and brought back in the bedroom. Mr. Murr had a pair of scales there, digital scales, and we weighed the cocaine. We put [it] in one ounce bags, put green rubber bands around it, wrapped it up, put tinfoil around that, put it back in PVC pipes, secured the lids on it, put [it] back in the green duffle bag, locked that, put it back in the attic.

Parks recalled that it was Whited who took the cocaine and hid it in the attic.

Parks testified that he and Murr were "probably over" at the house with Whited "15, 20 times" through the fall of 1988. When questioned in greater detail, he confirmed that in September, October, and November of 1988, they brought cocaine "to the stash house, Diane Whited's stash house," where it was broken down in "pretty much the same manner" and later distributed.

In order for Parks to remove cocaine from the house to sell, he would have to call Murr "and make arrangements to meet him to go out to the house in Martha Washington Heights.... Sometimes Ms. Whited would be at home, sometimes she wouldn't." Parks was not allowed to go there by himself. He and Murr "would drive to the area. [Murr] would use his cellular phone. And if [Whited] was there, she would open the door"; otherwise, Murr would use his keys to enter the house. This arrangement became unworkable after November of 1988 because Parks needed easier access to the cocaine supply, and it was at this point the drugs were buried in a pipe on property behind Automotive Enterprises.

Gene Doss, a long-time resident of the Martha Washington Heights subdivision, testified that Murr and Whited called themselves "Don Stallings" and "Janet Stallings" during the time they spent there. Doss described the basement windows of Whited's house as "covered with some sort of material," as were the garage door, the entrance door, and a third door. There were fish-eye peepholes in the windows and the doors. He also remembered seeing a large safe being taken out of the residence.

Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the government, a rational jury could have concluded that Whited "knew of, intended to join and participated in the conspiracy." Pearce, 912 F.2d at 161 (quoting United States v. Stanley, 765 F.2d 1224, 1237 (5th Cir.1985)). She consciously handled and concealed the cocaine stored at her residence, exercising dominion and control over the drugs. In fact, she was entrusted with their safekeeping for a number of months. Doss' testimony concerning Whited's alias and her home security measures further indicated that she was not merely associated with members of the drug distribution ring, but played an active role in the enterprise. Similarly, evidence was educed that she possessed at least a kilogram of cocaine on or about the dates set out in the counts upon which she was convicted. The intent to distribute could be inferred from such a large amount of drugs. See, e.g., United States v. Welebir, 498 F.2d 346 (4th Cir.1974).

B. Mistrial Based Upon Jerry Parks' Statements

Whited also argues that the district court should have granted defendants' motion for a mistrial following remarks made by Jerry Parks on cross-examination.

Parks was questioned by Robert Murr's counsel regarding the $35,000 to $40,000 he estimated he was paid by the government to compensate him for his services and his expenses. In explaining what the money was used for, and why he was uncertain whether his estimate was correct, he told the jury that

[a] lot of this money, and I don't know whether it is listed here or not, is for my protection. I have been threatened by these witnesses. I have been threatened by the defendants and their wives. I have been threatened by several people. I actually recorded ... [r]ecorded threats, who has a contract on me. I had to move. I had to get more money from the FBI. I don't know whether this represents all of it or not. I am telling you I spent a lot of their money. This is what they say I spent. I don't know whether this is extra money, whether this represents every single nickel I got from the FBI. I spent a lot of money.

After Parks finished his statement, Murr's counsel did not raise an objection but continued his line of questioning.

At the close of the day's proceedings, defendant Mary Lawson's attorney moved for a mistrial on the basis of Parks' remarks concerning the threats he allegedly received from defendants and their spouses. The other defendants subsequently joined the motion. The district court replied:

Now, in regard to Mr. Parks' response, it was in response to the cross-examination of him being paid all this money. The inference being raised to the jury, well, you know, that's a lot of walking around money, 35, $40,000. That's outrageous. Why would the Government be paying you all kinds of money like that for services and/or expenses? And I allowed him to defend himself. This was in response to cross-examination, direct response as to why it would take 35 or $40,000. And that's what he has to say. That's what he had to say. It may not be true. The jury may not believe it.

But, Mr. Hicks, the books are full of cases where threats have been made, glaring, intimidating looks have been made in order to--and witnesses have been murdered, witnesses have been murdered. And that is--if that happens, it is competent, it is relevant, and the circuits have upheld that kind of testimony for as long as I can remember.

So your motion for mistrial is overruled.

Lawson's counsel went on to express surprise that the district court would allow "bald assertion[s]" of threats and intimidation into evidence. The court, however, opined that it "allowed the testimony to come in for what it's worth.... It goes to the weight of the testimony and not its admissibility." When Lawson's counsel persisted in claiming that Parks' statements were unfounded, the court asked: "You want me to have Mr. Parks go into it again tomorrow morning in more detail to see if there is a factual basis in front of this jury?" Lawson's counsel answered in the negative; instead, he wanted the jury admonished that Parks' "bald assertion that these defendants tried to kill him is not to be used as far as Mary Lawson is considered." The court refused, and also refused similar requests by the other defendants.

"A defendant may move for a mistrial where there is a legitimate claim of seriously prejudicial error," such that the defendant is unable to obtain a fair trial. United States v. Moore, 917 F.2d 215, 220 (6th Cir.1990), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 111 S.Ct. 1590, 113 L.Ed.2d 654 (1991). "The denial of a mistrial is generally within the discretion of the trial court," and our review of the court's ruling is confined to whether the trial court abused its discretion. Id.

Here, the government did not elicit the allegedly prejudicial statements and did not repeat them. See, e.g., United States v. Tarantino, 846 F.2d 1384, 1413 (D.C.Cir.1988). Significantly, defendants did not make a contemporaneous objection to the remarks on grounds of prejudice, or on any other grounds. As the district court pointed out, the remarks might not have been prejudicial at all. They were surely not what defendants wanted to hear, but they were offered as a legitimate response to a question concerning substantial payments to Parks by the government. The existence of these payments might well have damaged his credibility, if not justified to the jury's satisfaction. Parks' claim of threats was not wholly implausible on its face; such incidents have been known to occur. Defendants had an opportunity to challenge the veracity of the claim; they deliberately chose not to take up the cudgel. While certain statements are so prejudicial that the defense should not be required to rebut them, and the jury should not be left to weigh their value, we are convinced that the instant case did not involve such a situation.

We also note that, in the case at bar, the remarks at issue "constitute[d] but a small portion of the total testimony at trial." United States v. Bowers, 739 F.2d 1050, 1055 (6th Cir.), cert. denied, 469 U.S. 861, 105 S.Ct. 195, 83 L.Ed.2d 128 (1984). They were made well before the start of the jury's deliberations, deliberations which produced not guilty verdicts on several of the counts charged in the indictment. For all of these reasons, we hold that the district court did not abuse its discretion in denying defendants' mistrial motion.

A motion was made by Robert Murr to sever defendant Kenneth Lawson prior to trial, when it appeared that Lawson would not be present for the proceedings. This motion was denied by the district court, and Whited contends that this was in error.

A district court's denial for severance is reversible only for an abuse of discretion. United States v. Warner, 690 F.2d 545, 552 (6th Cir.1982). "Once defendants have been properly joined under Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 8(b), a 'strong showing of prejudice' is required to justify severance." United States v. Hessling, 845 F.2d 617, 619 (6th Cir.1988) (quoting United States v. Reed, 647 F.2d 678, 689 (6th Cir.), cert. denied, 454 U.S. 837, 102 S.Ct. 142, 70 L.Ed.2d 118 (1981)). The jury must be unable "to decide fairly and separately the guilt or innocence of each defendant." Moore, 917 F.2d at 220.

Whited argues that defendants were harmed because the jury might have inferred that Lawson did not show up for trial because he was guilty, and then concluded that his co-defendants must also be culpable. In addition, Whited asserts that they were prejudiced when the jury was exposed to extensive testimony concerning Lawson's activities, while "no one was there to challenge this testimony."

"As a general rule, persons jointly indicted should be tried together." United States v. Stull, 743 F.2d 439, 446 (6th Cir.1984). This is because there is almost always common evidence against the joined defendants that allows for the economy of a single trial. In the instant case, a large portion of the evidence presented, including that related to Lawson, was applicable to each defendant to show the scope of the charged conspiracy. While Lawson was not there to "challenge" his alleged participation at trial, his co-defendants had the opportunity to convince the jury that they were not associated with him. "Absent a showing of substantial prejudice, spillover of evidence from one case to another does not require severance." Moore, 917 F.2d at 221 (relying upon United States v. Gallo, 763 F.2d 1504, 1526 (6th Cir.1985)). Defendants have not made such a showing here.

The fact that a defendant sought to escape prosecution is usually relevant in establishing culpability, so we understand Whited's anxiety about "transferred guilt" due to Lawson's flight. However, the district court neutralized any adversity Lawson may have caused his co-defendants by his actions. It gave a cautionary instruction that each defendant's case was to be considered separately and, further, that Lawson's flight could not be used as evidence against anyone but him. The jury appears to have heeded the court's admonition, as defendant William Baird, allegedly a close companion of Lawson's, was acquitted of conspiracy. Other defendants were acquitted on some of the distribution counts brought against them. Thus, the jury was plainly able to view them as distinct individuals in rendering its verdicts. As this was so, the district court did not abuse its discretion in denying the motion to sever Lawson.

D. The Government's Use of Prejudicial Evidence

Whited next contends that the government elicited, or sought to elicit, a variety of evidence that was prejudicial to defendants, thereby warranting reversal.

Specifically, she asserts that the government repeatedly sought to admit testimony related to meetings in Tennessee and Virginia where cocaine allegedly was obtained from Kenneth Lawson and Victor Rojas. As this evidence was never presented to the jury, defendants suffered no harm.

Whited also takes issue with the government being permitted to present testimony that cocaine was acquired by Jerry Parks from Robert Murr while Parks was living at a halfway house in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The district court, however, allowed such evidence to establish the beginning of Parks' dealings with Murr. In our view, this was proper.

Additionally, Whited argues that the "defense was left helpless ... to rebut the inflammatory nature" of Jerry Parks' testimony regarding threats allegedly made to him by defendants and their spouses. She seems to claim that the government should have either substantiated the allegations or sought to counteract their effect. We have already determined that reversal is not required as a result of Parks' statements.

Whited also complains that she and her co-defendants were harmed by the government's questioning of witness Ernie Nicely regarding loans allegedly extended to Robert Murr and his ex-wife, Judy, and promissory notes memorializing those loans. The district court struck Nicely's testimony on the basis of a pretrial ruling excluding such evidence. The trial judge cautioned the jury to disregard the testimony, and we believe that he cured any harm to defendants in doing so.

Finally, Whited contends that defendants were prejudiced both by statements from Nicely that Robert Murr was arrested on the same day he was seen with co-defendant Kenneth Lawson, and from witness Donald Bennett that Murr was incarcerated. However, the district court instructed the jury to disregard these remarks, which abated any prejudice.

E. Competency of Jerry Parks and Tommy McKeehan

Whited claims that witnesses Jerry Parks and Tommy McKeehan were incompetent to give testimony on grounds of mental incapacity. In the case of Parks, he had previously been found incompetent to stand trial, had a history of auditory delusions, and had spent time in mental health facilities. As for McKeehan, Whited cites an affidavit filed with the district court by his treating psychiatrist that he could not assist his counsel in an upcoming trial because he suffered from "confusion, agitation, paranoia and hallucinations." This affidavit was dated four days prior to McKeehan having entered into a plea agreement with the government. Because of such information, Whited contends that, at the very least, it was error for the court not to conduct a preliminary examination of Parks' and McKeehan's competency as witnesses.

Under Rule 601 of the Federal Rules of Evidence (General Rule of Competency), "[e]very person is competent to be a witness except as otherwise provided in these rules." The Advisory Committee Notes to Rule 601 explain that "[t]his general ground-clearing eliminates all grounds of incompetency not specifically recognized in the rules of this Article." Accordingly, "[n]o mental or moral qualifications for testifying as a witness" are specified. Id. This is because "[s]tandards of mental capacity have proved elusive in actual application." Id.

Thus, the Federal Rules of Evidence strongly disfavor barring witnesses on competency grounds due to mental incapacity. As we wrote in United States v. Ramirez, 871 F.2d 582, 584 (6th Cir.), cert. denied, 493 U.S. 841, 110 S.Ct. 127, 107 L.Ed.2d 88 (1989):

What must be remembered, and is often confused, is that "competency" is a matter of status not ability. Thus, the only two groups of persons specifically rendered incompetent as witnesses by the Federal Rules of Evidence are judges (Rule 605) and jurors (Rule 606). The authority of the court to control the admissibility of the testimony of persons so impaired in some manner that they cannot give meaningful testimony is to be found outside of Rule 601. For example, the judge always has the authority under Rule 403 to balance the probative value of testimony against its prejudicial effect. Similarly, under Rule 603, the inability of a witness to take or comprehend an oath or affirmation will allow the judge to exclude that person's testimony. An argument can also be constructed that a person might be impaired to the point that he would not be able to satisfy the "personal knowledge" requirement of Rule 602. Again though, it is important to remember that such decisions by a trial judge to either admit or exclude testimony will only be reversed for a clear abuse of discretion.

(Footnote omitted.)

The district court did not rule on Parks' competency before he took the stand; later, in considering a motion for judgment of acquittal, the court indicated that Parks and McKeehan "were not crazy witnesses." Likewise, it addressed the question of McKeehan's mental capacity during a bench conference held after he had begun to testify. The court stated that it had "observed Mr. McKeehan, and he appears to the Court to be sober, cogent. He appears to the Court to know exactly where he is and what he is doing. His testimony has been direct, and his testimony has not been confused." When pressed concerning the psychiatrist's affidavit that McKeehan could not help in his own defense, the court opined that "he sure has made a remarkable recovery ... [His condition is] fodder for cross-examination, and it would appear that either the psychiatrist made an inaccurate diagnosis September the 5th or the witness has made a remarkable recovery. And the Court observes that--repeats that he does not appear to be confused today."

At a hearing on defendants' post-trial motions, the district court supplemented its findings regarding Parks' and McKeehan's competency, and the need for a special examination of their mental faculties. The court noted that

one of the reasons I overlooked stating as to my belief that an independent evaluation at this time would be a waste of time is that--is that such a finding, even if they found that they were incompetent here in April of 1992, would not be dispositive as to their competence or mental state when they testified in September of 1991 at the trial of this case or at the hearings that we held in August.

....

Similarly, even if I had such an opinion from a psychiatrist or psychologist or whoever that gave us an independent opinion that these people were--Mr. Parks and McKeehan were total screwballs, I would--I would find those opinions to have little probative value and of little weight, and I would not--I would not accept them as being--as being conclusive on the matter. And I would not let such opinions override my own judgment after having seen--personally witnessed their performance in court.

Hence, the district court did not find that Parks and McKeehan were incapable of understanding their oath and obligation to testify truthfully. Nor did the court find, based on its observations, that their mental abilities were so limited that they did not have sufficient capacity to perceive events, to remember them, and to describe them for the benefit of the trier of fact. See Fed.R.Evid. 602. The court was not required, as Whited would have it, to conduct a special examination into their competency. If either Parks' or McKeehan's behavior raised concerns stemming from Rule 602 or 603, it could have excluded their testimony (or portions thereof) without any examination whatsoever. Furthermore, the court had the additional authority, pursuant to Rule 403, to exclude their testimony in light of their past or present mental state. The court chose not to take any of these measures in the circumstances. Instead, it permitted defense counsel to use the psychiatric records of Parks and McKeehan, as well as other indicia of their mental capacity, to vigorously attack their credibility.

After carefully reviewing the record, we conclude that the district court did not abuse its discretion in doing so. As long as a witness appreciates his duty to tell the truth, and is minimally capable of observing, recalling, and communicating events, his testimony should come in for whatever it is worth. It is then up to the opposing party to dispute the witness' powers of apprehension, which well may be impaired by mental illness or other factors. As we are persuaded that Parks and McKeehan were at least minimally capable of offering reliable evidence, the possible weaknesses in their testimony went to its credibility, and so were to be assessed by the jury. See United States v. Moreno, 899 F.2d 465, 469 (6th Cir.1990).

Whited also argues that defendants should have been allowed to introduce the psychiatric records of Parks and McKeehan as substantive evidence. They were ruled inadmissible hearsay by the district court. Whited alleges, however, that they were not put forward for the truth of the matters asserted within, but to show how manipulative Parks and McKeehan could be if they were not, in fact, mentally unbalanced. Such use of the records during cross-examination to challenge Parks' and McKeehan's credibility was appropriate. However, we believe that they would have constituted hearsay if employed as part of a substantive defense. They would have to have been offered to show that the psychiatrists making the records actually concluded that Parks and McKeehan were mentally ill. Otherwise, Parks' and McKeehan's deception would have no basis in fact. Consequently, the district court did not err in declining to admit the psychiatric records.

F. Restriction on Cross-Examination of Government Agent

Finally, Whited asserts that the district court improperly limited defendants' cross-examination of a government witness, Special Agent Clyde Merryman of the FBI. Defense counsel sought to question Merryman about an internal disciplinary investigation that had been resolved in his favor. After a sealed hearing outside the presence of the jury, at which the court placed Merryman under oath and interrogated him about the alleged misconduct, it determined that defendants would be restricted from inquiring into the investigation on cross-examination. Having reviewed the transcript of the hearing and the sealed materials contained in the record, we conclude that the district court did not commit an abuse of its discretion in this regard.

Rule 608(b) of the Federal Rules of Evidence (Evidence of Character and Conduct of Witness--Specific instances of conduct) provides in part that

Specific instances of the conduct of a witness, for the purpose of attacking or supporting the witness' credibility ... may ... in the discretion of the court, if probative of truthfulness or untruthfulness, be inquired into on cross-examination of the witness (1) concerning the witness' character for truthfulness or untruthfulness[.]

"The first step in a 608(b) analysis is whether the specific conduct is probative of the witness' character for truthfulness or untruthfulness." United States v. Hill, 550 F.Supp. 983, 990 (E.D.Pa.1982), aff'd, 716 F.2d 893 (3rd Cir.1983), cert. denied, 464 U.S. 1039, 104 S.Ct. 699, 79 L.Ed.2d 165 (1984). Here, Merryman was not disciplined following the investigation into his conduct, so it had little worth as a challenge to his credibility. Whatever probative value might have attached to the FBI's proceedings was substantially outweighed by prejudice to the government. See Fed.R.Evid. 403.

Phibbs argues that the district court violated Rule 24(a) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure by refusing to submit a questionnaire developed by defendants to prospective jurors, when the court itself conducted the voir dire of the jury venire.

Except for Robert Murr, defendants waived their respective interests in examining the jury venire. According to Phibbs, the other defendants entrusted Murr with undertaking the voir dire to attempt to balance their right to an impartial jury with the district court's concern for expediency. Such a strategy appears to have been partially the result of defendants' fears that the court was leaning towards exclusively examining prospective jurors, and was an effort to devise an alternative procedure more desirable to them. If so, their sense of the court's inclination proved to be accurate.

Rule 24(a) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure (Trial Jurors--Examination) states:

The court may permit the defendant or the defendant's attorney and the attorney for the government to conduct the examination of prospective jurors or may itself conduct the examination. In the latter event the court shall permit the defendant or the defendant's attorney and the attorney for the government to supplement the examination by such further inquiry as it deems proper or shall itself submit to the prospective jurors such additional questions by the parties or their attorneys as it deems proper.

Thus, the trial court may resolve to conduct the voir dire on its own. If the court does so, it may also ask the jury venire other appropriate questions suggested by the parties.

In reviewing the district court's handling of the voir dire in the case at bar, we must ascertain whether the court "abused the broad discretion vested in him by the rulings of the Supreme Court of the United States in his impaneling of [the] jury." United States v. Blanton, 719 F.2d 815, 822 (6th Cir.1983), cert. denied, 465 U.S. 1099, 104 S.Ct. 1592, 80 L.Ed.2d 125 (1984). A trial court "retains great latitude in deciding what questions should be asked on voir dire." Mu'Min v. Virginia, --- U.S. ----, ----, 111 S.Ct. 1899, 1904, 114 L.Ed.2d 493 (1991). So long as the court ensured that the defendant or defendants had "a fair trial by a panel of impartial, 'indifferent' jurors", reversal is not mandated. Irvin v. Dowd, 366 U.S. 717, 722, 81 S.Ct. 1639, 1642, 6 L.Ed.2d 751 (1960).

In its examination of the jury venire, the district court drew upon the substance of the questions presented by defense counsel. As the voir dire progressed, the court held bench conferences to address areas of concern highlighted by defendants. At its conclusion, the court asked whether there were any other questions from counsel, eliciting no response.

The district court examined the panel members as a group concerning the presumption of innocence, the meaning of "reasonable doubt," their knowledge of the parties and attorneys, and their knowledge of the case. They were also asked about their impressions of the criminal justice system, any predispositions they might have regarding drug prosecutions, whether any of them had prior experience as a juror, whether any of them had been a victim of crime, and whether they could set aside their personal feelings in rendering a verdict. All of these questions, and others, served to establish that the individuals who were ultimately selected as jurors were unbiased.2

Phibbs suggests that the written questionnaire created by defendants was necessary to ferret out those prospective jurors whose biases would not be revealed through a collective examination.3 An individualized examination of the jury venire is not, however, required by the United States Constitution. See Mu'Min, --- U.S. at ----, 111 S.Ct. at 1904. Much of the questionnaire was directed at the personal habits and activities of the panel members (e.g., what books they read, what television shows they watched, etc.). While such information might have aided defendants in identifying sympathetic jurors, it was not needed to compose a fair-minded jury. Accordingly, we hold that the district court did not abuse its discretion in its management of the voir dire.

Phibbs claims nonetheless that considering the length of the trial was estimated at one month, "a one and one-half voir dire examination was so grossly inappropriate that a fair and impartial jury could not have been seated after such questioning." However, he does not cite any instance of prejudice relative to the jury as a body or to any specific juror. Nor does he point out any question that the court failed to ask that harmed defendants. As a result, we find his contention to be without merit.

B. The Presence of Government Agents in the Courtroom

Phibbs also asserts that defendants did not receive a fair trial because FBI Special Agent Clyde Merryman and DEA Special Agent Frank Finken, both of whom appeared as witnesses, were allowed to remain in the courtroom throughout the proceedings.

Rule 615 of the Federal Rules of Evidence (Exclusion of Witnesses) provides:

At the request of a party the court shall order witnesses excluded so that they cannot hear the testimony of other witnesses, and it may make the order of its own motion. The rule does not authorize exclusion of (1) a party who is a natural person, or (2) an officer or employee of a party which is not a natural person designated as its representative by its attorney, or (3) a person whose presence is shown by a party to be essential to the presentation of the party's cause.

In the instant case, the government sought to designate both Merryman and Finken as its representatives during the trial. After a defense objection, the district court replied:

I think the rule provides that anyone that was necessary to assist counsel in the presentation of the case would be--would be permitted to remain in the courtroom. Inasmuch as this is an extended trial, boxes of documents both from the Eastern District of Kentucky and the Eastern District [of] Tennessee, it would be unduly burdensome on the Court and time consuming if we just had one case agent. So the request of the Government is not unreasonable, so the motion is overruled.

The court then engaged in a colloquy with one of the counsel for the defense, inviting him to bring contrary authority to its attention before any witnesses were called. Counsel did not do so.

Hence, the court initially treated both Merryman and Finken as "essential" witnesses under Rule 615(3). Later, however, the court requested that the government designate one of the two as its representative pursuant to Rule 615(2); it would then consider whether the other agent was an "essential" witness. The government responded by selecting Merryman as its representative, and the court found that Finken's presence in the courtroom was also needed for the government to effectively present its case.

Phibbs concedes that one of the agents could have stayed in the courtroom, despite the fact that he would later testify. However, he argues that the government had the burden to show that the presence of more than one agent was "essential" to it laying out its case. See Fed.R.Evid. 615.

The district court followed our procedure, as set out in United States v. Pulley, 922 F.2d 1283 (6th Cir.), cert. denied, Pulley v. United States, --- U.S. ----, 112 S.Ct. 67, 116 L.Ed.2d 42 (1991), to be used when the government seeks to have two agent-witnesses in the courtroom for assistance. Rule 615(2) affords the government the right to designate only one representative for such a purpose. Id. at 1286. However, certain prosecutions may be complex enough that the aid of more than one law enforcement officer is needed to sort through extensive, technical evidence, and to help "map out strategy." See United States v. Martin, 920 F.2d 393, 397 (6th Cir.1990). When the government wants to have two agent-witnesses in attendance throughout a trial, "it is always free to designate one agent as its representative under subpart (2) [to Rule 615] and to try to show under subpart (3) that the presence of the second agent is "essential" to the presentation of its case." Pulley, 922 F.2d at 1286.

Demonstrating that an additional agent4 is, in fact, "essential" is no easy task. Criminal defendants, as do all persons caught up in the legal process, have a substantial interest in "discouraging and exposing fabrication, inaccuracy, and collusion" related to in-court testimony. Advisory Committee Notes to Fed.R.Evid. 615. This interest was recognized in the text of Rule 615, which made the exclusion of witnesses by the parties a matter of right, subject to exceptions that are narrowly defined.

The "essential" witness exception set out in Rule 615(3) "contemplates such persons as an agent who handled the transaction being litigated or an expert needed to advise counsel in the management of the litigation." Advisory Committee Notes to Fed.R.Evid. 615. We are persuaded that Finken fell within this category due to the particular circumstances of the case at bar. This was a trial that was scheduled for approximately one month, involving several defendants and a great deal of evidence, not all of which was readily accessible. After Merryman was designated the government's representative in accordance with Rule 615(2), the court determined that Finken, who was intimately familiar with portions of the evidence, was also needed to advise the government in its handling of the prosecution. As Merryman and Finken were, for the most part, responsible for distinct aspects5 of a far-flung investigation, this was not an abuse of discretion.

We note that the district court took steps to guarantee that Merryman and Finken would not parrot each other's testimony. It directed that, when one of them was on the stand, the other was to be outside the courtroom. Such a measure could be taken, not only on the basis of the court's inherent powers of trial oversight, but also in reliance upon Rule 615 itself. See, e.g., United States v. Womack, 654 F.2d 1034 (5th Cir.1981), cert. denied, 454 U.S. 1156, 102 S.Ct. 1029, 71 L.Ed.2d 314 (1982) (breach of conditions placed on sequestration constitutes violation of Fed.R.Evid. 615).

Phibbs, however, asserts that government counsel really wanted Finken and Merryman in court so that they might be in a position to coach Parks during recesses, or to otherwise guide his testimony. He claims that defendants were prejudiced because Merryman had substantial contact with Parks, "and the clear purpose and effect of allowing Agent Merryman to remain in the courtroom was to be able to listen to all of the testimony and to, in fact, cumulatively correct any questionable credibility problems and to bolster the credibility of Mr. Parks[.]" As for Finken, he "also had the opportunity to sit through this testimony and assist Agent Merryman in the 'correction' of Mr. Parks' testimony." Phibbs offers nothing to support his charges, and we find them to be rank speculation.

Despite the possibility of improper influence, Rule 615(2) allows the government to have any law enforcement officer it wants at its counsel table. Similarly, Rule 615(3) does not categorically bar any class of agents from assuming "essential" witness status. Ordinarily, if there are concerns about coaching by an agent-witness, the court may order him not to discuss the case with any other witness. If the agent fails to adhere to such an order, the court has a variety of remedies at its disposal, ranging from commenting on the transgression to the jury, to holding the agent in contempt, or disqualifying him as a witness, or even declaring a mistrial.

In addition, the defense is free to cross-examine both the agent-witness and the alleged object of his coaching efforts, subject to the control of the court. See Geders v. United States, 425 U.S. 80, 89-91, 96 S.Ct. 1330, 1335-36, 47 L.Ed.2d 592 (1976). See also M. Graham, Federal Practice and Procedure: Evidence § 6611 at 217-221 (West 1992). Here, defendants engaged in spirited cross-examination of Parks, Merryman, and Finken, touching upon the question of coaching.

Phibbs next contends that the evidence underlying his convictions was insufficient, and that the district court erred in denying both his motion for a directed verdict following the government's case-in-chief, and his subsequent motion for judgment of acquittal.

Phibbs was convicted of conspiracy to possess cocaine with the intent to distribute the drug (21 U.S.C. § 846), as well as on nine counts of possession of cocaine, or aiding and abetting the possession of cocaine, with the intent to distribute (21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and 18 U.S.C. § 2).

Jerry Parks testified that Phibbs, an employee of Robert Murr's, wrote a letter to the United States Probation Office in Memphis, Tennessee, stating that he would employ Parks if he was transferred to Knoxville. Phibbs sent the letter on behalf of Murr because Murr was under investigation by authorities in Knoxville. Their efforts were successful, and Parks was given permission to work for Automotive Enterprises, one of Murr's companies. After Parks began his tenure there, Phibbs represented to Parks' probation officer that he was on the job. However, according to Parks, his employment was a "sham" and "[he] didn't do anything there at Automotive Enterprises other than carrying on Mr. Murr, the Chief's, cocaine business." Phibbs sometimes paid Parks with "sham" checks, which he would then cash, returning the money to Phibbs to put back in the account.

After Parks began supplying Murr's cocaine customers with the drug, he often gave Phibbs the money he collected from them if Murr was unavailable. This was done on Murr's express instructions, so that Parks would not be carrying large sums on his person. The amount turned over to Phibbs would frequently be in the neighborhood of $10,000 to $15,000.

When, after November of 1988, Murr decided to move the location of the cocaine stash from the house he rented for defendant Diane Whited, he told Parks to bury the drugs inside a pipe on a hillside behind Automotive Enterprises. Parks testified that the only other person "in the world" who knew where the cocaine was subsequently hidden was Phibbs. This was so that, in the event Parks was arrested or injured, "somebody in our organization ... would know."

Ernie Nicely, a business partner of Murr's, stated that on two occasions when defendant Kenneth Lawson came to see Murr at Anderson County Auto Auction, ostensibly to discuss matters related to the cocaine conspiracy, Phibbs was "on the property." This was unusual because "[h]e very seldom came out there"; it was 20 miles away from Phibbs' job at Automotive Enterprises. On the last day that Nicely saw Lawson, August 17, 1989, Murr called him and asked him to take two suitcases out of the safe at Anderson County Auto Auction and to deliver them to Phibbs at Automotive Enterprises.

Later, in September of 1989, Murr told Nicely that defendant Edward Rogers owed him $2,000, and that Phibbs was to deduct that amount from the $10,000 that he was holding for Rogers. According to Nicely, Rogers owed the money "for drugs or something." Around that time, Murr instructed Nicely to "get rid of " a 1984 Porsche 940 that was on Murr's property until he could get a title for it. Phibbs informed him that Murr had obtained the car in exchange for a kilogram of cocaine. When he titled the Porsche in his own name, Phibbs furnished the money to pay the tax.

Rogers' statements at trial corroborated those of Parks and Nicely regarding Phibbs' participation in the drug distribution ring. He confirmed that he owed Murr $2,000 for drugs, and that he went to Phibbs to settle his account. Phibbs claimed that he actually owed $4,000 for four ounces of cocaine. During their conversation, Rogers asked Phibbs if he was "still in business," and Phibbs replied in the affirmative.

All of this testimony was buttressed by the government's introduction of records demonstrating that calls were made from Murr-related telephones to Phibbs' residence, his beeper, or to Whited's cellular phone, which was listed in his name, during the periods delineated in the distribution counts.

Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the government, there was sufficient proof from several sources that Phibbs "knew of, intended to join and participated in" the charged conspiracy. Pearce, 912 F.2d at 161 (6th Cir.1990) (quoting United States v. Stanley, 765 F.2d 1224, 1237 (5th Cir.1985)). He received and processed drug money, helped install Parks as a middleman, and was part of the security surrounding the cocaine stash. As for the distribution counts, Parks' testimony, in particular, indicated that Phibbs handled drug money during the relevant time frames. His contention must therefore be rejected.

D. "Minimal" v. "Minor" Participation; Acceptance of Responsibility

Phibbs further argues that, at sentencing the district court should have accorded him a four-point reduction in offense level, attendant to a finding that he was a "minimal" participant in the drug ring, rather than a two-point reduction for being a "minor" participant. He also asserts that he was entitled to a two-point reduction for acceptance of responsibility.6

A district court's factual decisions, such as those related to a defendant's acceptance of responsibility, or his role in the offense, are reviewed under the clearly erroneous standard. United States v. Perry, 908 F.2d 56, 58 (6th Cir.1990). To be clearly erroneous, " 'a decision must strike us as more than just maybe or probably wrong; it must ... strike us as wrong with the force of a five-week-old, unrefrigerated dead fish.' " Id. (quoting Parts and Elec. Motors, Inc. v. Sterling Elec., Inc., 866 F.2d 228, 233 (7th Cir.1988), cert. denied, 493 U.S. 847, 110 S.Ct. 141, 107 L.Ed.2d 100 (1989)).

Application Note 1 to United States Sentencing Guidelines § 3B1.2 (Mitigating Role) states in part that: "Subsection (a) [dealing with minimal participants] applies to a defendant who plays a minimal role in concerted activity. It is intended to cover defendants who are plainly among the least culpable of those involved in the conduct of a group." With this language in mind, Phibbs latches onto the probation officer's conclusion in his presentence report that "Phibbs gives the appearance, amid all of the co-defendants to be least involved in the group" to contend that he should have been considered a minimal participant. He further claims, in this regard, that he did not have "organizational, managerial or monetary interests in any of the trips to Kentucky to buy cocaine."

However, Application Note 2 to U.S.S.G. § 3B1.2 underscores that:

It is intended that the downward adjustment for a minimal participant will be used infrequently. It would be appropriate, for example, for someone who played no other role in a very large drug smuggling operation than to offload part of a single marihuana shipment, or in a case where an individual was recruited as a courier for a single smuggling transaction involving a small amount of drugs.

The district court, in passing sentence, felt that Phibbs was not merely on the fringes of the drug distribution ring:

You knew what the deal was, you knew what the deal was from beginning to end. And I really believe that and I infer you were into it deeper than what the United States was able to prove. The ostrich defense is not applicable in cases like this.

In comparing the roles of Whited, whom it considered to be a minimal participant, and Phibbs, the court took Whited's dependence on Murr and the fact that, unlike Phibbs, she was not a repository of drug money to be significant. In its view, these factors placed her "below Phibbs" for sentencing purposes.

Our examination of the record convinces us that Phibbs was not the sort of marginal player that the United States Sentencing Commission and Congress conceived of as a minimal participant. He was involved in the drug distribution ring throughout the bulk of its existence, having been entrusted with drug-related funds, as well as critical knowledge concerning the whereabouts of the cocaine supply. Consequently, the district court's conclusion as to his role in the enterprise was not clearly erroneous.

Phibbs further contends that he should have been granted a reduction in offense level for acceptance of responsibility, pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 3E1.1. In a statement furnished to the district court, Phibbs acknowledged that he was aware, or should have been aware, that he was given money that was the product of Murr's cocaine deals. Once Murr was arrested, it became clear to him that the money was, in fact, drug-related. Thus Phibbs avers that he "truthfully admitte[d] the conduct comprising the offense(s) of conviction." Application Note 1(a) to U.S.S.G. § 3E1.1.

However, the district court was not so sure. It told Phibbs' counsel that "I have read his statement, and I don't think that the statement even comes close to a contrite heart and acceptance of responsibility." Accordingly, the court denied Phibbs' request for a sentence reduction under U.S.S.G. § 3E1.1.

We approve of the court's decision. Phibbs did not even begin to address the scope of the charges on which he was convicted. To the extent that he did, he did not do so in good faith. There was evidence that he understood all along he was collecting tainted money, and that he was enlightened with respect to the magnitude of the drug distribution ring. Rogers' testimony indicated that he continued his criminal conduct after Murr was arrested. In no way did he assist law enforcement authorities in their probe of the ring's activities. Hence Phibbs could not be said to have accepted responsibility for his offenses in a manner contemplated by the federal sentencing guidelines.

A. The Government's Use of Grand Jury and Administrative Subpoenas

Rojas contends that the district court erred in allowing the government to employ administrative subpoenas to uncover evidence without a finding of probable cause that a crime had taken place. He also claims that the government abused the grand jury subpoena power by using it to gather additional evidence in support of the previously-returned indictment.

After Rojas was arrested on January 9, 1991, he was informed that a sealed indictment had been returned against him on May 2, 1990. His counsel filed motions for discovery and inspection, and received materials including Rojas' telephone records, and those of defendants Kenneth Lawson and Mary Lawson. These records had been subpoenaed after the May 1990 indictment. In addition, his attorney was provided with Rojas' credit card statements, subpoenaed on January 17, 1991, defendant William Baird's telephone records, ordered subpoenaed on June 19, 1990, as well as other items.

Rojas subsequently moved to dismiss the indictment based upon the government's alleged abuse of the grand jury subpoena power. He argued that the government improperly utilized this power to obtain materials to supplement the indictment already handed down. The district court denied Rojas' motion after a hearing at which the government represented that the materials in question were secured by way of DEA administrative subpoenas, not grand jury subpoenas.7 At trial, Rojas, joined by his co-defendants, objected to such subpoenas having been being employed without a demonstration of probable cause before a neutral magistrate.

Pursuant to 21 U.S.C. § 876(a) (Subpoenas--Authorization of use by Attorney General):

In any investigation relating to his functions under this subchapter with respect to controlled substances ... the Attorney General may subpena witnesses, compel the attendance and testimony of witnesses, and require the production of any records (including books, papers, documents, and other tangible things which constitute or contain evidence) which the Attorney General finds relevant or material to the investigation.

The Attorney General may delegate this power to special agents in charge of those criminal investigations covered by the statute. United States v. Hossbach, 518 F.Supp. 759, 765-66 (E.D.Pa.1980) (citing 28 C.F.R. Subpart R, Appendix § 7(a)). The sorts of items that are capable of being procured as a result plainly include the records presently in controversy. Id. at 767 (telephone records); United States v. Mountain States Tel. & Tel. Co., 516 F.Supp. 225 (D.Wyo.1981) (telephone records).

Once a targeted individual has been indicted, the government must cease its use of the grand jury in preparing its case for trial. United States v. Breitkreutz, 977 F.2d 214, 217 (6th Cir.1992). It may, however, continue to employ the grand jury process as part of an ongoing investigation, possibly leading to further charges against the subject of the former indictment. Id. Section 876 of title 21 simply furnishes the Attorney General and his delegates with an alternative mechanism for carrying on the investigation. However, unlike the grand jury system, it may also be used to discover evidence related to the charges in the original indictment.8

Recipients of administrative subpoenas, such as those issued in accordance with 21 U.S.C. § 876, are afforded certain protections under the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution. The subpoena has to be "sufficiently limited in scope, relevant in purpose, and specific in directive so that compliance [would] not be unreasonable." See v. City of Seattle, 387 U.S. 541, 544, 87 S.Ct. 1737, 1740, 18 L.Ed.2d 943 (1967).

If it is a subpoena duces tecum, the government does not have to secure a judicial warrant before service is effectuated. Nonetheless, "the subpoenaed party [must be able to] obtain judicial review of the reasonableness of the demand prior to suffering penalties for refusing to comply." Id. at 545, 87 S.Ct. at 1740. See also Donovan v. Lone Steer, Inc., 464 U.S. 408, 415, 104 S.Ct. 769, 773, 78 L.Ed.2d 567 (1984).

Should an on-premises search and inspection be required to execute the subpoena, a valid search warrant is needed as a condition precedent if consent is not forthcoming. If, as in the instant case, the subpoena is to be based upon 21 U.S.C. § 876, "and the purpose behind the search [is] ... a quest for evidence to be used in a criminal prosecution," a full probable cause showing is mandatory.9 United States v. Lawson, 502 F.Supp. 158, 165 (D.Md.1980). See also Michigan v. Tyler, 436 U.S. 499, 508, 512, 98 S.Ct. 1942, 1949, 1951, 56 L.Ed.2d 486 (1978). A showing which only comports with "reasonable legislative or administrative standards", as when regulatory noncompliance is suspected, will not suffice. See Camara v. Municipal Court, 387 U.S. 523, 538, 87 S.Ct. 1727, 1735, 18 L.Ed.2d 930 (1967). See also Marshall v. Barlow's Inc., 436 U.S. 307, 320, 98 S.Ct. 1816, 1824, 56 L.Ed.2d 305 (1978) ("Probable cause in the criminal sense is not required" to undertake administrative search aimed at uncovering civil violations of the Occupational Health and Safety Act).

Here, the administrative subpoenas were not directed at Rojas, but rather at third party businesses. As a consequence, he did not have standing to dispute their issuance on Fourth Amendment grounds, unless he could demonstrate that he had a legitimate expectation of privacy attaching to the records obtained. See, e.g., United States v. Salvucci, 448 U.S. 83, 100 S.Ct. 2547, 65 L.Ed.2d 619 (1980); Katz v. United States, 389 U.S. 347, 88 S.Ct. 507, 19 L.Ed.2d 576 (1967). It is evident, however, that Rojas did not have both an actual and a justifiable privacy interest in any of these materials, including his credit card statements and telephone records. See Smith v. Maryland, 442 U.S. 735, 742, 99 S.Ct. 2577, 2581, 61 L.Ed.2d 220 (1979) (in case involving pen register, the Court "doubt[ed] that people in general entertain any actual expectation of privacy in the numbers they dial"); United States v. Miller, 425 U.S. 435, 440-41, 96 S.Ct. 1619, 1623, 48 L.Ed.2d 71 (1976) (records of bank transactions were not "private papers," over which a person could claim ownership or possession, but were business records). The information contained within them was readily accessible to employees during the normal course of business. Rojas therefore lacked standing to challenge the government's use of the subpoenas.10

The situation would not have been different if the government had infringed upon the constitutional rights of those entities subpoenaed. One generally does not have standing to complain about the breach of another's rights. See, e.g., Wong Sun v. United States, 371 U.S. 471, 83 S.Ct. 407, 9 L.Ed.2d 441 (1963). As it happened, none of the parties subpoenaed was opposed to turning over the requested items.

B. Motion In Limine Related to Rojas' Colombian Origins; Motion For Mistrial Based Upon References to Rojas' Colombian Ties

Rojas further asserts that the district court should have granted his motion in limine to prohibit the government from mentioning his having been born in Colombia, or from introducing his passport records, which revealed that he had journeyed to Colombia several times, ostensibly to visit relatives, in the three to five years prior to his arrest.11

Rojas also argues that a mistrial was warranted because of inflammatory references that were made concerning his connections to Colombia. In his view, they were gratuitous and were designed both to arouse ethnic bias and to tap into the jury's presumed eagerness to combat the national drug crisis, including by way of a misguided verdict. See United States v. Solivan, 937 F.2d 1146, 1153-54 (6th Cir.1991) (urging jury to "strike a blow to the drug problem" was "harmful to the constitutional right to a fair trial"); United States v. Doe, 903 F.2d 16, 25 (D.C.Cir.1990) (appeals to racial passion affected jury impartiality). He cites three such references aside from those adverted to regarding his motion in limine.

First, the government was allowed to call a federal prisoner, Andres Tealdo, as a witness and to ask him leading questions. This led Tealdo to testify that he knew Rojas in 1989, and that Rojas told him that he sold cocaine from Colombia. Second, the government stated during its closing argument that "Robert Dale Murr could pick up a telephone and arrange for his cocaine broker, the Defendant Kenneth Lawson, to have a Columbian drug dealer, Victor Rojas, bring him kilogram quantities of cocaine by Kentucky by a phone call." Lastly, on cross-examination, Jerry Parks referred to Rojas on one occasion as "Victor Manuel Noriega Rojas." While not a direct reference to his background, Rojas claims that, by implication, it drew attention to his ties to Colombia, a country commonly understood to be a hub in the international drug trade.

Motions in limine to exclude evidence are reviewed for an abuse of discretion. We detect no such abuse in the instant case. That Rojas had ties to Colombia and travelled there frequently was relevant to the government's contention that he was the cocaine supplier in the charged conspiracy. We believe that, as proffered for such a legitimate purpose, the complained-about evidence was not unduly prejudicial. See Fed.R.Evid. 403.

The denial of a mistrial motion is also assessed under the abuse of discretion standard. Moore, 917 F.2d at 220. Before Tealdo took the stand, the district court and counsel held a lengthy bench conference, during which they discussed the implications of his anticipated evidence. The government expected that Tealdo's testimony would be that Rojas admitted to him that he was a drug dealer whose cocaine source was in Colombia. Significantly, defense counsel objected only on the grounds that this would constitute irrelevant and prejudicial evidence of other "bad acts," relying upon Rule 404(b) of the Federal Rules of Evidence. We are of the opinion that it was properly allowed in and was not, in fact, inflammatory. As a consequence, the portion of the government's closing argument about which Rojas complains had a basis in evidence.

As for Parks' calling him "Victor Manuel Noriega Rojas," Rojas suggests that this was harmful because General Noriega's highly-publicized drug trial was underway in Florida at the same time as the instant proceedings. While such a reference was inappropriate, it was an isolated remark and we are satisfied that it did not deprive him of a fair trial. See Bowers, 739 F.2d at 1055. Accordingly, the district court did not err in denying Rojas' motion for a mistrial.

C. The Rojas "Photospread"

Rojas also alleges that only after the government's examination of witness Vivian Cummins did he first become aware that she had been shown a "photospread" containing his picture as part of her pretrial identification of him. He contends that this violated his right under Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83, 83 S.Ct. 1194, 10 L.Ed.2d 215 (1963), and its progeny to any exculpatory or impeachment evidence held by the government.

The record indicates that Rojas did request such so-called "Brady evidence" in the proper fashion. At side bar, the government averred that defense counsel had been provided with a copy of the photospread "before Ms. Cummins even hit the stand." Whether this was so, we are persuaded that Cummins had a sufficient basis for her pretrial identification of Rojas, independent from any refreshment provided by the photospread. As a result, Rojas' timely mistrial motion need not have been granted.

Rojas, on behalf of his co-defendants, next asserts that the district court erred in allowing confidential presentence information to be submitted by the United States Probation Office without affording him an inspection of the materials, and an opportunity to comment as to their import.

At a hearing where sentencing matters were discussed, defense counsel asked whether the district judge had any confidential presentence information in his possession. The judge indicated that he did, but maintained that it was not the sort of material he was obligated to divulge:

[A]ny information that I may get, directly or indirectly, from the probation officer independent of the presentence report of a confidential nature ... is solely--if any information that I receive from the probation office, directly or indirectly, is for my illumination and my consideration, and it would not be of any--any use or benefit to you or the defendant at all. And that information is exempt.

The district judge then overruled counsel's motion, made in accordance with Rule 32(c)(3)(B)