 

ln the
L)`n.'r\ed Srma Cou.n of Appenls

l-'o: the chcnth C`u'cui\

 

 

____

No. 15-1175 REDACTEB l CLEARED FOR PuBLlC RELEAsE
UNrm: STA'res oz A,~smca, '
P!ain!:f-App¢llee,
v.
C. GnEc;oRY Turms=_a.
D¢f¢ndnnr-App¢!lom

.-'\ppcll from lh¢ Ur'.ll¢d Sme\ Distr|c! Coux¢ for she
Notthem Dlslrid of lllinois. F.o.slum Div'ision.
No. 13 CR 572-fhlml E. Bu¢klo, judge

 

ARCL`|£D OCTOBF.R 25, 2015 - DECmED SEPTEMBER 9, 2016

SUPFLEMENTAL CLA=;§IF!ED Ol'l.\'lON -» DECmED SEPTEMBF.R 9, 2016

 

Before K.A.\' NF.. ROVNF.R. and SYKES. Circuit judg¢s.

KAN.\'E, Circuz`¢ ludge. A.q noted in the general unclassified
opinion in this cas¢, Defendan! Gregory Tumer was con-
victed of willfully conspl:ing, with Prince Asi.el Ben lscac-L to
provide services for Zi.mbabwean Specillly Deslgmved Na-
tionals ("SD!\'s”). a group d government officials and re-

 

2 No. 15~1175
-

lifted individuals deemed to be blocking the demonatic pm»
ceases or institutions of Zimbabwe. 30th Tumer and Ben
ls:ael are U.S. personal

'I‘nlx ix the supplemental classified opinion addressing
Tumer's claims. on appeal tim eha government’s lnvestiga~
tim violated the Foreign himiligence Suwelllam'e Ac't
{“FISA") and that the obtained or derived evidence should
have izeen suppressed Having reviewed the unclassified
and classified xecord, we find that the order of !he &isi~rict
court denying suppression of the PISA evidmce and its evi-
dentiary frui!s was proper.

I. Backgmund
living the sam approach as with the unclassified opin-
ion. we begin with a brief synopsis cf the relevant legal
framework for Tumer’a claims under FISA. ’l'hen, we mim-
marize the FESA collections against ‘l`umer and the pertinem
procedural history

A. FI$'A siegal Pr¢zmmrk

in 1978, C<mgress exacted FISA, Fub. L. 95-511, io estab-
lish procedures Eor electronic surveilth physical searches.
md mm methods of information collection for foreign `m-
te¥ligence purposes. 50 US.C. § 1801 er seq. Tb,e statute has
been amended sewml ti:m. most rewritiy in 2008, Pub. I..
110-261

FISA authorizes electronic survel£iance and physical
searches eithu' with or withoui a conn arden Tumer’s cwa

 

N¢. 15~;175 3
_

onIy concerns PISA authorization with a court ordec, also
known as a FISA warrant §§ 1805, 1824.‘

FISA established the Foreign In?elligence Surveillance
Cmm (”FZSC”) m grantor deny government applications for
a FIBA wmam. § 1803, 1822. 'I°he mth also established the
Fereign Ineelligence Surveillmce Court cf Revlew (”FISCR"}
to review P?SC denials of govemment applications for a
FISA wmanz. Id.

fn under for the F!SC to issue an darden it must find that
the government met certain requiremenm im:h.\d.wg arab-
!ishing probable cause, certification and proposed
minimization procedures. §§ 183‘)4{¢'»1)z 1895(a}, 1823(1),
lazéia). "I“he FISC must find that the government demcn»
shared ”probab]e cause” tim the rarget "Ls a foreign powe:
or am agent of a foreign yower" and bhd each of the targeted
Eaacifities cr properties is being used by a foreign power m an
agent of a foreign power. §§ 1804{a}(3), ESGB{a}(Z), 1823{a}(3),
1824(1\)(23. The HSC also must find that she govem;:m yro~
vided “w:in:en certificadon” from a high»levei executive
branch official that a "sz'gm'ficant purpose" of the proposed
ssrveillance or search "is to obi'ain foreign inte}ligmce infor-
mation." §§ 1804(a)(6). fBDS(a){§). 1823{:¢)(6). 1824{&]{4). Pi~
nally. the ?LSC must find that the govenunmr‘s proposed
"ndrduxizarion procedures" are reasonably designed "ro
minimize the acquisition and retention and prohibi? the dis-

1

v H$A comma mann bus !argz!y parall¢l, provisions
governing simms mweillxnce, 50 U.S.C §§ ISGI-}SIZ_. md physical

anches. §§ 1821-1829.

4 N<>. 15~1`175

semina!icn of nonpublic!y avai!ab!e infommn’m concerning
unconsendng limited Smes pmcns,” as well as provide ad¢
diti<mal proteciion.s relating to mformasio'n and cumunica-
riona involving US. paxson,s. §§ 1801(11), 1804(;}{4),
¥8051’3}(3), 1821(4), 1823{a)(4). 1824{&}(3}, If the FISC ap‘~
proves the application the government must adhere to these
proposed "minimization procedures."

if the FISA judge makes the necessary findings he or she
than issues am order authorizing the electrode survek!lmce
or physical search §§ 1805(&), 1824{9.}.'1`!'1¢ FISC order must
contain specific wonnat£on on the urges relevant locatim,
type cf information sought mem duration coverage, and
applicable minimizadon procedures §§ 1805{¢)-(€1), 1824{€)-
(d).

The government may also use infonnad<m obtained from
or derived from a FISC index for criminal proceedings if it
obtains advance authorization from the Atwrney Ger\e:al
and provides notice to the court md to each "aggr{eved per~
son” against whom rhzin£orma:ionis 20 be used. §§ 1866{1))~
{d}, 1325(¢)~(€).

In response the aggrieved person may move to éiscover
the materials rela%wg ho the surveiilance and search "¢mly
where such djadosu:e is necessary to malice an accurate de-
bennination of the iegality of" the surveillance or search
§§ 1806(£), 1325(§). The aggrieved perm may also move to
suppress evidence obtained or derived from the surveillance
or search if ”the information was unfawfully acquired" or if
it "was not made in ccm£ormity with an ordex of authoriza-

tion or approva!." §§ 3806{€). 3825(£}, If the aggrieved gerson

 

NO. i$»l‘l?§ 5

files a maxim §o <iismve; oz s»:.\pp»r\‘:s.sl and if the Attom::y
Genera! cerd,fies that "clisclcasu,re of any adversary hearing
would harm the national security of the limited Stater»,” then
the district court must "review in camera and ex parte,” the
?ISA materials and ruiz on the motion §§ IBG¢S(£)~(g),
1325<1;)-&\).

B. FISA Cafleciions
On _, the FISC ,‘mmd probable cause to

believe that -J.S. pers»c~z~\sl were
agents of a forei wer. The FISC authorized

electronic w Wei!iance

    
 
 
   

’I`he I"T$C's initial authorization was £or a period cf-
_AH€: an additional appiication by the
government the HSC subsequmtiy ref-authorized the

f the Sama facili'
ties for am additionaf period of approximatel- To»

ie£her, these two carriers covered the time period from-

At m'al, the government introduced evidence obtamed or
derived from the

 

6 No\ 1$-1`1?5
_

C. PTuccduraf F‘Iis\‘vry_

On August 20, 2013. the government pmde no£ice to
Tumer that it "intmds to offer into evidence, cr otherwise
use or disclose in amy proceedings in this matter." informa-

tion obtained or derived fromW
_wndmd on er , m

§§ 1806{¢), zazs{d).

A week lawn on August 2?, 2013, a grand }uxy returned
an indictment against 'l'umer. charging the following: (1}
Count One alleged conspiring to act in the United States as
an agent of a foreign govemmm§ without prior notificaiion
to the Atiormzy General, in vio¥ation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 3?},
951(3}; {2'} Ccrunt ‘I‘wo alleged acting 111 the United Staw.s as
an agent of a foreign government without pn`or nod£ica&on
fo the Atwmey Genera¥, in violation ¢f 13 U§.C. § 951{;};
and (3) Count 'f"n.ree alleged willfuliy conspiring to provide
services on behalf o£. or for the benefit of, Zimbabwean
SDN$, in violation of the IEEPA, 50 U.S.C. § 1?05(::), and 31
C§.R. §§ 5§1.2£5'1, 541.204, and 543A{)5.

On Febmary 27, 2014, Tizmer filed a motion for discio~
sure of FIBA materials and a motion to suppress evidence
obta’m;ed or derived from ¥lSA. The govenu~:\ent resp¢mded
to these motions with a chszified brief and sealed appendix
submitted ex parte m the district omni and a redac€ed, im»
dassiiied version served w Tumer. Additionaiiy. the gov'
erma-m fined a "Declarazion and Claim of Privi§ege” by the
Attorney C§enerai that declared "i: would ha:m the national
security of the Urdred Staees to disc!ose or hoid an ad~

 

No. 15-'1175 P'

versatial hearing wi&\ ¥eg_ards w the Fl,SA Materials," ;‘.1'\:1'5‘.1m
aunt to §§ 1806(¥), 1.825(§).

On IuIy 25, ZO’M=, the district south in a thorough and
well-reasoned oph\ion, denied Tumerr”s motion for disclo-
sure and his motion to suppress.’ ’H\e disde began by

comma w w F
_werc "§awfu¥iy au. orized, because the gwem~

want p:eseneed sufficémt evidence co the I~'ISC to support a
finding of probable cause that-was the ”agent of a
foreign powcr.” 'I`he court then determined that the lawfuliy
authorized FESA warrants targeting qua executed
"’in confoan with an order or aufhonza cm or approval"
because the government had properly mmimized its collec~
dons.

'l`umer’s trial began am Sepwmbez 29, 2914. Ultimahe£y,-
the jury acquitted Turner of Counts One and ’I`wo but con»
victed him of Ccvnt 'I'hree. 'fhe district court se:c\m‘\ced
Turner to 15 montI'Ls' imprisonment and one year of super~
vised zelease` Iudgmmr was entered against ‘I‘umer on Iamz-
a:y 21_, 2015. Turner's appeal £oilarwed.

 

..._..i.._...._.m__,..

Gn aypen¥, ‘f`ume: does mr chai§engi !he d\s!xicl cows denial of bid
marion to disdou the ?I`SA mlwillr» Thzrefoa'¢, this claim is weived, md
we do riot address it Se¢ Un|m! Stszes n. Dnbn¢y, 198 F.$cf €55, 460 {781 Ci.r.
2007} (”Bmum the mgmt was m wind or developed in we opening

brqu h is waxved.“$.

3 No¢ 15-1275

ll ANA].¥S]S

03 appeal, Tnmer claims that the govemmem's irwn€~
gadon violated FISA and that me obtained or dedved evi-
dence should have been suppressed Pirsi, ‘I`urner argues
that the FISC erred in finding that the govenunmt met its
probable cause md certification requirements $econd,
‘mmer contends that after receiving the hwfu! 'FISC order.
the government did not properiy minimize its mneciions
under FISA. Th§rd. Tume: oontenda that the PlSA investiga~
don violated his protected rights under the Pirst Amend-
warth

A. FISC Order

ms court reviews de nova the district courfs ruling on
the propriety of the FISC‘s order1 L£n£ted Stms v. Dnmz‘s£.
424 P.Sd 566, 578 (7£1'\ Cir. 2005}. fn other words, in review-
ing the adequacy of a FISA applicauem, this conn conducts
thesame zeviewastheFISC.£n re Gm¢d,lury Proc. qf$p¢ciai
Apr. 2002 Gmnd jury, 347 F.Sd 15-1?'l 204 {?th Cir. ZGDB}.

After reviewing the classified record, we ho!d that the
FISC proper¥y found than the govenment's application met
the requirements of probable cause and wiificadom under
F.ISA.

 

 

No. 35~11`?5 9
1. Pn'$b¢zblc szs¢

‘I'his court reviews we probable cause determination of
the FISC de nova Dumziax`, 424 F;Zd at 57'8~?‘9, nld'aough we
more that some of our sister courts have applied z more de!»
urentia£ standaré of review ¢,g., Urz:'ted Stat€s v. Abu~jfhnad,
630 F.Gd 1024 130 ich C.ir. Z€FJD} (“the established standard of
judicial review applicable m FISA warrsz is defermtia}”).

According to FISA. the FISC mus% find max the govem~
mem dmonstraned pz’obable cause that the target "ia a for*
eign power or an agent of a foreign power” and §l'lat each of
the targeted facilities or properties is being used by a foreign
power or an agent of a foreign pow¢.~’r. §§ 1804(¢1){3),
1805{1\){2), 1823(a){3), 1824(2\){2). We apply this statutory
standard but acknowledge that some of our sister courts
have sought to distinguish bemeers probable cause under
FISA and probable cause under a "typicai cri:n'\inal case."
E.g”, Um`ted Swtzs v, Ei»Mezsr‘n. 664 P.Sd 45‘7, 564 (5£}\ Ci.r.
2021) ("[FLSA‘§} probable cause standard is different from
the smude in the typical crimina¥ case lm:ucamsse.>r rather than
focusing on probable cause to believe that a person has com-
mitted a crime, the PISA standard focuses on fha status of
the target as a foreign power or an agent of a foreign
power."). Even if there is a distinction between the two stan-
dards, it does not affect our analysis.

la the present case, the PISA applicatiom by the govern-
ment su; owed the HSC’; robabie came findin that

 

  

 

   

 

 

No. 15-`1175

10

 

 

NO. 15-1175 11

 

Additionalfy. the YISA appiicatim’rs supported the P`ISC
findings cf probable cause for the propelled

  
  

 

PISA applications included evidence showing that

Accord.ing%y, the FISC properly found that the govern-
ment demonstrated "p:ababie cause" haw
“agemt of a foreign power“ and that the

were “being used or about

Tux:mz' contends that "FLSA appears w require the com~
mmcations subject to surveillance of a Unined States person
must relate directly m activities involving international ter-
rorism as defined in FISA." (Appelfax:t Br. 38.) ?ume: mis-
states the law. FISA is not limited co activities involving ire-
tematianal terrorism FISA authorizes surveillance and
searches based on probable cause that the target is an *'age~nt
of a foreign power;' which seizures to "any pers<m” engaged
in certain activities (or knowingfy aids and abets a person w
engaged) on behaif of a foreign power, indudmg "clandes~
time intel§igence gathering acdvizies” md “enoer{ing] the
United States under a false or fraudulent identity on

 

 

12 No. 15~1{75

wh££e in the Un£ted States assum{ing] a false or fraudu-
lent idan&ty.“ §§ 1801{3:}{2). 1821{1). These activities are
listed in addition to "intzrmti<mai terrorism.” Id.

Tumer also argues thai if the sole purpose of the FISA
warrant was to gather evidmoe for a manual pmsecuiicm.

“che intercept was improper." {Appeikant Br. 5$.)

‘I`umex'*a argument is meritless. FISA, as amended isn
2008. “elimmawd my jusdf!cation for the FISA court to ba§»
anne the re§ative weight the government pfaces on crim
prosecution as compared to maker comberinzeiligmce re-
sponses." fn re Seuled Case, 310 F.Ed 717, 735 (FISA C&. Rev.
2802). fn other words, while the government must "have a
mumable foreign intemgm purpose other dam just
rsde prosecuzion,“ the mmdad m name “dm not
obng the graer to denmu:ace to me FISA court that
iv primary purpose in conducting electronic summance is
not criminal prosecution.” Id. at 735‘3& (sheration in origi¢
nal).

Here, as discussed, the HSA applications by the govern-
menf supported the FISC‘s probable cause finding &\at

asan"z mich ford owe:"beca

    

 

 

consumed “a measurabie foreign wmngcnze purpoze” and
thus, Tumex's argument fnils,

Pinaliy, Tumer claims that the "FISA applicadm may
contain intentiom.§ or reckless material falsehoods." {Appe}¢
iam Br. 39.) fn reviewing the mcfaas§fied and classified rev

 

 

No. 15'1175 13

mrd,weh@vemade “ameank\gfu!$ortmcm\§rm&seac-
curacy of the [FI$A§ appiicau‘m“ Uni!ed Smtes v. Daoud, 755
F.Sd 479, 494-95 (7&1 Cir. 2014} ('Rovner. }., ccncurxing)
(characwrizfng this review as serving “the same interest
thata?m:ksmotiomserves”}.'f?u‘sreviewmumns!hatthe
F¥SA applications did not centum inm&¢nal or reddess ma-
wiai falsehoods

2. Cerf$cation

'I`ume:raisodzailmges&w¥!£€‘s£indingthat&mgovem-
ment properly cerii§ed that a '*significznt purpose of“ the
proposed surveillance or search ”is to obtain foreign infalli-
gence information." §§ 1864{¢}{6}, }SOS{a}{é), 3823(;}(6},
1824(-}(4;

FBA expready provides than far muveil!mce or searches
targeting U.S. person the FISC must assure on§y that the
govenment's evaluations m “noz clearly erroneousf'
§§1805{¢){4), 1824{&)(4}.

111 reviewing the adequacy of the Z*ESA application this
courts mnductsd\enmereviewas§\e I»',E»C¢ andourrole”is
nor w second~guzss the executive branch o£§dal‘s certifica-
tion," fn r¢' Grm¢d jury Proc., 34’? F.Bd at 204.

mdmase,afte:rmdewwg&\eckssifiedrecord,we§nd
that the govemmmf's requisite w§£ications were pmpa
nw governth presented the P!SC with su&cimt evidence
tha

 
 
  

gmummt*l certifica-

 

tions mm not ’*c!eui:y emmz,s.”

 

 

l4 No. 15»1}35

-
A, Mz'nimiz¢tiox

Undet FL€A, after receiving lawwl FISC orders, the gov~
mm must employ "::dnimlzatlon promdures," proposed
in its applicadon, that are reascm.ebly designed "to minimize
the acquisition md retention md prohibit the dissemination
of nonpublicly available information concerning
unconsentng limited Slate's pmo:xs,‘” as well as provide ad-
ditional provectlmrs relating co ln£orma:im and cmnmunim-
tions involving US, pmoml. §§ lSi}‘l(h), 1804(&}(4),
L&CIS{a}($), 1821 (4), 1833(&}{4), §824(§)(3).

'I`he Attorney General has adapted Standard
malden !’rocedum i"SM?s"). which are maintained
cnfilemtl'\ Hw¥l$€andincoq:ormdbyreferminw ev-

PlSA a licatl<m and order. Theae SM?s permit
wil‘hre
to lake place after theird&al accm!cition cf the information

lrs Tumm"s mse, aim receiving lawful FISC orders, the
govm\ment properly minimized the FlSA infomeion it col-
lected in accordance with the SMPs. 'l'l\e classified record
shows mm memmdngmszscmer,wmé¢rm¢d

the facilities subject to the approved
_and wl subseun , e ms

were conducted during &\e approved times using the least
physical intrusion necessary Thc classified record also i:ndl»
cates that only authorized md trained I-`BI personnel :e~
viewed translated analyfetL mci used the collected FBA
i:*£ormatim and dwydidaQMththepurpm of deteann»
ing whether the hussmann rasmis appeared m meet
the retention standard, Pur&zermme, it appears that any in-

 

No. 15»117$ 15

fomticm mdwmwre¥miim\standard washer
that wm€iga_ted, analyzed. md disseminated in accordmce
with the SE\rfPs. Pimily, the dwified md provides partic~
alex amd converse widow that only 1 permage of the
§ISAcoHectionmetrheSWmndardwrretemwu antidis-
marion

This is mf&ciem w demonstrate that the government
propariy admim§zed the information mikech pursuant to its
!-‘ISC order¢ `

B. z'~'frs!j£m¢ndmcm

’!Xxm¢r also daims that the ¥ISA investigation violated
his ”proteched First Amend.mex'zt activity related m his belief
in she wisdom and humanity in iif\irg economic summons
against the chub!ic of Embabwe.' {Appe!}ant Br. 38.)

FISA provides ”thathnsz Smte.\ perm maybecon-
sideredaforeign powexormqento&afomignpmver
solelyupontlwba.sisofactividcsprozectedby&\e&rst
amendment of the Cm\sdt:zb`m cf the Urdtmi Sta‘tes." 50
US~C» §§ 1895{¢}(2){$), 1324(3)(2}{5)-

Tumm’s daim is madden In me present cae, as dis~
cusaed, the classified records shaw that the govemme:\z es-
tablished probable came that-va am agent of a for-
eign powex, completer independent of any protecned F£rst
Ammdmem activity $e¢ Dumfs:', 424 F,Sd at 578-?9 mirchm
ing _a First Ammzdmenf claim against FISA evidemn by a
publisher of an mbic imng newspaper because "the
g¥>vex‘xmxent provided probable cause ’B\at fhwa defendmt}

 

 

16 No. 15¢1175

was an agent of a foreign power entirely mcadam of any
of his jountch Mdv£dea”).
III. CoNch!oN
F-o<r the foregoing rensons, the order of fha district court
denying suppression of the F!SA evidence and its eviden-
i:‘zry waits was proper.

