United States v. Gerald Thomas Lane

Gerald Lane was found guilty by a jury of conspiracy, of aiding and abetting a conspiracy by others to distribute and possess a controlled substance for distribution, and of unauthorized interception and divulgence of radio communications. He appeals from the judgment of conviction and we affirm.

In February, 1973, Lane installed a special radio in his 1972 white Ford stationwagon. The radio was able to pick up police radio calls on the Los An-geles Police Department (LAPD) “Tactical One” radio frequency.

In May, June and July, 1973, Lane used the information he obtained by monitoring the police frequency to warn drug dealers that they were being investigated or duped by the LAPD narcotics squad. The grand jury indicted Lane for warnings that took place on several different days, but he was found guilty on the basis of only one.

On July 16, 1973, the LAPD was engaged in an undercover narcotics investigation during which undercover officer Ed Gossett was directed to buy cocaine from Roger Neilsen, Kenton Albin and Wayne Hill. Gossett was assisted by Christopher Arena, an undercover civilian agent.

Gossett and Arena met Hill, Albin and Neilsen at a restaurant in Orange…