United States v. Crane

This is a direct appeal of a jury verdict finding John L. Crane guilty of transporting and selling two stolen motor vehicles in interstate commerce in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 2, 2312, and 2313. FBI agents, in an undercover capacity, set up and operated a used car lot in Chattanooga, Tennessee for the purpose of developing cases against people suspected of car theft activity. Tape recorders were attached to the telephones at the car lot. The government's case against Crane was founded upon the contents of four recorded conversations which occurred on December 15, 1979. Three of these conversations resulted from incoming calls placed to FBI agent Merryman at the car lot from a person identifying himself as John concerning the purchase of two automobiles. The fourth was a call from agent Merryman to a place called John Crane's Garage made after Merryman had made the automobile purchases. Merryman simply asked to speak to John, and the two men then discussed the sale of the autos.