U.S. v. Williams

In prosecution on drug distribution charge, Dist. Ct. did not err in denying defendant's motion to suppress cocaine seized without warrant from back seat of car in which defendant was passenger, even though officer had initially stopped vehicle based on alleged seat belt violation, and Dist. Ct. otherwise disbelieved said officer that he conduced search of vehicle after observing small amount of marijuana in vehicle. Record showed that defendant had been subject of recent DEA wiretap and officer surveillance that provided sufficient information to give instant officer probable cause to search instant vehicle under collective knowledge doctrine. Fact that officer testified that he did not rely on information he had previously received from others about ongoing investigation to justify instant search was irrelevant.