United States v. Randy Lamont Patterson AKA Randy Brown, Marcus Wayne Edmundson, Tony Burton, Don Grogans, and Billy Ray Brown

J. BLAINE ANDERSON, Circuit Judge:

This appeal involves a multiplicity of issues, all spawned from the prosecution of a heroin distribution conspiracy. We affirm the convictions and the sentences, recognizing the district judge’s outstanding efforts in conducting such a complex and exhaustive trial.

I. BACKGROUND

Unless otherwise stated in the text of this opinion, the facts are substantially as follows: Early in 1976, a criminal enterprise subsequently identified as “the Mob” began to deal heroin in San Antonio Village, a housing project in Oakland, California. The enterprise was masterminded…