Opinion ID: 780959
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Morgan's Testimony

Text: 29 Givan also argues that the district court erred when it allowed the jury to hear the testimony of Darryl Morgan because his testimony constituted evidence of other criminal conduct impermissible under Fed.R.Evid. 404(b), or, alternatively, Morgan's testimony was not relevant to the conspiracy count of the indictment. The government argues that Morgan's testimony was directly relevant to the existence of a drug conspiracy involving Torrence and Givan and that Morgan's testimony was proof of the existence of the drug conspiracy charged in Count I of the Second Superseding Indictment. We review the district court's decision to admit this evidence on an abuse of discretion basis. See United States v. Sokolow, 91 F.3d 396, 402 (3d Cir.1996). 30 The government is correct that Morgan's testimony was relevant because it made the existence of a key fact — that Torrence and Givan were working together in a conspiracy to distribute heroin in and around Saginaw, Michigan, during 1999 — more probable than it would have been without his testimony. Morgan testified that he was aware of a drug conspiracy in Saginaw involving Torrence and Givan. In particular, he testified that Torrence had introduced Givan to him as someone from whom he could buy drugs and that he bought heroin from either Torrence or Givan on a daily basis from March to September 1999. Moreover, he testified that Torrence and Givan had split up the Saginaw area, with Torrence selling on the west side of town, and Givan on the south side and because he lived closer to the south side, it was often more convenient for him to buy from Givan. He also testified that if he paged Torrence and Torrence was not available, he would page Givan. 31 In the circumstances Morgan's testimony was direct proof of existence of the drug conspiracy alleged in the indictment and was not subject to the limitation in Rule 404(b) of the admissibility of evidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts. See United States v. Maynie, 257 F.3d 908, 915 (8th Cir.2001); United States v. Sriyuth, 98 F.3d 739, 747 (3d Cir.1996); United States v. Retos, 25 F.3d 1220, 1228, n. 10 (3d Cir.1994); 22 C. Wright & K. Graham, Federal Practice and Procedure § 5239, at 450 (1978). Thus, the district court did not abuse its discretion in allowing the jury to hear Morgan's testimony. 32