Opinion ID: 6624
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Bad Business Practices

Text: 27 Townsend also contends that the district court erred in curtailing his cross-examination of Mr. Boulos. Appellant asserts that Mr. Boulos's alleged bad business practices would reveal his motive and intent to use Townsend's son to set up a bank account. Mr. Boulos, Appellant contends, failed to timely pay his bills, bounced checks, and sold substandard gasoline. The unauthorized use of the bank account circumvented a credit check by Crown and Jetero in furtherance of the tax evasion scheme. Under 404(b) evidence of crimes, bad acts, or wrongs are admissible to prove intent or opportunity. However, the district court found no evidence showing that Mr. Boulos knew of or aided Townsend in the tax evasion scheme. 28 Townsend asserts that Mr. Boulos was also guilty of tax evasion if he knowingly carried out the scheme to buy gas tax-free. These facts would serve to impeach Mr. Boulos under 608(b). Rule 608(b) provides that specific acts of misconduct, though they cannot be proved by extrinsic evidence, may be elicited on cross-examination to impeach the credibility of a witness. But again Rule 403 serves to temper the otherwise unreigned use of 608(b). The district court did not find that Mr. Boulos participated in any scheme of tax evasion and therefore excluded this testimony. The district court did not abuse its discretion because trivial acts, such as untimely payment, should be excluded, absent evidence of a fraudulent scheme, because the dangers of confusing the issues and misleading the jury substantially outweigh any minor probative value the testimony would have. 29