Opinion ID: 678895
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Computer-Generated Money Transfer Records

Text: 16 To connect the to-send-money forms to the recipients of the transfers, the government introduced computer-generated Western Union money transfer records. The transfer records are computer printouts that state the origin and amount of the transfer, the names of the recipient and sender, and the transfer control number. The government also introduced cancelled checks with matching transfer control numbers to corroborate the identity of the recipient and establish the location of receipt. 17 Defendant first argues that the computer-generated money transfer records were inadmissible for the same reason that he contends the to-send-money forms should have been excluded: The records reveal the names of the senders, information that was not verified by Western Union agents in the normal course of business. This argument misses the mark. The government introduced the money transfer records not to prove the identity of the senders but to link the to-send-money forms to other information, such as the amount and origin of the transfer and the identity of the recipients. The records were therefore admissible for the purpose for which they were introduced. If defendant objected to other portions of the money transfer records, he could have requested a limiting instruction or a redaction of the senders' names. The record reveals, however, that he made no such request. Moreover, since we have already concluded that the names of the senders appearing on the to-send-money forms are not hearsay, their transcriptions into the computer transfer records by Western Union agents in the normal course of business are not hearsay either. 18 Defendant next contends that the government failed to lay the proper foundation for the money transfer records to be admissible as business records under Rule 803(6). A computer printout is admissible under Rule 803(6), as with any other form of business record, if the offeror establishes a sufficient foundation in the record for its introduction. United States v. Hayes, 861 F.2d 1225, 1228 (10th Cir.1988).  'Computer business records are admissible if (1) they are kept pursuant to a routine procedure designed to assure their accuracy, (2) they are created for motives that tend to assure accuracy (e.g., not including those prepared for litigation), and (3) they are not themselves mere accumulations of hearsay.'  United States v. Hernandez, 913 F.2d 1506, 1512 (10th Cir.1990) (quoting Capital Marine Supply, Inc. v. M/V Roland Thomas, II, 719 F.2d 104, 106 (5th Cir.1983)), cert. denied, 499 U.S. 908, 111 S.Ct. 1111, 113 L.Ed.2d 220 (1991). 19 Mr. Arrendale testified concerning how Western Union creates computer records of its money transfers. He stated that, at the time of each transfer, the Western Union agent at the sending location either directly inputs the information into a computer or reports it contemporaneously over a telephone to a Western Union employee at the company's central office. In either case, the information is entered into Western Union's computer system at the time of the transfer, and a ten-digit transfer number is assigned to the transaction. Mr. Arrendale further stated that the records are created in the normal course of business and that it is the regular practice of Western Union agents to verify the identity of the transfer recipients. Finally, Mr. Arrendale identified several of the transfers introduced by the government as Western Union transfer records. 20 We find that Mr. Arrendale's testimony laid a sufficient foundation for the government's introduction of the wire transfer records under Rule 803(6). The trial court did not abuse its discretion in admitting the transfer records into evidence.