Opinion ID: 1195793
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: MS-13's Enterprise Status and Effect on Interstate Commerce

Text: In addition to that portion of Alicea's testimony that violated either Federal Rule of Evidence 703 or Crawford, the Government introduced a great deal of other evidence relevant to prove MS-13's status as an enterprise and the organization's effect on interstate commerce. We are satisfied that Alicea's erroneously admitted testimony on these issues was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. For example, on the element of enterprise status, Alicea, in the portion of his testimony addressing MS-13's background, testified about the gang's structure, membership rules, symbols, and history; both Appellants, in their confessions, identified themselves as members and described MS-13's membership rules; and the cooperating witnesses testified about MS-13's narcotics operations, treasury, and membership rules. With respect to the interstate commerce element, Alicea, in his background testimony, testified that MS-13 was a national and international organization with local subunits; Vasquez confessed that the van used during the shootings had been stolen; the cooperating witnesses testified about MS-13's narcotics operations, the tax imposed on non-member drug dealers, the use of treasury money to purchase firearms, and the gang's national and international membership, and the use of stolen cars for drive-by shootings; and evidence showed that the firearm used in the shooting had been manufactured outside of New York State. On both elements, Alicea's erroneously admitted testimony was cumulative, and its admission was harmless.