Opinion ID: 550346
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Admission of the Testimony Concerning Cocaine

Text: 33 In the marijuana case, Parkin challenges the decision of the district judge to admit certain testimony. Again, we give great deference to a district judge's decision to admit evidence and will reverse such a decision only for an abuse of discretion. United States v. Blanton, 884 F.2d 973, 977 (7th Cir.1989). Parkin argues that the testimony concerning the discussion of cocaine was another bad act and should have been excluded under Rule 404(b). 1 There is a four-part test used to evaluate whether other acts are admissible under Rule 404(b). See United States v. Sullivan, 911 F.2d 2, 6 (7th Cir.1990). However, before we analyze the testimony under the four-part test, we have to determine whether Rule 404(b) is applicable. In United States v. Hawkins, 823 F.2d 1020 (7th Cir.1987), the defendant was charged with various firearms violations. At trial, an agent testified regarding a conversation between herself and the defendant in which the defendant stated his desire to trade guns for cocaine so that the cocaine could be sold by his gang. On appeal, the defendant argued the evidence should not have been admitted under Rule 404(b). We concluded, this statement was not a prior bad act [within] the meaning of Rule 404(b). Rather, because the statement was made during one of the drugs-for-guns transactions at issue, it was 'intricately related to the facts of the case.'  Id. at 1023 (quoting United States v. Hattaway, 740 F.2d 1419, 1425 (7th Cir.), cert. denied, 469 U.S. 1089, 105 S.Ct. 599, 83 L.Ed.2d 708 (1984)). Similarly, the inquiry here about cocaine was part of the conversation during the transaction which was the basis for the charge in the indictment and was intricately related to the facts. Accordingly, the statement was not a prior bad act to be analyzed under Rule 404(b), but should be analyzed under Rule 403 2 to determine whether the prejudicial aspects of the statement substantially outweigh its probative value. Hawkins, 823 F.2d at 1023. The statement concerning the cocaine was very brief and was not inflammatory. On the other hand, it was probative of Parkin's knowledge and intent at the time of the transaction. We hold that the district judge did not abuse his discretion by allowing the testimony into evidence. 34 Furthermore, we note that Parkin did not object to the jury listening to the tapes. Indeed, Parkin had the jury listen to one of the tapes as part of his defense. The tapes contained the statement to which informant Ghidina testified--the inquiry about cocaine. In addition, the other evidence against Parkin was overwhelming, including the tapes, the identification of Parkin on the tapes, and the testimony of informant Ghidina. Thus, even if there was error with regard to the statement about cocaine, it clearly would have been harmless. United States v. Manganellis, 864 F.2d 528, 539 (7th Cir.1988).