Opinion ID: 1831783
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: Evidence of Lugo's Federal Fraud Conviction and Probation

Text: Lugo claims that the State impermissibly introduced evidence pertaining both to his prior federal conviction for fraud and his federal probation to establish his propensity to commit crimes or bad acts. The State asserts that introduction of the evidence was proper to show the involvement of both Lugo and codefendant Mese in a scheme to launder money, gained from the extortion of Marc Schiller, that Lugo ultimately used to pay restitution for his federal fraud conviction and thereby end his probation early. With some qualification, we agree with the State. The State presented various witnesses, including Lugo's federal probation officer, who testified as to their knowledge of various aspects of Lugo's previous federal fraud conviction or the probation he was serving for that conviction. Most of the testimony from these witnesses was properly linked to other evidence presented by the State that Lugo and codefendant Mese had laundered proceeds garnered from the abduction of Schiller through various accounts controlled by Mese, with the goal of allowing Lugo to pay approximately $70,000 in restitution to end his federal probation early. [53] In short, the State showed a motive for Lugo and Doorbal to launder money. In Bryan v. State, 533 So.2d 744 (Fla. 1988), we addressed the admissibility of evidence related to a collateral crime: [T]he test of the admissibility of such evidence [is] one of relevancy. Even if the evidence in question tends to reveal the commission of a collateral crime, it is admissible if found to be relevant for any purpose save that of showing bad character or propensity [to commit crimes or other bad acts]. Id. at 746-47 (quoting Randolph v. State, 463 So.2d 186, 189 (Fla.1984)). Our review of the record convinces us that the State's evidence regarding Lugo's federal conviction and probation was highly relevant to proving allegations of money laundering. Much of the State's evidence on this issue established that one motive for Lugo and codefendant Mese to engage in money laundering was to bring Lugo's probation to an early end. Moreover, testimony further established that Lugo and Mese acted on this motivation by facilitating the laundering of money gained from the Schiller episode through accounts controlled by Mese. In a criminal case, [e]vidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts is admissible to prove the defendant's motive. Charles W. Ehrhardt, Florida Evidence § 404.14 (2002 ed.). In Sims v. State, 681 So.2d 1112 (Fla.1996), we determined that evidence of a defendant's current status of being on parole was properly admitted to show the defendant's motive for murdering a police officer when the police officer stopped the car the defendant was driving. A drug-sniffing dog at the scene subsequently alerted the police officer to the possible presence of illegal drugs in the defendant's car. We determined that the trial judge properly admitted testimony from the defendant's parole officer because the State offered [the parole officer's] testimony to establish [the defendant's] parole status and the fact that he knew illegal drug possession was a parole violation that would result in his incarceration if detected by the police officer. Id. at 1115. We added that while the defendant's parole status was not independently admissible during the guilt phase of his trial, it became relevant and admissible when it was linked to a motive for murdering the police officer. Id. In Lugo's case, evidence of his conviction and probationary status was relevant and admissible to show his motive for, and need for, engaging in money laundering. The probative value of the evidence to show money laundering outweighed the possible prejudice to Lugo. See Amoros v. State, 531 So.2d 1256, 1260 (Fla.1988) (noting that to be admissible, evidence must be relevant and its probative value must outweigh the possibility of prejudice to the defendant). Accordingly, we determine that no harm warranting a new trial occurred due to the introduction of evidence concerning Lugo's federal fraud conviction and probationary status. [54] No relief is warranted on this issue.