Opinion ID: 3053941
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: the character or reputation of the defendant,

Text: including any prior criminal record; (2) whether the government initially made the suggestion of criminal activity; (3) whether the defendant engaged in the criminal activity for profit; (4) whether the defendant evidenced reluctance to commit the offense that was overcome by repeated government inducement or persuasion; and (5) the nature of the inducement or persuasion supplied by the government. Smith, 802 F.2d at 1124-25. “[T]he defendant’s reluctance to engage in criminal activity is the most important.” Id. at 1125. [8] Williams argues that he was induced as a matter of law because the government offered him hundreds of thousands to perhaps more than a million dollars in potential cocaine sales. But even assuming that Williams was induced to enter the conspiracy by the lure of substantial financial gain, the gov15184 UNITED STATES v. WILLIAMS ernment proved that he was predisposed to commit the crime. Williams correctly points out that the question of predisposition is to be determined prior to the time the government agent suggested the criminal activity. See United States v. Poehlman, 217 F.3d 692, 703 (9th Cir. 2000). Even with that limitation, ample evidence on each of the five Smith factors supported a jury finding that Williams was predisposed to commit the crime. First, Williams was a fugitive from justice for a bank robbery in Texas, he had engaged in previous criminal gun sales, and he had been introduced to Tony as a middleman drug dealer. There was strong evidence of the latter, as Williams planned a drug deal involving about $700,000 in marijuana. The first factor relevant to the determination of his predisposition, his character and reputation including his prior criminal record, suggests that he was predisposed to this type of criminal activity. See Smith, 802 F.2d at 1124-25. The second factor also supports the conclusion that Williams was predisposed to commit the robbery. Although the government initially suggested the stash house robbery, it did so only after Williams told the agents of his plans to commit bank robbery, which he concocted entirely on his own. While the criminal schemes are not identical, they both involve stealing property with force as well as the use of firearms. See id. The third Smith factor counts squarely against Williams. It is undisputed that Williams engaged in the conspiracy for a profit, which weighs against an entrapment defense. See id. [9] The fourth and most important Smith factor does not support Williams’ argument, either. There is no evidence that Williams expressed any reluctance about the robbery that needed to be “overcome by repeated government inducement or persuasion.” Id. at 1125. The evidence indicated that Williams was ready and willing at all times to participate in the robbery. Penate told Williams on more than one occasion that he could decline the job, but Williams responded: “I’m ready UNITED STATES v. WILLIAMS 15185 to do it tomorrow! Like I said, all I gotta do is get the car. If push comes to shove I’ll use my own car.” When Penate told Williams that he needed an answer by the next day, Williams stated, “You got your answer right now!” Williams needed no persuasion from the government agent to enter into this conspiracy, which counts heavily against his entrapment argument. The fifth Smith factor, the nature of the inducement provided by the government, also provides no support for Williams. The stash house robbery was suggested as an alternative to a bank robbery, which Williams thought would net a similar amount of money. [10] Viewing the evidence as a whole in the government’s favor, a reasonable jury could find that Williams was predisposed to commit the crime and therefore the government disproved the elements of entrapment.