Opinion ID: 470403
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Evidence of Extrinsic Offense

Text: 8 Nahoom also objects to the government's introduction at trial of evidence of his previous participation in money laundering activities unrelated to the crimes charged in the indictment. Nahoom's indictment alleges as an overt act on the RICO conspiracy count his participation in money laundering activities related to the conspiracies to import and possess with intent to distribute marijuana. Nahoom categorically denied at trial involvement in any of the conspiracies charged in the indictment, and asserted that he neither engaged in any money laundering activity in his relationship with Wentworth nor had ever been involved in any illegal money laundering scheme. Nahoom contends that the evidence introduced regarding his alleged participation in such a scheme was improperly introduced as evidence of his bad character in violation of Fed.R.Evid. 404(b). 9 In United States v. Beechum, 582 F.2d 898 (5th Cir.1978) (en banc), cert. denied, 440 U.S. 920, 99 S.Ct. 1244, 59 L.Ed.2d 472 (1979), the Fifth Circuit established a two-prong test for determining the admissibility of extrinsic offense evidence under Rule 404(b). Such evidence is admissible if it relates to an issue other than the defendant's character and the probative value of the evidence is not substantially outweighed by its prejudicial effect. Beechum, 582 F.2d at 910-11. The government asserts that the extrinsic offense evidence was probative on the issue of whether Nahoom possessed the necessary intent. Nahoom argues that because he denied any involvement in the crimes charged against him, intent was not in issue. Therefore, the extrinsic offense evidence was not relevant to an issue other than his character. A defendant's plea of not guilty in a conspiracy case places his intent at issue, and intent remains at issue unless the defendant affirmatively removes it from the case. United States v. Burke, 738 F.2d 1225, 1229 (11th Cir.1984). Because Nahoom pled not guilty to the conspiracy charges, his intent was at issue in this case. Evidence that Nahoom had engaged in money laundering activity on a previous occasion was obviously probative on the question of whether Nahoom possessed the requisite intent to commit the crimes with which he was charged. The extrinsic offense evidence related to an issue other than appellant's character. As to the second Beechum prong, given the nature, similarity, and proximity of the collateral conduct to that conduct alleged in the indictment, the probative value of the evidence outweighed any undue prejudicial effect. Both prongs of the Beechum test thus were satisfied. 10 Nahoom next contends that the extrinsic offense is not relevant as there was an insufficient basis for the jury to find Nahoom committed the extrinsic offense. A court need not be convinced that the defendant committed the extrinsic offense, nor is the government required to produce clear and convincing evidence of such acts. The court should allow introduction of the extrinsic offense evidence unless the jury could not reasonably find the preliminary fact to exist. Beechum, 582 F.2d at 913. The testimony of Wilson and Amos was sufficient proof for the jury to find that the extrinsic offense occurred. The district court correctly determined that evidence regarding the extrinsic offense was relevant. The district court did not abuse its discretion in admitting the extrinsic offense evidence.