Opinion ID: 791729
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Videotape Evidence

Text: 23 In his third assigned error, Ehrmann claims the district court erred in allowing the government to introduce prejudicial videotape evidence, the admission of which, Ehrmann claims, constituted prosecutorial misconduct. Ehrmann specifically objects to the admission of the videotaped phrase Gay Mafia as being inherently prejudicial. The government claims the videotape evidence of Ehrmann's admissions relating to his organization and pending conspiracy charges is plainly relevant. We review a district court's admission of evidence for abuse of discretion. United States v. Martin, 391 F.3d 949, 952 (8th Cir.2004). 24 Our review of the videotape transcript establishes that, on January 3, 2003, Ehrmann visited a friend named Patrick Jarmuzek (Jarmuzek), while Jarmuzek was in custody at the Sherburne County Jail. The evidence further establishes Ehrmann and Jarmuzek knowingly consented to communicating via video conferencing. Twice while conversing, they expressed their disdain of videoconferencing. The record does not reveal whether Ehrmann and Jarmuzek knew their conversation was being recorded, but given the jailhouse setting, they presumably considered the possibility. 25 During the jailhouse conversation, Ehrmann told Jarmuzek to let Ehrmann know if they try and charge you with . . . conspiracy as of big picture conspiracy. Ehrmann then told Jarmuzek that Florian had been hauled back in court, and they are threatening to charge him with conspiracy . . ., same as what Bam is being charged with. Ehrmann also told Jarmuzek, they're trying to tie me very heavily to Bam, and my attorney told me . . . the Feds . . . are looking to charge me federally now as well. Ehrmann predicted to Jarmuzek that if they do that they're looking at . . . Bam like this kingpin in the Gay Mafia so to speak . . . You or I would be the next best candidate after Bam. (emphasis added). 26 In discussing potential conspiracy charges, Ehrmann's phrase kingpin in the Gay Mafia appears not to be a reference to himself, but to Bam, an unidentified co-conspirator. Ehrmann, not the government, uttered the Gay Mafia phrase in an apparent reference to an unidentified co-conspirator. Ehrmann's admissions regarding the activities of alleged co-conspirators were plainly relevant, as were his admissions concerning confiscated proceeds, his fears of future federal indictment, and his plan to lie low. We conclude the district court did not abuse its discretion in admitting the videotape evidence.