Opinion ID: 205356
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Government's Motion in Limine and Wright's Motion for a New Trial

Text: Wright argues that he was prevented from presenting testimony of witnesses with whom he had previously engaged in similar investigative conduct. Yet whether Wright previously engaged in investigations is irrelevant to the question of whether he was authorized in this instance to possess narcotics in the course of a criminal investigation. The district court therefore did not abuse its discretion in granting the government's motion in limine. Excluding evidence that Wright had previously helped in investigations did not create a likelihood of prejudice to Wright or have a substantial and injurious effect on the jury's verdict. Nor did the district court abuse its discretion in denying Wright's motion for a new trial pursuant to Rule 33. The district court correctly instructed the jury and did not abuse its discretion in granting the government's motion in limine. Furthermore, evidence at trial showed that Wright did not intend to enforce the controlled substance laws and that he instead intended to take money and drugs in exchange for promising to get Cordasco's state charges dropped. There would not be a miscarriage of justice for the verdict to stand because the weight of the evidence does not preponderate against the verdict.