Opinion ID: 620897
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Background Pertaining to the 2005 Gift List

Text: Prior to trial, the district court held that the Government could present certain other-acts evidence under Federal Rule of Evidence 404(b). This evidence included Romasanta's testimony about Garneata's practice of giving gift cards to City officials during the holiday season, Romasanta delivering a $200 gift card to Reese in 2005, and Reese calling Romasanta in 2006 asking if he would receive a gift card that year. The court found that the evidence showed Reese's intent, as well as the interaction and ongoing relationship between Reese and Romasanta. Moreover, the court stated, I do not think that it is anything but more conspiratorial behavior regarding this process of working together as a team to make sure that these individual inspectors were paid off. The district court also, after hearing the testimony of Stephan Lille and the voir dire of Romasanta, admitted the 2005 gift list itself as a business record. Specifically, Lille testified that he had worked for M3 Plumbing, one of Garneata's businesses, from October 2006 to October 2007. In the summer of 2007, Lille found the 2005 gift list handwritten on a notepad in the office Lille shared with Garneata's wife. During voir dire, Romasanta testified that, beginning in 2002, she and Garneata each would prepare lists of names and discuss them. Romasanta believed she saw Garneata's list in 2003. Romasanta recognized the 2005 gift list as being written in Garneata's handwriting and recognized the majority of names on the list. Romasanta did not know what Garneata did in terms of his recordkeeping practices. Romasanta also did not know whether Garneata used the same list every year or made a new one. In fact, Romasanta testified she did not know whether Garneata actually wrote down his list or told someone else who to make the cards out to. The district court admitted the list, finding that Romasanta identified the handwriting and the practice of passing gratuities. The court found the relevance of the evidence was not overborne by prejudice in light of strong testimony regarding Romasanta's contact with Reese and Johnson and the passing of bribes. The court did, however, redact the word done written next to some of the names on the list.