Opinion ID: 533777
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Bloomfield List

Text: 9 A Swiss police officer testified that Kenneth Bloomfield (an alleged participant) was arrested in Geneva in possession of two passports, both with his picture, one in his name and one in the name of an alias (which, it was shown at trial, was one of the names Newton had purchased from the psychologist) and a three-page unsigned and undated typed document that provided instructions on handling financial affairs. The document included a list of names (additional aliases it was proven that Newton used), account numbers and the names of banking officers of various Swiss bank accounts. The government claimed that the document was written by Newton and urged that it be admitted as an admission by a party opponent. The defendants objected claiming that the document was not properly authenticated and was irrelevant. 10 The judge ruled that the document had enough indicia of trustworthiness to be authentic under Fed.R.Evid. 901(b)(4). He admitted the document pursuant to Fed.R.Evid. 801(d)(2)(A) as an admission of a party opponent. The government used the document in its closing to argue that some of the fruits of the crime were deposited into Swiss bank accounts. 11 Rule 901 of the Federal Rules of Evidence requires that documents be authenticated or identified before they can be admitted into evidence. Authentication can be achieved through appearance, contents, substance, internal patterns, or other distinctive patterns taken in connection with circumstances. Fed.R.Evid. 901(b)(4) 3 . There are statements in the Bloomfield List from which it could be inferred that Newton authored the document. In particular, the document: refers to Laura Newton (Newton's wife) and asks that in the event of the author's death any money should be split between his family and Laura; refers to various aliases proven to be used by Newton (my lawyer Milton Shapiro ... knows me as Joseph Jaffee); states, call Tom at a telephone number that it was proven was registered in Gilbert's long-time girlfriend's name; and lists bank account numbers next to proven aliases of Newton. Although, as the defendants urge, it is possible that some of the information in the document was known by conspirators other than Newton, Newton was proven to have used the aliases in the Bloomfield list and it is unlikely that anyone would have split money with Laura except Newton. 12 In addition, despite the defendants' contentions to the contrary, external evidence of the truth of the statements in the document was introduced by the government. Other documents indicated that Milton Shapiro acted as a lawyer for Newton. One of the names and numbers of a Swiss bank account in the Bloomfield list was identical to a number on a piece of paper found in a search of Newton's house. Given the circumstantial evidence of authorship, we do not find that the judge erred in determining that the Bloomfield list was authentic. Having found that the document was authentic, admission of the document as a statement by a party opponent under Fed.R.Evid. 801(d)(2)(A) 4 was proper. 5 13 Gilbert claims that even if the document was properly admitted against Newton, it was still hearsay to him. The government asserts, and our review of the record reveals, that Gilbert never objected to the admission of the list. It is axiomatic that the failure to object at trial, absent exceptional circumstances not present here, forecloses any opportunity to challenge the admissibility of the evidence on appeal. Allied International v. International Longshoremen's Ass'n, 814 F.2d 32, 39 (1st Cir.1987); Fed.R.Evid. 103(a)(1). Because there was no timely objection, Gilbert waived any objection.