Opinion ID: 561622
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: admitting into evidence the tape conversation between

Text: RASHAD AND EVANS 7 Defendant maintains that the district court committed reversible error by admitting what he claimed were hearsay taped conversations between Rashad and Evans. The district court admitted this evidence pursuant to Fed.R.Evid. 801(d)(2)(E), the co-conspirator exception to the hearsay rule. Porter argues that the district court failed to apply the correct preponderance of the evidence standard in determining the admissibility of the taped conversations and that the government failed to carry its burden of proving that the tapes were admissible. We find defendant's arguments not to be persuasive. 8 Rule 801(d)(2)(E) excludes from the definition of hearsay a statement that is offered against a party, made by a co-conspirator, during the course and in furtherance of the conspiracy. It is well established that this rule applies to joint ventures as well as conspiracies. See United States v. McCullah, 745 F.2d 350, 358 (6th Cir.1984). See also United States v. Coe, 718 F.2d 830, 835 (7th Cir.1983) (Conspiracy as an evidentiary rule differs from conspiracy as a crime. The crime of conspiracy comprehends much more than just a joint venture or concerted action, whereas the evidentiary rule of conspiracy is founded on concepts of agency law.... [S]ome courts refer to the coconspirator exception as the 'joint venture' or 'concert of action' exception.). Before a statement is rendered admissible under Rule 801, the government must prove by a preponderance of the evidence a conspiracy or joint venture existed and that the statements were made in furtherance of the conspiracy or joint venture. Bourjaily v. United States, 483 U.S. 171, 175 (1987). We do not overturn findings of fact by the district court unless clearly erroneous. 9 In this case, the district court admitted the taped conversations subject to a later demonstration of their admissibility by a preponderance of the evidence. We have approved this procedure on many occasions. See United States v. Swidan, 888 F.2d 1076, 1080-81 (6th Cir.1989); United States v. Vinson, 606 F.2d 149, 153 (6th Cir.1979), cert. denied, 444 U.S. 1074 (1980); United States v. Enright, 579 F.2d 980 (6th Cir.1978). Furthermore, it is appropriate for the district court to consider the content of the statements themselves to support the preponderance finding. Bourjaily, 483 U.S. at 177-78; Swidan, 888 F.2d at 1080. 10 The district court found that the government proved the statements in the taped conversations were made as part of a joint venture between defendant and Rashad, and that the statements were made in the course and in furtherance of the joint venture. This finding is not clearly erroneous. 11 There was evidence that defendant had been involved in prior drug transactions with Rashad. The drug transaction in this case was remarkably similar to the prior transactions in that Evans sent defendant with the money to purchase cocaine at one of the locations frequently used to conduct such a transaction. Defendant drove the usual car 2 to the appointed place at the usual time, and there cautiously surveyed the scene. Defendant tried to flee when the agents identified themselves and tried to apprehend him. He was wearing a bulletproof vest when arrested and carrying a beeper. We find sufficient evidence to support the district court's conclusion; there was no error demonstrated.