Opinion ID: 797603
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Admission of Evidence of Unexplained Wealth

Text: 17 Rodriguez contends the district court erred in admitting evidence of Rodriguez's unexplained wealth in the absence of evidence showing a lack of other legitimate sources of income. Reviewing the district court's evidentiary ruling for an abuse of discretion, see United States v. Claybourne, 415 F.3d 790, 797 (8th Cir. 2005) (standard of review), we find none. Unexplained evidence of wealth subsequent to the commission of a crime is relevant and generally admissible in the district court's discretion, even in the absence of direct proof of a defendant's prior impecuniousness. United States v. Goldenstein, 456 F.2d 1006, 1011 (8th Cir. 1972); see, e.g., United States v. Pensinger, 549 F.2d 1150, 1152 (8th Cir.1977), cited with approval in United States v. Hankins, 931 F.2d 1256, 1259 (8th Cir.1991). Furthermore, even assuming for the sake of argument evidence of impecuniousness or poverty is a foundational prerequisite to admitting evidence of unexplained wealth, the government satisfied this requirement by presenting testimony from one of its witnesses that it was a hassle for Rodriguez to distribute drugs while at work, thus Rodriguez quit his job in order to distribute drugs from his house or other locations. 18