Opinion ID: 614798
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Alleged 404(b) Testimony

Text: At trial, the Government sought to introduce the testimony of several of Mireles’s coworkers. Mireles objected, and the Government stated that the testimony was relevant: because [Mireles’s Attorney had] argued to the jury in his opening statement that it didn’t make sense, and that’s a quote, for him to have harbored an illegal, but when you look at his work record, he violated on repeated occasions, like, the code of conduct. There was an instance where he actually solicited, asked for a date of a woman coming across the border. Now, I think he opened the door to that by suggesting that this guy, that he had no reason, but he continually, he was continually late. He was caught sleeping. This guy just simply, he didn’t care about his job, so it made perfect, it made perfect sense for him to do this because there are instances where he didn’t, he didn’t honor his code. He didn’t honor the regulations. The district court asked the Government if it was “404(b)” evidence, which the Government denied. Mireles reiterated his objection, stating that the proffered evidence was “character assassination. That’s all it is. It’s just character evidence.” The district court overruled Mireles’s objection as to the majority of the Government’s proffered evidence. The Government then presented the testimony of Progreso CBP Port Director, Robert Vargas. Relevant to this appeal, Vargas testified that he was not satisfied with Mireles’s work as a CBP officer and that he had recommended to his supervisor that the CBP terminate Mireles. Vargas did not testify that Mireles fell asleep or otherwise broke CBP regulations. The Government also presented the testimony of Mireles’s supervisor, Jorge Galvan. Galvan testified that Mireles had never mentioned CamargoGarcia to him but that Mireles had stated that he was in the process of applying for a K-1 visa for his girlfriend, Paola Quinones, to enter the United States so that he could marry her. The Government offered the K-1 visa application into 5 Case: 10-30722 Document: 00511623473 Page: 6 Date Filed: 10/05/2011 No. 10-30722 evidence, which showed that Mireles applied for the visa shortly after his mother evicted Camargo-Garcia from her home in Metairie. The Government also presented testimony by the chief CBP officer at the port, Walter Weaver. Weaver testified that he witnessed Mireles flirting with an Asian woman crossing the border through the port. Weaver summoned Mireles into his office and told him that it was inappropriate behavior.