Opinion ID: 75748
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Admissibility of Miller's Testimony.

Text: 10 Floyd contends that the court erred by admitting Miller's testimony concerning the interstate nexus required by § 922(g). Floyd first contends that Miller was not qualified to testify as an interstate nexus expert. According to Floyd, Miller was only qualified to testify as an expert in firearms and tool mark examination rather than the interstate travel of ammunition. At trial, Miller testified that he has over fourteen years of experience in examining ammunition, that he has published articles in technical journals relating to firearm and tool mark identification, that he instructs at the National Firearm Examiner Academy, and that he has qualified as an expert in court [h]undreds of times. (R.4 at 144, 148.) Miller further testified that he routinely examines ammunition to determine the manufacturer of the ammunition and that part of my training and experience has been to know where things are manufactured.... (R.5 at 15) (emphasis added). Thus, we conclude that the court did not commit error, plain or otherwise, by permitting Floyd to testify as an interstate nexus expert. 11 Floyd next contends that the court erred by permitting the Government to offer Miller's hearsay testimony in order to establish the interstate nexus required by § 922(g). The law in this circuit, however, clearly allows the interstate nexus element of § 922(g) to be established by expert testimony. See United States v. Bonavia, 927 F.2d 565, 567 n. 2 (11th Cir.1991) (recognizing that firearms expert may testify — based on his examination of the weapons in question and his consultation of reference books — about where the particular weapons had been manufactured, to establish the required interstate nexus.). In addition, hearsay testimony by experts is permitted if it is based upon the type of evidence reasonably relied upon by experts in the particular field. See Fed.R.Evid. 703; United States v. Cox, 696 F.2d 1294, 1297 (11th Cir.1983). Miller testified at trial, without objection from Floyd, that the information he gathered from the technical advisor was of the type reasonably relied upon by experts in his field. Moreover, Miller testified that he did not base his opinion concerning the place of manufacture of the ammunition exclusively on his conversation with the technical advisor. (R.5 at 13-14.) Rather, he testified that he examined the ammunition, consulted a Winchester catalog, and then, to verify the information he obtained, he contacted the technical advisor. ( Id. at 16.) On these facts, we conclude that the court did not abuse its discretion in admitting Miller's testimony. See United States v. Gresham, 118 F.3d 258, 266-67 (5th Cir.1997) (permitting expert testimony to establish interstate nexus element of § 922(g) offense when ATF expert based testimony on discussions with manufacturers, corporate literature, and personal experience).