Opinion ID: 691307
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Relevancy Threshold

Text: 21 Under the first step of our inquiry, we must determine whether the evidence is relevant to a material issue other than character. United States v. Manner, 887 F.2d 317, 321 (D.C.Cir.1989), cert. denied, 493 U.S. 1062, 110 S.Ct. 879, 107 L.Ed.2d 962 (1990). In this case, Campbell and Mitchell were both charged with conspiracy to possess and distribute narcotics. To convict a defendant of such a charge, the government must prove that he had the specific intent to further the common unlawful objective of the conspiracy, United States v. Tarantino, 846 F.2d 1384, 1392 (D.C.Cir.1988), cert. denied, 488 U.S. 840, 109 S.Ct. 108, 102 L.Ed.2d 83 and 488 U.S. 867, 109 S.Ct. 174, 102 L.Ed.2d 143, and we have frequently upheld the admission of evidence regarding other drug transactions as relevant to intent in a charged drug transaction. See, e.g., United States v. Washington, 969 F.2d 1073, 1081 (D.C.Cir.1992), cert. denied, 113 S.Ct. 1287 (1993); United States v. Moore, 732 F.2d 983, 992 (D.C.Cir.1984). Nevertheless, both Mitchell and Campbell argue, for different reasons, that the evidence of the methamphetamine transaction does not even meet the threshold relevancy requirement. We address each argument in turn. 22 Campbell argues that the methamphetamine transaction was so thoroughly orchestrated by Abujudeh, then acting as a government agent, that it is completely irrelevant to Campbell's intent to engage in drug trafficking. Based on our review of the evidence, we do not find Abujudeh's role to be so controlling so as to vitiate Campbell's intent in the methamphetamine deal. To the contrary, though it is apparent that Abujudeh repeatedly encouraged Campbell to go forward with the methamphetamine deal, Campbell shared a full and willing part in the transaction. In particular, as detailed above, Campbell initiated the possibility of a methamphetamine deal, located the ephedrine supplier, arranged for money to be wired to him, and for the ephedrine to be delivered. He also sought a source for the second step--the methamphetamine exchange--and participated in negotiations with Abujudeh's source when his own source fell through. Finally, it was Campbell who exercised control over Mitchell, directing him to make the various deliveries and exchanges in the transaction. Thus, though it is undisputed that Abujudeh enticed Campbell to come to San Clemente to complete the methamphetamine deal, and that he did so in order to arrange a sting operation against Campbell, it is also clear that the evidence readily supports the conclusion that Campbell was a willing, intentional, and capable actor in this transaction. We are, therefore, persuaded that the transaction was not so tainted by Abujudeh's enticement to render it irrelevant to Campbell's intent to engage in a continuing criminal enterprise. 23 Mitchell also argues that the Rule 404(b) evidence was not relevant to his intent in the charged crimes because his involvement in the methamphetamine transaction was subsequent to much of the evidence linking him to the conspiracy and thus cannot elucidate his intent in those earlier transactions. 24 The evidence presented at trial regarding Mitchell's role in the conspiracy involved two discrete time periods during which Mitchell worked for Campbell. First, there was testimony that in June, 1990, Mitchell drove a truck from Washington, D.C. to El Paso with $100,000 in drug proceeds hidden in the spare tire, and that he possibly made another delivery for Campbell during this time period. Tr. at 3545-46, 3745. Second, there was testimony that in 1992, Mitchell (1) accompanied Campbell on a visit during which Campbell intended to collect a drug debt, Tr. at 3803-06, and (2) assisted in Campbell's abortive attempts to import cocaine from Mexico by transporting false identification papers to enable a Mexican national to gain entry into the country who would then assist Campbell in obtaining cocaine and driving another individual from Mexico to California who was to assist Campbell in the scheme, Tr. at 4037, 4113. 25 The government's main theory of the admissibility of the methamphetamine transaction is that it is relevant to Mitchell's intent in driving the drug proceeds to El Paso. With respect to that incident, we agree with Mitchell that, although subsequent acts may sometimes be relevant to the intent underlying an earlier act, see United States v. Watson, 894 F.2d 1345, 1349 (D.C.Cir.1990) (not an abuse of discretion to admit evidence of drug possession three months after charged act); United States v. Manner, 887 F.2d 317, 321 (D.C.Cir.1989) (not an abuse of discretion to admit evidence of drug transaction occurring ten weeks after charged act; evidence is arguably relevant), the two-year gap exceeds the bounds of that relevance on the facts of this case. See United States v. Betts, 16 F.3d 748, 759 (7th Cir.1994) (abuse of discretion to admit evidence of possession of large quantities of marijuana two years subsequent to charged act of conspiracy to distribute marijuana). Because Mitchell's role in the conspiracy did not stop in 1990, however, and because the methamphetamine transaction was contemporaneous with Mitchell's involvement in the 1992 efforts to obtain cocaine, we conclude that it was probative of Mitchell's intent during the later time period.