Court Opinion

ID: 3058601
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-14 00:27:00.464114+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:38:15.511761
License: Public Domain

[DO NOT PUBLISH]

                      IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

                                   FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT           FILED
                                    ________________________ U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
                                                                      ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
                                            No. 10-14273                 JAN 10, 2012
                                      ________________________            JOHN LEY
                                                                           CLERK
                               D.C. Docket No. 1:09-cr-20964-PAS-1

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll                                 Plaintiff - Appellee,

                                                versus

ALBERTO GRAJALES,

llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll                             Defendant - Appellant.

                                     ________________________

                           Appeal from the United States District Court
                               for the Southern District of Florida
                                 ________________________

                                           (January 10, 2012)

Before WILSON and FAY, Circuit Judges, and RESTANI,* Judge.

         *
         Honorable Jane A. Restani, Judge, United States Court of International Trade, sitting by
designation.
FAY, Circuit Judge:

      After a jury trial, Alberto Grajales appeals his convictions for conspiring

and attempting to interfere with commerce by robbery, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §

1951(a); conspiring and attempting to possess with intent to distribute five or more

kilograms of cocaine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846; and possessing a firearm in

furtherance of a crime of violence and a drug trafficking crime, in violation of 18

U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A). Grajales raises three issues on appeal. First, he argues that

the district court erred when it refused to instruct the jury on his entrapment

defense. Second, Grajales argues that the district court erred when it instructed the

jury that his honestly held belief that he was helping law enforcement also had to

be objectively reasonable in order to negate his specific intent. Finally, Grajales

argues that the district court erred when it prevented him from testifying regarding

non-hearsay statements that were crucial to his defense. For the reasons set forth

below, we reverse.

                                          I.

      This case involves an undercover reverse sting operation. The investigation

was triggered when a confidential informant, Aliocha Billalba (“CI”), met with the

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (“ATF”) agents to discuss

                                          2
information he had obtained regarding Grajales. The CI informed ATF that

Grajales had recently expressed an interest in coordinating an armed robbery for

multiple kilograms of cocaine. Eventually, Grajales and several other parties

attempted to participate in the armed cocaine robbery and were subsequently

arrested.

      On November 19, 2009, a federal grand jury indicted Grajales. He was

charged with conspiring and attempting to obstruct interstate commerce by means

of robbery, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1951(a); conspiring and attempting to

possess with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine, in violation

of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841 and 846; and possessing a firearm in furtherance of these

offenses, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c).

      The following facts were submitted into evidence at trial, and we consider

the factual background in the light most favorable to the government. United

States v. Glen-Archila, 677 F.2d 809, 812 (11th Cir. 1982).

      A. Testimony of Government

      Grajales’s trial began on May 3, 2010. At trial, an undercover law

enforcement officer, Detective Juan Sanchez (“Sanchez”), testified that the

investigation in this case involved the use of a CI and that the CI initiated all

recorded phone calls with Grajales. Prior to his first meeting with Grajales, the CI

                                           3
called Grajales several times to set up a meeting between them. Although Grajales

and the CI arranged a meeting for October 8, 2009, Grajales declined to attend.

Therefore, the CI called Grajales and set up a meeting with Sanchez for October

15, 2009.

      On October 15, 2009, the CI drove Grajales to the first meeting between

Sanchez and Grajales. On the way to the meeting, Grajales asked the CI,

“[W]hat’s this about . . . .? What merchandise?” The CI responded that it was

related to something from the airport. Once Sanchez arrived, Grajales asked

Sanchez to explain the situation to him. Sanchez explained that the merchandise

involved drugs and that he would be delivering a large shipment of cocaine to a

stash house. Grajales questioned whether there were cameras, and even though

Sanchez responded “no,” Grajales said the job would be easy even if there were

cameras. Grajales further questioned whether the goal was to get the money or the

cocaine. When Sanchez responded that he did not know whether there would be

any money, Grajales explained that “the stuff would be for you” but questioned

whether Sanchez was “able to sell it?” Additionally, Grajales explained that he

had people that were “pros” and that his guys even had police uniforms that they

could use to commit the robbery.

      Subsequently, the CI arranged two additional meetings. The CI arranged

                                        4
the second meeting between the CI, Sanchez, and Grajales for October 26, 2009.

A member of Grajales’s crew, Barrera-Avila, was also present. At this meeting,

Sanchez explained that a shipment of cocaine was arriving the following week.

The CI arranged the third meeting between Sanchez, the CI, Grajales, and Barrera-

Avila for November 3, 2009. During the third meeting, Sanchez informed

Grajales and Barrera-Avila that the delivery of the cocaine shipment would take

place the following day. Grajales and Barrera-Avila agreed to go forward with the

armed robbery and stated that they would be bringing three other individuals to

assist in committing the robbery. They further explained that, after the robbery, all

of the participants would meet at Grajales’s house.

      On November 4, 2009, the day of the planned robbery, the CI called

Grajales. During this phone call, Grajales advised the CI that he was concerned

that his crew was going to steal from him, and therefore he wanted to bring in an

additional person for protection. On the same day, the CI placed another phone

call to Grajales and advised him to meet at a shopping center to execute the

robbery.

      Subsequently, Grajales arrived at the location, entered the CI’s vehicle, and

proceeded to a predetermined location. While Grajales was in the CI’s vehicle, he

called someone on the phone and offered him $10,000 to $15,000 if he could get a

                                          5
car and meet Grajales. Grajales also spoke with the CI and told him that the

scheme “better not be a fairytale.” After speaking with the CI, Grajales called the

additional person he wanted for protection and explained to him that the plan was

a “sure thing.” However, when Grajales and the CI arrived at the predetermined

location, Grajales observed law enforcement and informed the person on the

phone: “Listen, wait. This, this was a trap, wait.”

      At the close of the government’s case-in-chief, Grajales moved, pursuant to

Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 29, for judgment of acquittal on all five counts

of the indictment. Grajales argued, in part, that there was entrapment as a matter

of law based on the persistent contact between the CI and Grajales. In support of

this argument, Grajales noted that the CI had called him approximately fifty times

prior to November 4, 2009, while Grajales had called the CI approximately six

times. He further argued that, prior to the first meeting with Sanchez, Grajales did

not know that the plan involved cocaine and initially stated that he did not want

any cocaine. The district court held that it was inappropriate to consider

entrapment as a defense at the close of the government’s case-in-chief.

      B. Grajales’s Testimony

      In his defense, Grajales elected to testify at trial. From the start of his

testimony, there was some question over whether the district court would allow

                                           6
Grajales to testify to statements made to him by the CI that allegedly induced his

participation in the scheme. When defense counsel asked Grajales what the CI

told him to compel his involvement, the government objected on hearsay grounds.

Defense counsel explained that the statements were not offered for the truth of the

matter asserted but rather to show what Grajales believed. The court initially

overruled the objection but then held a side-bar discussion. After the government

argued that Grajales could be asked what he believed but not what someone else

told him, the court sustained the objection and directed counsel to rephrase the

question.

      Grajales then explained his relationship with the CI. He testified that he

knew the CI for almost four years. Beginning in May 2009, the CI repeatedly

approached Grajales and attempted to enlist his involvement in various robberies

and burglaries. However, Grajales testified that he repeatedly declined to

participate.

      Grajales further testified that, on September 30, 2009, the CI approached

Grajales again and explained to him that he had avoided a ten-year sentence for

drug trafficking and was released from prison after a year because he cooperated

with the government. The CI further explained that he decided to work as a paid

informant for the police. Grajales then asked the CI to introduce him to the police

                                         7
officers. Following this testimony, the government asked for a side-bar.

      At the side-bar conference, the government argued that this testimony went

to a public authority defense, and the defendant had not notified the government of

such a defense. Defense counsel responded that the testimony was relevant to the

entrapment defense, as well as to whether Grajales had the intent to commit the

crime. After further discussion, the district court instructed the jury that Grajales

was not authorized to work on behalf of law enforcement.

      Grajales’s testimony resumed, and he continued to attempt to explain that he

knew about the sting operation. However, the government objected to testimony

by Grajales involving statements made to him by the CI regarding why the CI

would not take him to meet with law enforcement; what was said to Grajales to

compel his involvement after the CI declined to introduce him to law enforcement;

the guarantee made to Grajales by the CI that nothing would happen to him; and

the conversation Grajales had with the CI regarding the CI allegedly requesting

that Barrera-Avila participate in the robbery. The district court sustained the

government’s objections, and disallowed Grajales to testify on these issues.

       Despite the court sustaining the government’s objections, Grajales

managed to explain that the CI told him that he could not meet with the police

because the CI was not yet working with them directly, and therefore the CI swore

                                           8
on photographs of his own children as a guarantee that nothing would happen to

Grajales. Further, although he was prevented from testifying to what the CI told

him to compel his involvement after the CI declined to introduce him to law

enforcement, Grajales did testify to what he believed. Grajales testified that he

believed the CI had only served one year of his ten-year sentence, and therefore he

believed the CI was working for law enforcement. Finally, while Grajales was

excluded from testifying to his conversation with the CI regarding Barrera-Avila’s

participation, he did testify that it was the CI’s idea to involve Barrera-Avila.

      Subsequently, Grajales testified about how he learned about the operation

and his reasons for participating in it. Grajales testified that the CI informed him

that Sanchez was a police officer and that he should play along with the scenario

Sanchez presented. Grajales believed that, if law enforcement learned that he

knew about the operation, the operation would fail. Additionally, he participated

in the operation because he wanted to help the CI, and he believed that Barrera-

Avila had previously set fire to two of his cars.

      Grajales then testified to his thoughts after conversations he had with the CI

that were not recorded. Grajales thought that no actual cocaine would be involved

and that he would not be arrested. He thought that, when he and the CI were

arrested, the CI would explain to law enforcement Grajales’s involvement.

                                           9
However, the district court sustained the government’s hearsay objections to

defense counsel’s attempts to ask Grajales whether he: (1) tried to explain his

arrangement with the CI to the police when he was arrested; (2) told the police to

get cameras from his home, which he allegedly set up because he believed it

would help him to confirm that he was working with police; and (3) asked the

police to bring the CI into the interrogation room after Grajales was arrested.

      At the end of Grajales’s testimony, he explained that he knew there were no

drugs, but asked questions because he had to play along. Grajales maintained that

his phone calls to the other participants were part of the ruse. He further avowed

that, before the CI contacted him, he had never wanted to commit a home invasion

robbery, possess cocaine, or distribute cocaine. The CI asked him countless times,

and he told him no every time he asked.

      C. Jury Instructions

      Following Grajales’s testimony, the district court refused, over Grajales’s

objection, to charge the jury on entrapment. The court concluded that there was

not even a scintilla of evidence that there was mild coercion. Defense counsel

objected, arguing he presented enough evidence for an entrapment instruction.

Nevertheless, the district court refused to instruct on the entrapment defense, but

stated that it would instruct the jury on a lack of mens rea defense. Grajales

                                          10
objected to the instruction because it required his belief that he was working for

law enforcement to be both honestly held and objectively reasonable. The district

court overruled Grajales’s objection and instructed the jury as follows:

      If you find . . . that the defendant had the honest and reasonable belief
      that he was performing the criminal acts with which he is charged to
      help law enforcement, in other words that he did not have the specific
      intent to commit the crimes charged, then you would be required to
      return a verdict of not guilty.

The court further instructed the jury that the defense of entrapment was not a

defense.

                                         II.

      “We have long held that the sufficiency of the defendant’s evidence of

government inducement is a legal issue to be decided by the trial court.” United

States v. Sistrunk, 622 F.3d 1328, 1332-33 (11th Cir. 2010). And, just as in

Sistrunk, we do not need to make a determination of the standard here—whether a

de novo or abuse of discretion standard applies—because under either standard the

result is the same. We similarly review jury instructions de novo to determine

whether they misstated the law or misled the jury. Brochu v. City of Riviera

Beach, 304 F.3d 1144, 1155 (11th Cir. 2002).

      We review for abuse of discretion a district court’s evidentiary rulings,

United States v. Docampo, 573 F.3d 1091, 1096 (11th Cir. 2009), and we review

                                         11
de novo constitutional claims. United States v. Nash, 438 F.3d 1302, 1304 (11th

Cir. 2006) (per curiam).

                                               III.

      Grajales first argues that the district court erred by refusing to instruct the

jury on his entrapment defense, and instead, directing a verdict on that defense.

Specifically, he argues that he merited an entrapment defense because he met his

burden of producing sufficient evidence of government inducement through his

own testimony. Moreover, he contends that the government’s evidence also

supported his requested instruction. We agree.

      Entrapment is an affirmative defense. United States v. Orisnord, 483 F.3d

1169, 1178 (11th Cir. 2007). “There are two elements to an entrapment claim: (1)

government inducement of the crime and (2) the defendant’s lack of predisposition

to commit the crime before the inducement.” Id. As entrapment is an affirmative

defense, the defendant bears the initial burden of producing evidence that is

sufficient to raise a jury issue on the question of whether the government’s

conduct created a substantial risk that the offense would be committed by a person

other than one ready to commit it. Id.

      The defendant will be considered to have met this burden if he produces

                                          12
evidence that the government’s conduct included some form of persuasion or mild

coercion. United States v. Brown, 43 F.3d 618, 623 (11th Cir. 1995). The

defendant “may make such a showing by demonstrating that he had not favorably

received the government plan, and the government had to ‘push it’ on him or that

several attempts at setting up an illicit deal had failed and on at least one occasion

he had directly refused to participate.” United States v. Andrews, 765 F.2d 1491,

1499 (11th Cir. 1985) (internal citations omitted). Moreover, “the government’s

evidence can provide this requisite evidentiary base for an entrapment instruction,

and [the] failure to give an instruction when the defendant has met his burden is

reversible error.” United States v. Bagnell, 679 F.2d 826, 834-35 (11th Cir. 1982)

(citing United States v. Timberlake, 559 F.2d 1375, 1379 (5th Cir. 1977) (internal

citation omitted)).

      Here, Grajales met his burden of producing sufficient evidence of

government inducement both through his own testimony and the government’s

evidence. Grajales testified that it took the CI months to get him to participate in

the robbery, and that before the CI contacted him, he never wanted to commit a

home invasion robbery, possess cocaine, or distribute cocaine. Beginning in May

                                          13
2009,1 the CI constantly called him and showed up at his house soliciting his

participation in various home invasion robberies, which he repeatedly declined.

This testimony provides some evidence that Grajales had not favorably received

the government’s plan, and therefore it had to “push it” on him.

       As to the government’s evidence, Sanchez testified that the CI initiated all

recorded phone calls with Grajales and that the CI set up all of the meetings with

Grajales. The CI called Grajales fifty times between October 5, 2009, and

November 4, 2009, while Grajales placed six calls to the CI.2 Additionally, the

government’s evidence established that on one occasion Grajales had refused to

participate in the scheme. Sanchez testified that Grajales failed to attend the first

scheduled in-person meeting that the CI and Sanchez set up. Based on this

evidence, a reasonable jury could infer that Grajales missed this meeting because

       1
           The government argues that any alleged propositions prior to October 2009 were not
sponsored by the government. We disagree. A government’s witness, Espinosa, testified that the
CI approached him about Grajales in June 2009. Furthermore, the transcripts of the October 5th
phone call reveal that Grajales already appeared to be familiar with the deal the CI was arranging.
This suggests the CI told Grajales about the plan prior to the phone call, and therefore the CI was
working with Grajales prior to October 5, 2009. In engaging the CI, the government sponsored
this plan, including its inception.
       2
           The number of phone calls are taken from defense counsel’s arguments during his
motion for judgment of acquittal. At that time, defense counsel explained that the evidence of
the calls were taken from Agent Stith’s report. Agent Stith, a government witness, testified at
trial to phone records for both Grajales and the CI. The government does not contest that the
number of calls made by the CI vastly outnumbered the calls made by Grajales.

                                                14
he was having second thoughts about going through with the CI’s proposed

scheme.3 Mathews v. United States, 485 U.S. 58, 63 (1988) (holding the

defendant is entitled to an entrapment instruction when sufficient evidence exists

from which a reasonable jury could find entrapment). Nevertheless, the CI

contacted Grajales once again and set up another meeting for him to attend with

Sanchez and the CI. Furthermore, prior to the first meeting, Grajales did not know

that the deal involved cocaine and initially stated that he did not want any cocaine.

       Based on the evidence at trial—both from Grajales and the government—

Grajales was entitled to have the jury instructed on entrapment. Grajales met his

burden of presenting sufficient evidence that the government did not merely

provide him with an opportunity to commit the crime, but rather coerced him into

committing the crime. Accordingly, the district court erred when it failed to give

the jury an entrapment instruction, and the failure to give the instruction

constitutes reversible error.4 Bagnell, 679 F.2d at 834-35.

       3
         Although the government argues that Grajales did not attend the first meeting because
the evidence established that he had drunk a beer, this determination is for the jury.
       4
          It is important to note that the district court appears to have denied Grajales an
entrapment instruction, at least in part, because an entrapment defense conflicted with his claims
that he knew he was participating in a government sting operation. This Court has held that the
defendant is entitled to have the jury instructed on his theory of defense even if the evidence
supporting the theory is “weak, insufficient, inconsistent, or of doubtful credibility.” United
States v. Opdahl, 930 F.2d 1530, 1535 (11th Cir. 1991) (citation omitted). Thus, to the extent
that the district court refused to instruct the jury on entrapment merely because such a theory of
defense was inconsistent with his claims that he lacked the specific intent to commit the charged

                                                15
                                             IV.

       Although we find Grajales’s arguments on entrapment dispositive, we note

that Grajales’s next argument—that the district court erred when it instructed the

jury that his honestly held belief that he was helping law enforcement also had to

be objectively reasonable—has merit.

       During trial, Grajales objected to the following instruction:

             During the trial I have instructed you that as a matter of fact
       and law the defendant was not authorized by law enforcement to
       perform the acts with which he is charged. To work with law
       enforcement and engage in undercover actions requires special
       approvals which the defendant did not have.
              If you find, however, that the defendant had the honest and
       reasonable belief that he was performing the criminal acts with which
       he is charged to help law enforcement, in other words that he did not
       have the specific intent to commit the crimes charged, then you would
       be required to return a verdict of not guilty.

His objection was overruled. Grajales now argues that the district court erred by

including the term “reasonable” in the second paragraph of this instruction

because the first four counts of the indictment charged inchoate conspiracy and

crimes, the district court’s refusal was erroneous. Mathews, 485 U.S. at 65 (holding a defendant
may testify that he lacked intent while also arguing that, if the jury concludes otherwise, then it
should consider whether his intent was the product of government inducement).

                                                16
attempt crimes, and therefore his honest belief that he was assisting law

enforcement precludes a finding of guilt.

      Given that the indictment charged Grajales with conspiracy and attempt

crimes, we must consider the elements of each crime. In order to prove an attempt

crime, the government must show that the defendant: (1) had the specific intent or

mens rea to commit the underlying charged crimes; and (2) took actions that

constituted a substantial step toward the commission of each crime. United States

v. Yost, 479 F.3d 815, 819 (11th Cir. 2007) (per curiam). For conspiracy, the

government must prove an agreement between two or more persons to commit a

crime, the defendant’s knowledge of the conspiratorial goal, and the defendant’s

voluntary participation in furtherance of the conspiracy. United States v. Jones,

913 F.2d 1552, 1557 (11th Cir. 1990). Specific intent to join the conspiracy is

also a necessary element of proof. United States v. Prince, 883 F.2d 953, 957

(11th Cir. 1989).

      Because the government must prove that the defendant possessed the mens

rea of specific criminal intent, “[s]everal defenses may apply when a defendant

claims he performed the acts for which he was charged” on behalf of the

government. United States v. Baptista-Rodriguez, 17 F.3d 1354, 1368 n. 18 (11th

Cir. 1994). These defenses include “innocent intent” and “public authority.” Id.

                                         17
Innocent intent is when the defendant lacked criminal intent because “he honestly

believed he was performing the otherwise-criminal acts in cooperation with the

government.” Id. The defense of “public authority,” on the other hand, permits

“exoneration based on the fact that [the defendant] reasonably relied on the

authority of a government official to engage him in a covert activity.” Id. (citing

United States v. Anderson, 872 F.2d 1508, 1513 (11th Cir. 1989)).

       Reviewing the jury instruction in this case, we agree that the district court

erred when it instructed the jury that Grajales’s mistaken belief that he was helping

law enforcement had to be reasonable. When the district court imposed the

requirement that Grajales’s belief be reasonable, the district court confused the

standards applicable to the innocent intent and public authority defenses, even

though Grajales informed the court that he was not relying on a public authority

defense. The defense of “innocent intent” is a subjective test, requiring an

honestly held belief. Baptista-Rodriguez, 17 F.3d at 1368 n.18. Accordingly, the

district court erred when it instructed the jury on “innocent intent” because a

reasonable belief is not required.5

       5
           The district court relied on Anderson when formulating its jury instruction. In
Anderson, this Court quoted the district court’s jury instructions in a footnote. Id. at 1518 n.14.
Although the quoted instruction stated that, if the jury found “the Defendant was under a
reasonable belief that he had legal authority to act” then the jury had to return a verdict of not
guilty, the instructions further stated that, if the “Defendant acted in good faith, sincerely

                                                 18
                                                     V.

       We similarly note that Grajales’s last argument has merit. Grajales argues

that various evidentiary rulings by the district court violated his constitutional

right to present a defense and to testify in support of that defense. Specifically, he

argues that the district court erred in excluding the following statements as

hearsay: (1) statements the CI made after Grajales asked to be introduced to law

enforcement officers; (2) the substance of the guarantees the CI made to him

during the course of the investigation; (3) the statements the CI made to convince

Grajales to involve Barrera-Avila in the scheme; and (4) statements Grajales made

to police regarding his agreement with the CI, his attempt to have the CI brought

into the interrogation room, or his attempt to tell police about his security cameras.

       Federal Rule of Evidence 801(c) defines hearsay as a statement, other than

one made by the declarant while testifying at the trial or hearing, offered in

evidence “to prove the truth of the matter asserted in the statement.” Thus, an out-

of-court statement is not hearsay if it is offered for some purpose other than to

believing himself to be exempt by the law, then he did not intentionally violate a known legal
duty.” Id. Most importantly, this Court held the instruction was not in error because the
instruction stated that the jury should acquit if it had “a reasonable doubt whether the defendants
acted in good faith under the sincere belief that their activity was exempt from the law.” Id. at
1517-18. Therefore, Anderson does not require that the defendant’s belief be reasonable to show
that he did not act willfully.

                                                19
prove the truth of the matter asserted. United States v. Schlei, 122 F.3d 944, 981

(11th Cir. 1997) (evidence regarding witness’s testimony at her deposition was not

hearsay where testimony was offered to demonstrate defendant’s state of mind).

Furthermore, using an out-of-court statement “as circumstantial evidence of the

declarant’s knowledge of the existence of some fact, rather than as testimonial

evidence of the truth of the matter asserted, does not offend the hearsay rule.”

United States v. Parry, 649 F.2d 292, 295 (5th Cir. Unit B June 1981).6

       None of Grajales’s testimony regarding out-of-court statements fell within

the hearsay definition of Rule 801(c). Grajales was attempting to testify to

statements that were not being offered for their truth. Rather, the statements the

CI allegedly made were offered to explain what Grajales believed and why he

acted as he did, and the statements he made to law enforcement were offered as

circumstantial evidence of his state of mind. Through his testimony, Grajales

sought to establish that he knew that Sanchez was an undercover officer and was

merely assisting law enforcement during the operation.

       Although Grajales managed to testify to some of the statements the district

court had excluded, the district court prevented Grajales from testifying to what

       6
         Parry is binding on this Court pursuant to Bonner v. City of Prichard, 661 F.2d 1206,
1209 (11th Cir. 1981) (en banc).

                                               20
the CI told him to compel his involvement after the CI declined to introduce him

to law enforcement. Rather, Grajales had to testify to what he believed, and

therefore Grajales explained that he believed the CI was working for law

enforcement because the CI only served one year of his ten-year sentence.

Further, Grajales was precluded from testifying to several statements he made to

law enforcement when he was arrested. With those constraints on his testimony,

he could not explain his actions or corroborate his testimony, which is relevant to

his honestly held belief that he was assisting law enforcement.

      Because Grajales argued that he honestly believed that he was working for

law enforcement, the jury was entitled to consider the CI’s statements and

Grajales’s reaction to them to resolve the issue of specific intent. Thus, the district

court erred in excluding the above statements as hearsay because the statements

were not being offered for their truth and were relevant to whether Grajales

possessed the mens rea of specific criminal intent.

                                               VI.

      Given the error by the district court, as discussed above, we reverse and

remand for a new trial.

      REVERSED AND REMANDED FOR A NEW TRIAL.

                                          21