Court Opinion

ID: 9486329
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 11:44:33.845949+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:51:37.518913
License: Public Domain

TORRUELLA, Circuit Judge
(dissenting in part).
I agree with the majority’s lucid treatment of the collateral attack issue, and believe that it is an important addition to our jurisprudence. Unfortunately, I cannot endorse the entire opinion. The majority summarily dismisses appellant’s arguments concerning the alleged 404(b) evidence. On close examination, however, the 82 page indictment of appellant’s father and other relatives, which did not mention appellant, was unfairly prejudicial and should have been excluded under Federal Rule of Evidence 403. Appellant deserves a new trial on the merits.
I begin with a preliminary matter. While the majority does not cite Rule 404(b), it uses the Rule’s language when it states that the “bad acts” could be used to show “motive” and “intent.” Furthermore, the parties argued extensively under the Rule. While I assume, thus, that Rule 404(b) is a part of the opinion, it should not be.
Rule 404(b) excludes the use of other crimes, wrongs or acts in order to show a defendant’s character and action in conformity with it. Such evidence must be crimes, wrongs or acts committed by the defendant or by the person who is sought to be impeached. United States v. David, 940 F.2d 722, 736 (1st Cir.1991) (“Objections based on Rule 404(b) may be raised only by the person whose ‘other crimes, wrongs, or acts’ are *114attempted to be revealed”); United States v. González-Sánchez, 825 F.2d 572, 583 (1st Cir.1987) (“Rule 404(b) does not exclude evidence of prior crimes of persons other than the defendant”). In the present case the allegedly 404(b) evidence refers to evidence introduced of other crimes, wrongs or acts by persons other than appellant. It is thus inadmissible under that rule.
The inapplicability of Rule 404(b) notwithstanding, the prejudicial impact of the indictment substantially outweighed any probative value. It tarnished appellant merely because of his relationship with its targets, and because of its sheer weight. The indictment required over eighty pages and forty-nine counts to detail the scope of the father’s racketeering operation, which involved eleven victims, hundreds of thousands of dollars, extortionate collection schemes, and illegal debts. To be sure, it was a formidable document describing a formidable criminal scheme. However, it did not implicate appellant in that scheme in any way. The danger that the jury would associate appellant with the scheme was too great to justify admission of the indictment. United States v. St. Michael’s Credit Union, 880 F.2d 579, 601-02 (1st Cir.1989) (evidence concerning prior bad acts of father was impermissibly prejudicial when defendant was not implicated in them). In short, I believe that the majority has discounted the real danger of guilt by association in this case.
The majority contends that the indictment was relevant to show context, motive and intent. While I grant that information concerning Mr. Isaacs disability bore at least some relevance to show motive, I cannot fathom any need to introduce the indictment itself to bring out this point. The use of the indictment was unfairly inflammatory when compared with whatever minimal probative impact it might hold. It was an abuse of discretion for the district court to admit the evidence.