United States v. Lofton ( 2007 )

NOT RECOMMENDED FOR FULL-TEXT PUBLICATION
File Name: 07a0730n.06
Filed: October 10, 2007
Nos. 06-5810, 06-5811
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE SIXTH CIRCUIT
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, )
)
Plaintiff-Appellee, )
)
v. ) ON APPEAL FROM THE UNITED
) STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE
STEVE LOFTON, JR. and ) EASTERN DISTRICT OF KENTUCKY
MICHAEL L. BLACK, )
)
Defendants-Appellants. )
)
)
Before: GUY, ROGERS, and McKEAGUE, Circuit Judges.
ROGERS, Circuit Judge. Michael Black and Steve Lofton were charged with conspiracy
to distribute and possess with intent to distribute marijuana, cocaine, and crack cocaine, 21 U.S.C.
§ 846; possession with intent to distribute marijuana, cocaine, and crack cocaine, 21 U.S.C.
§ 841(a)(1); and aiding and abetting, 18 U.S.C. § 2. The defendants were tried separately, and both
were convicted on all counts. Black and Lofton appeal their convictions based on evidentiary and
procedural rulings by the district court. For the reasons stated below, we affirm their convictions.
I. Background
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On June 22, 2005, Officer Timothy Fegan of the Buffalo Trace Gateway Narcotics Task
Force received information about drug activity at an apartment located at 318-1/2 Plum Street in
Maysville, Kentucky. Shortly after beginning surveillance of the area, he saw a Suburban pull up
to the Dutch Inn, a bar located near the Plum Street apartment. Officer Fegan witnessed Lofton,
Black, and two other men get out of the car. Black removed two duffel bags, one black and one
orange, from the back passenger seat. Lofton and the other two men drove away after several
minutes, leaving Black, who went into the Plum Street apartment. Thereafter, Officer Fegan saw
Black make several trips between the apartment and the Dutch Inn. Officer Fegan also noticed a
number of individuals entering and leaving the Dutch Inn without having stayed long enough to have
a drink, and exiting without any packaged liquor. Suspecting that Black was selling drugs, Officer
Fegan phoned a probation officer to confirm that Black was violating the terms of his probation by
being at a bar. Shortly thereafter, Black was arrested for violating his probation, and a search
conducted pursuant to the arrest revealed that he was carrying four large baggies of marijuana and
$211 in cash.
Officer Fegan secured a search warrant for the Plum Street apartment after Black’s arrest.
The searching officers concluded that one of the two bedrooms in the apartment belonged to Lofton
because it contained clothes for a “larger person” and a title to a motorcycle bearing Lofton’s name.
Several shoe boxes were stacked along a wall of the bedroom, and police discovered two baggies
of crack cocaine in the same box containing the title to Lofton’s motorcycle. In the other bedroom,
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the officers found Black’s ID and clothing, as well as marijuana inside a shoe in a shoebox and a
smaller bag of marijuana in a box containing a wheel for a car.
In a hallway linen closet, police found the orange duffel bag that Officer Fegan had seen
Black carrying, which contained six bags of marijuana. In the kitchen, police found a bag of
marijuana in a utensil drawer and digital scales, plastic baggies, and baking soda on the kitchen
counter. Officer Fegan testified that the baggies were of a kind typically used to package drugs for
sale and that baking soda is used to make crack cocaine. Police also found, on the kitchen counter,
a WD-40 can with a false bottom containing cocaine and crack cocaine. Underneath the sink, police
discovered an Ajax container that contained crack cocaine.
Officer Fegan took custody of all the evidence recovered from the search, and Jodi Bailey,
a chemist employed by the Kentucky State Police Regional Crime Laboratory, weighed the drugs.
The total weight of all crack cocaine found in the apartment was 54.1 grams, which included 6.333
grams found in Lofton’s bedroom. Lofton anticipated that Black would testify on Lofton’s behalf
if their cases were tried separately, based on a letter written by Black indicating that Lofton had
nothing to do with the narcotics found at the Plum Street apartment. Consequently, the district court
granted Lofton’s motion for a separate trial. Black was tried first.
At Black’s trial, Officer Brett Price of the Covington, Kentucky Police Department, and a
member of a DEA task force in Cincinnati, testified as an expert in narcotics trafficking that, in his
opinion, the amounts of cocaine, crack cocaine, and marijuana found in the apartment were
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distribution quantities. Additionally, the landlord of the Plum Street apartment testified that Lofton
and Black rented the apartment beginning in November of 2002, and that Lofton paid the rent in cash
from February 2005 until June 2005. Two witnesses testified that the utilities were in Lofton’s
name. Officer Fegan testified that he was familiar with both Lofton and Black, having seen both of
them in the area near the apartment previously, and that he had seen Lofton come and go from the
apartment over the last few years. Officer Fegan also testified that he had seen Lofton at the
apartment about a week before June 22, 2005. Over Black’s objection, the Government presented
the testimony of Officer Timothy Mitchell of the Maysville Police Department regarding a 2003
incident involving Black, during which Mitchell had arrested Black after finding a cigar box near
where Black had been standing that contained five baggies of cocaine and a bag of marijuana.
At Lofton’s trial, Officer Fegan again testified to the general facts outlined above regarding
the living situation at the Plum Street apartment. Additionally, he testified that he had known Lofton
since the year 2000, and that he had seen Lofton dozens of times, including at the Plum Street
apartment and loitering in a “high drug traffic area” on East Fourth Street and in other Maysville
areas where the police had heard complaints about drugs. Officer Fegan also identified Lofton in
surveillance photographs from the June 22, 2005, incident as the driver of the Suburban that had
dropped Black off near the Plum Street apartment. During cross-examination, defense counsel called
Officer Fegan’s identification of Lofton into question, pointing out that Officer Fegan had previously
identified a different man in photographs as being Lofton. Also during cross-examination, defense
counsel introduced a photograph into evidence and asked Officer Fegan if he saw “Mr. Lofton in that
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photograph, to the left with his couple fingers up[,]” to which Officer Fegan replied, “Yes. He’s
giving the Fourth Street sign.” J.A. at 350. On redirect, the Government asked Officer Fegan what
he meant by his reference to the “Fourth Street sign,” and the district court allowed Officer Fegan
to testify, over defense counsel’s objection, that Fourth Street is “the street that Plum [Street]
intersects with where all of our drug trafficking goes” and that he had seen the hand signal used by
other drug traffickers in the area.
To erode Officer Fegan’s credibility, Lofton’s defense counsel elicited testimony during its
case-in-chief from Ashley Cunningham, Lofton’s girlfriend, that the person depicted in Officer
Fegan’s June 22 surveillance photographs was a man named Josh Graham, and not Lofton. In
response, the Government re-called Officer Fegan to establish that he was familiar enough with
Lofton to identify him. Officer Fegan described several encounters with Lofton, including a 25-
minute interview of Lofton in 2000. The district court allowed the Government to display for the
jury an audio tape of the interview that Officer Fegan had conducted with Lofton. The tape was not
played for the jury, and the subject of the interview was never revealed. The district court instructed
the jury not to speculate about the tape or the subject matter of the taped conversation.
Both Black and Lofton were ultimately convicted by separate juries on all counts. Black and
Lofton now appeal their convictions.
II. Analysis
A. Black’s Trial
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Black raises three challenges on appeal. First, he argues that the evidence presented at trial
was not sufficient to sustain his convictions for conspiracy and for possession with intent to
distribute more than 50 grams of cocaine base. Next, he argues that the district court erred by
allowing the Government to introduce evidence regarding a prior incident under Federal Rule of
Evidence 404(b). Finally, he argues that the district court erred in using his past conviction to
enhance his sentence. For the reasons stated below, each argument fails.
1. Sufficiency of the evidence
The district court correctly found the Government’s evidence sufficient to support jury
convictions for conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute at least 50 grams of cocaine base.
This court reviews de novo the district court’s denial of a motion for a judgment of acquittal. United
States v. Humphrey, 279 F.3d 372, 378 (6th Cir. 2002). “The standard for evaluating claims that a
conviction is not supported by sufficient evidence presents a very difficult hurdle for the criminal
appellant . . . .” United States v. Maxwell, 160 F.3d 1071, 1077 (6th Cir. 1998). “[T]he relevant
question is whether, after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, any
rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable
doubt.” Id. (quoting Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319 (1979)).
Following the close of the Government’s case, Black moved for a judgment of acquittal on
counts one and three of his indictment (alleging violations of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a) and 846) on the
theory that the Government had neither established that he possessed cocaine base nor produced
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sufficient evidence that he was part of a conspiracy. Regarding Black’s possession of “cocaine
base,” the district court concluded that crack cocaine was “cocaine base” and that cocaine base had
been referred to as “crack cocaine” for “as many years as I can recall.” JA at 220. The district court
also concluded that the Government had produced evidence sufficient to sustain a conviction for
conspiracy, noting that Black and Lofton lived together and that drugs and drug paraphernalia were
in the common areas of the apartment. JA at 221.
To obtain a conspiracy conviction, the Government must prove: (1) an agreement to
distribute, or an agreement to possess with intent to distribute, drugs; (2) knowledge and intent to
join the conspiracy; and (3) participation in the conspiracy. United States v. Lopez-Medina, 461 F.3d
724, 750 (6th Cir. 2006). “In order to show a conspiratorial agreement, only a tacit understanding
among the participants is required,” United States v. Hamilton, 263 F.3d 645, 652 (6th Cir. 2001),
and “a defendant’s knowledge of and participation in a conspiracy may be inferred from his conduct
and established by circumstantial evidence.” United States v. Martinez, 430 F.3d 317, 330 (6th Cir.
2005). This court has been careful to note, however, that, absent additional facts, a conspiracy
cannot be inferred from “mere association” with a drug dealer or other conspirator:
[M]ere presence at the crack houses was insufficient to establish participation in a
conspiracy. Furthermore, mere association with a conspirator does not make one a
co-conspirator. Knowing that drugs are present in a dwelling one occupies is
insufficient to establish an individual’s membership in a conspiracy. Even if one
knows of and acquiesces in the object of a conspiracy, this alone is insufficient to
make one a conspirator.
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United States v. Young, 1990 WL 142348, at *3-4 (6th Cir. 1990) (unpublished) (citing United States
v. Barrera, 547 F.2d 1250 (5th Cir. 1977); United States v. Waddy, 536 F.2d 632 (5th Cir. 1976);
United States v. Hyson, 721 F.2d 856 (1st Cir. 1983); United States v. Williams, 503 F.2d 50 (6th
Cir. 1974)); see also United States v. Gibbs, 182 F.3d 408, 422 (6th Cir. 1999); United States v.
Pearce, 912 F.2d 159, 162 (6th Cir. 1990).
While the evidence introduced by the Government supporting the existence of a conspiracy
was not overwhelming, it was sufficient to sustain a jury verdict against Black. Evidence was
introduced that: Lofton drove Black and two others to the Dutch Inn; Black removed two bags from
Lofton’s car; Black and Lofton spoke while Black continued to hold the bags; Black walked back
and forth between the Plum Street apartment and the Dutch Inn multiple times, leading Officer Fegan
to suspect drug trafficking; Black had four bags of marijuana on him when he was arrested at the
Dutch Inn; officers found one of the two bags from Lofton’s car in the Plum Street apartment with
marijuana in it; the bag found in the apartment had such a strong odor that any person in the general
vicinity would notice it contained drugs; Black and Lofton lived together and exercised control over
the Plum Street apartment; drugs and supplies for distribution and manufacturing were found in the
common, unsecured areas of the Plum Street apartment, including openly visible areas such as the
kitchen counter; distribution quantities of drugs were found in both bedrooms, in unsecured
locations; Black and Lofton had been seen together many times on Fourth Street, a high drug-
trafficking area; and the Plum Street apartment had security and surveillance cameras on the front
and back doors with a monitoring system that was located in Lofton’s bedroom. Viewing this
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evidence in a light most favorable to the prosecution, a rational trier of fact could have inferred a
conspiratorial agreement between Black and Lofton beyond a reasonable doubt. Thus, Black’s
challenge to the sufficiency of the Government’s evidence of conspiracy fails.
Because the evidence was sufficient to support Black’s conviction for conspiracy, his
conviction for possession with intent to distribute at least 50 grams of cocaine base also stands.
First, a rational juror could conclude from the same evidence sustaining Black’s conspiracy charge,
combined with the existence of the conspiracy, that he constructively possessed the 6.333 grams of
crack cocaine found in Lofton’s bedroom, thus putting his total drug quantity above the 50-gram
mark alleged in his indictment. See, e.g., United States v. Welch, 97 F.3d 142, 150 (6th Cir. 1996);
United States v. Cobbs, Nos. 06-1136, 06-1137, 2007 WL 1544207, at **8 (6th Cir. May 25, 2007)
(unpublished). Second, Black’s argument that the Government failed to establish that he possessed
“cocaine base” fails. This court has previously held that the phrase “cocaine base” includes crack
cocaine. United States v. Levy, 904 F.2d 1026, 1033 (6th Cir. 1990). While Black argues that
“synthetic crack cocaine” – as it was called by the Kentucky State Police chemist – is not “cocaine
base,” he has failed to articulate a persuasive reason for distinguishing “synthetic crack cocaine”
from either “crack cocaine” or “cocaine base.” Thus, Black has failed to demonstrate that the
Government’s evidence was insufficient to sustain his possession conviction.
2. Evidence regarding the 2003 incident
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It was also proper for the district court to allow Officer Fegan’s testimony about a prior
incident under Federal Rule of Evidence 404(b). In 2003, Officer Fegan arrested Black after finding
a cigar box, near where Black had been standing, that contained five baggies of cocaine and a bag
of marijuana. Black eventually pled guilty to a charge of cocaine possession arising from the
incident. Federal Rule of Evidence 404(b) provides that evidence of a defendant’s “other crimes,
wrongs, or acts” may be admitted to establish, inter alia, intent or knowledge. Fed. R. Evid. 404(b);
see also United States v. Blankenship, 775 F.2d 735, 739 (6th Cir. 1985) (stating that Rule 404(b)
“is actually a rule of inclusion rather than exclusion, since only one use is forbidden and several
permissible uses of such evidence are identified”). To be admissible as other-acts evidence under
Rules 404(b) and 403, the evidence must be probative of a material issue other than character, and
the probative value of the evidence must not be substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair
prejudice. See United States v. Copeland, 321 F.3d 582, 596 (6th Cir. 2003).
Evidence of the 2003 incident was probative of Black’s intent and knowledge in the instant
case. This court “review[s] de novo whether the district court correctly determined that the evidence
was admissible for a legitimate purpose.” United States v. Comer, 93 F.3d 1271, 1277 (6th Cir.
1991). Although Black argues that the Government should not have been allowed to introduce
evidence of the 2003 incident because knowledge and intent were not at issue, this court has held
that “[w]here the crime charged is one requiring specific intent, the prosecutor may use 404(b)
evidence to prove that the defendant acted with the specific intent notwithstanding any defense the
defendant might raise.” United States v. Johnson, 27 F.3d 1186, 1192 (6th Cir. 1994).
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Additionally, the 2003 incident was both sufficiently similar and reasonably near in time to
the specific-intent offense at issue in the instant case. To be admissible under Rule 404(b), evidence
of defendant’s prior bad acts must be substantially similar and reasonably near in time to the charged
offense. United States v. Wynn, 987 F.2d 354, 357 (6th Cir. 1993). At the time of the 2003 incident,
Black only possessed 3 grams of cocaine. Importantly, those 3 grams were separated and packaged
into several individual baggies, indicating that he intended to distribute them. Although that amount
is consistent with personal use and is significantly less than the amount he is charged with possessing
and intending to distribute in the instant offense, the facts surrounding the 2003 incident are
sufficiently similar to the charges underlying the instant case. We held in United States v. Jones,
Nos. 91-6005, 91-6032, 1993 WL 11832, at *3 (6th Cir. Jan. 20, 1993) (unpublished), that the
defendant's separation of 4.1 grams of crack cocaine into a number of smaller, precisely weighed
allotments allowed the jury to infer the defendant's intent to distribute. And our opinion in United
States v. Haywood, 280 F.3d 715, 722 (6th Cir. 2002), suggests that where the Government seeks
to introduce evidence of past possession of a small quantity of drugs in a case involving charges of
possession with intent to distribute, the substantial-similarity test turns on whether the defendant
intended to distribute the small quantity of drugs in the earlier incident.
Nor does the 29-month gap between the prior incident and the events underlying the present
offense render the 404(b) evidence inadmissible. This court has held that there is “no absolute
maximum number of years that may separate a prior act and the offense charged[,]” United States
v. Ismail, 756 F.2d 1253, 1260 (6th Cir. 1985), and has allowed 404(b) evidence dating back many
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more than 29 months. See, e.g., United States v. Murphy, No. 90-6400, 1993 WL 15102, at *3-4 (6th
Cir. Jan. 26, 1993) (unpublished) (3-4 years); Ismail, 756 F.3d at 1260 (up to 4 years).
Finally, the probative value of the 2003 incident was not outweighed by a danger of unfair
prejudice under Rule 403. This court “review[s] for abuse of discretion the district court’s
determination that the ‘other acts’ evidence is more probative than prejudicial under Rule 403.”
Comer, 93 F.3d at 1277. Although Black correctly argues that the availability of other evidence is
a factor in Rule 403's balancing analysis, the testimony of Agent Price regarding quantities indicative
of distribution was the only other evidence of intent in the present case. “The district court has broad
discretion in balancing probative value against potential prejudicial impact.” Ismail, 756 F.2d at
1259. Black has not established that the district court abused its discretion in determining that the
probative value of the 2003 incident was not outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice.
Moreover, the district court properly instructed the jury regarding the use of such evidence,
mitigating any potential prejudice. See United States v. Myers, 123 F.3d 350, 363-64 (6th Cir. 1997).
Consequently, Black’s 403 argument also fails.
3. Black’s sentence
It was proper for the district court to use Black’s prior drug felony conviction to enhance his
sentence. Before trial, the Government filed notice that it would use Black’s prior conviction for
cocaine possession to seek an enhanced sentence under 21 U.S.C. § 841. JA at 40. Following his
conviction, the district court sentenced Black to 20 years in prison on counts one and three of his
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indictment, the statutory mandatory minimum required due to his prior drug felony conviction.
Black argues that it was improper under the Sixth Amendment for the court to enhance his sentence
without first proving to a jury the fact of his prior conviction. As Black concedes, however, his
argument is foreclosed by this court’s precedent. See United States v. Hill, 440 F.3d 292, 299 (6th
Cir. 2006) (citing United States v. Barnett, 398 F.3d 516, 524-25 (6th Cir. 2005)); United States v.
Watford, 468 F.3d 891, 915 (6th Cir. 2006). Consequently, this challenge fails.
B. Lofton’s Trial
Lofton also raises three challenges on appeal. He first argues that the district court
improperly excluded an exculpatory letter written by Black. Next, he argues that the district court
erred in allowing Officer Fegan to display an audio cassette tape of a prior interview with Lofton
during Officer Fegan’s rebuttal testimony. Finally, Lofton argues that the district court erred in
permitting Officer Fegan to testify regarding the meaning of a hand symbol Lofton displayed in a
photograph introduced by defense during Officer Fegan’s cross-examination. For the following
reasons, each argument fails.
1. Exclusion of Black’s letter
The district court did not err in refusing to admit into evidence the contents of a letter written
by Black in which Black takes responsibility for all drugs in the Plum Street apartment. This court
reviews district court evidentiary rulings regarding the admissibility of hearsay statements for abuse
of discretion. United States v. Price, 134 F.3d 340, 345 (6th Cir. 1998).
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Before trial, Black wrote a letter in which he claimed that Lofton no longer lived in the Plum
Street apartment, owned nothing inside it, and knew nothing about Black’s activities therein. The
Government made an oral motion during trial to preclude introduction of the contents of the letter
through the defense’s first witness. In response, Lofton relied on the hearsay exception articulated
in Federal Rule of Evidence 804(b)(3), arguing that the contents of the letter constituted a statement
against Black’s penal interest. The district court, believing that Black would be available to testify,
declined to conduct a premature Rule 804(b)(3) analysis to determine the admissibility of the letter.
Although the district court indicated that the letter may become admissible under Rule 804(b)(3) if
Black were later to become unavailable, Lofton’s counsel did not call Black as a witness and never
again raised the issue of the letter’s admissibility.
Lofton argues on appeal that the district court erred by excluding the letter from evidence,
and that this alleged error denied him of his right to a fair trial under the Sixth Amendment. His
argument fails. At the time of the district court’s initial and tentative ruling that the contents of the
letter were inadmissible, Lofton had not demonstrated that the requirements of Rule 804(b)(3) had
been met. See Old Chief v. United States, 519 U.S. 172, 183 n.6 (1997) (“It is important that a
reviewing court evaluate the trial court’s decision from its perspective when it had to rule and not
indulge in review by hindsight.”). Three conditions must be met before a district court may admit
a statement against penal interest under Rule 804(b)(3): “(1) the declarant must be unavailable to
testify; (2) the statement must subject the declarant to criminal liability in a real and tangible way;
and (3) corroborating circumstances must clearly indicate the trustworthiness of the statement.”
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Price, 134 F.3d at 347. Although Lofton argues in hindsight that these circumstances were met and
that Black was unavailable to testify, he did not attempt to demonstrate Black’s unavailability either
before or at the time of the district court’s initial ruling. Because he had failed to satisfy his burden
of establishing unavailability, see United States v. Pelton, 578 F.2d 701, 709-10 (6th Cir. 1978), he
cannot now complain about the district court’s preliminary and tentative adverse ruling.
What is more, nothing in the district court’s preliminary ruling prevented Lofton from calling
Black to testify, from introducing the letter on a showing of Black’s unavailability, from
demonstrating the letter’s trustworthiness, or from revisiting the letter’s admissibility in any other
way, all of which Lofton failed to do. Lofton’s unexplained failure to call Black or establish the
prerequisites of the letter’s admissibility did not result from any error on the part of the district court.
Thus, the district court’s preliminary ruling was not an abuse of discretion, and it did not interfere
with Lofton’s right to present a defense under the Sixth Amendment.
2. The audio tape
The district court’s decision allowing Officer Fegan to display an audio cassette tape of a
prior interview with Lofton during Officer Fegan’s rebuttal testimony did not result in unfair
prejudice under Federal Rule of Evidence 403. A reviewing court will not reverse a trial court’s
decision to admit or exclude evidence on the basis of relevancy or unfair prejudice absent a showing
of “a clear abuse of discretion.” Zamlen v. City of Cleveland, 906 F.2d 209, 215 (6th Cir. 1990).
The reviewing court “must look at the evidence in ‘the light most favorable to its proponent,
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maximizing its probative value and minimizing its prejudicial effect.’” United States v. Bonds, 12
F.3d 540, 567 (6th Cir. 1993) (quoting United States v. Zipkin, 729 F.2d 384, 389 (6th Cir. 1984)).
“Unfair prejudice does not mean the damage to a defendant’s case that results from the legitimate
probative force of the evidence; rather, it refers to evidence which tends to suggest a decision on an
improper basis.” Paschal v. Flagstar Bank, 295 F.3d 565, 579 (6th Cir. 2002).
Lofton argues that the district court erred in permitting Officer Fegan to testify regarding his
2000 interview of Lofton and to display an audio cassette recording of the interview. He argues that
he offered to stipulate that Officer Fegan knew Lofton well enough to identify him, rendering
minimal the probative value of the testimony and the display of the tape, and that any probative value
was outweighed by the prejudicial effect of displaying the tape because the existence of a taped
interview suggests Lofton’s involvement in criminal activity.
The first flaw in this argument is that Lofton directly attacked Officer Fegan’s ability to
recognize him during cross-examination. Such an attack is inconsistent with and not erased by
Lofton’s offer to stipulate to Officer Fegan’s familiarity with him, and the Government was entitled
to present rebuttal evidence. See United States v. Segines, 17 F.3d 847, 856 (6th Cir. 1994); United
States v. Lochmondy, 890 F.2d 817, 822 (6th Cir. 1989).
Moreover, although the tape may tend to indicate, as Lofton argues, that Lofton was involved
in prior criminal activity, the tape could also have been made because Lofton was a witness or
informant. The district court’s instruction to the jury not to speculate about the tape’s contents
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further bolsters the conclusion that the display of the tape was not unfairly prejudicial. On balance,
the Government was entitled to rebut Lofton’s assertions that Officer Fegan could not reliably
identify him, and it cannot be said that any prejudicial effect of testimony regarding the prior
interview substantially outweighed the probative value of the evidence.
Even assuming for the sake of argument that the display of the audio tape was unfairly
prejudicial, any error was harmless. “Unlike the Rule 403 analysis that considers the unfairly
prejudicial effect of the particular piece of evidence at issue, harmless error analysis requires this
court to consider whether the particular evidence prejudiced the outcome of the trial and resultant
convictions.” United States v. Gibbs, 182 F.3d 408, 430 (6th Cir. 1999); see also Zamlen, 906 F.2d
at 216 (“[E]ven if the lower court’s decision amounts to an abuse of discretion, it will not be
disturbed on appeal if it did not result in a substantial injustice . . . .”). We cannot say that the mere
display of an audio tape of an interview during permissible rebuttal testimony prejudiced the
outcome of Lofton’s trial.
3. Testimony regarding the “Fourth Street sign”
The district court did not err in permitting Officer Fegan to testify during his cross-
examination and re-direct regarding the meaning of a hand symbol Lofton displayed in a photograph.
Lofton argues that this testimony was both unfairly prejudicial under Federal Rule of Evidence 403
and inadmissible under Rule 404(b) as “simply testimony that Lofton is a bad person who makes
hand signals made similar to those made by other bad people.” Lofton Br. at 27.
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Lofton’s Rule 404(b) argument is misplaced. The purpose of Officer Fegan’s testimony was
not, as Lofton argues, to present Lofton as a person of poor character. Indeed, the photograph at
issue was not even introduced by the Government, but rather was introduced and inquired into by
defense counsel on cross-examination after counsel’s attempts to erode the reliability of Officer
Fegan’s identification of Lofton in the June 22 surveillance photographs. Nor was Officer Fegan’s
narrow and limited elaboration during re-direct on the meaning of Lofton’s “Fourth Street” signal
offered for the purpose of illustrating Lofton’s character. Defense counsel’s strategy throughout the
cross-examination was to suggest that Officer Fegan was mistaken about Lofton’s identity and
otherwise careless about his investigation. Defense counsel’s more global trial strategy was to
distance Lofton from connections with the drug trafficking area by Plum Street and the Dutch Inn.
The purpose and probative value of Officer Fegan’s testimony on re-direct regarding the meaning
of the Fourth Street sign and its association with local drug trafficking was to establish that he was
indeed knowledgeable about both Lofton and the drug trafficking that occurred in the area – issues
defense counsel raised by their chosen cross-examination strategy. The fact that Officer Fegan’s
testimony connected Lofton to the Fourth Street area and other drug traffickers cannot be considered
unfair prejudice, particularly given that other testimony already established his extensive connections
to the area and to Black. Accordingly, Lofton’s arguments under Rules 404(b) and 403 fail.
III. Conclusion
For the foregoing reasons, we affirm Lofton’s convictions and Black’s convictions and
sentence.
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