United States v. Figueroa
United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
618 F.2d 934 (1980)
- Written by Sean Carroll, JD
Facts
Based on the work of an undercover officer, Ralph Acosta (defendant) was charged with conspiracy to possess and distribute heroin and possession of heroin with intent to distribute. At trial, over Acosta’s objection, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York admitted Acosta’s prior conviction for selling heroin. According to the prosecution (plaintiff), Acosta had tossed bags of heroin into a crowd as he was being arrested. The trial judge indicated that the prior conviction was admissible because one of Acosta’s codefendants had questioned whether the substance in the bags was heroin or something else. According to the trial judge, this made Acosta’s intent an issue in the case. In response, Acosta’s counsel stated that Acosta never questioned whether the substance was heroin. Rather, Acosta had consistently argued that the undercover officer’s entire story of events was fabricated. Acosta was convicted, and he appealed.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Newman, J.)
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