Notice: Eighth Circuit Rule 28a(k) Governs Citation of Unpublished Opinions and Provides That They Are Not Precedent and Generally Should Not Be Cited Unless Relevant to Establishing the Doctrines of Res Judicata, Collateral Estoppel, the Law of the Case, or if the Opinion Has Persuasive Value on a Material Issue and No Published Opinion Would Serve As Well.united States of America, Plaintiff-appellee, v. Juan Carlos Nevarez, Defendant-appellant, 78 F.3d 589 (8th Cir. 1996)

Juan Carlos Nevarez was convicted of two counts of cocaine distribution, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a) (1), and one count of the use of a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c) (1).¹  He appeals, challenging the district court's exclusion of various evidence said to be related to his entrapment defense, and the sufficiency of the evidence generally. We affirm.

Nevarez admitted the offenses for which he was convicted, but he asserted as a defense that he was entrapped. The jury rejected this defense and found the defendant guilty. On appeal, the defendant claims the trial judge abused his discretion by excluding certain evidence of inducement; he also asserts that there was insufficient evidence of his predisposition to commit the crimes.

Nevarez argues that the identity of an informant who introduced him to an undercover officer should have been disclosed. In addition, he urges that evidence of separate investigative conduct of a known informant, Eddie Rangl, should have been admitted. Finally, Nevarez urges that the amount that Rangl was paid should have been admitted. It is urged that all of this was relevant to his entrapment defense.

Upon review of the overall record, we find the district court did not abuse its discretion. Defendant's claim was that he was entrapped by Rangl. We agree with the government that the identity of another undisclosed informant was not relevant to the defendant's claim he was entrapped by Rangl.²  Similarly, Rangl's conduct in other investigations, which are not related to the drug sales involving Nevarez, is not relevant to the claim that Rangl wrongfully induced him in this case. The amount of money that Rangl was paid is likewise not relevant to inducement.

As to Nevarez's predisposition to commit the crimes charged, the government produced evidence that defendant had previously been convicted of a felony drug possession and that he had been selling cocaine and marijuana for months before his arrest. There was abundant additional evidence as well.

The trial court submitted the issue of entrapment to the jury. The jury rejected it. In our view, there was little evidence even to support giving the entrapment instruction.

JUDGMENT AFFIRMED.