United States v. Deonte Reed

MEMORANDUM

After a guilty jury verdict, the district court sentenced Deonte Reed to 240 months’ imprisonment for conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery and 180 months for conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to distribute, to be served concurrently, and 60 months for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and aiding and abetting, to be served consecutive to the other counts. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291 , and we affirm.

Reed contends that the trial court erred in denying his motion in limine and incorrectly admitting evidence of Reed’s subsequent criminal activity. When a defendant asserts entrapment as a defense, the government must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that either “ ‘(1) the defendant was predisposed to commit the crime before being contacted by government agents; or (2) the defendant was not induced by the government agents to commit the crime.’ ” United States v. Mejia, 559 F.3d 1113, 1116 (9th Cir.2009) (quoting 9th Cir.Crim. Jury Instr. 6.2 (2003)).

To prove predisposition, the prosecution must show that the defendant was disposed to commit the crime before being approached by the agents. United States…