United States v. Kenny Dickens and Melvin Lester

SCHROEDER, Circuit Judge.

Defendants Kenny Dickens and Melvin Lester appeal their convictions of possession of heroin with intent to distribute under 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and conspiracy to possess and distribute heroin under 21 U.S.C. § 846(a). We find prejudicial error in the district court’s allowance of cross-examination directed at Lester’s affiliation with an East Oakland drug ring called “the mob.”

This case arose from an incident on February 17, 1984. Oakland police approached a car on a side street. The appellants were in the front seat and LaVonne Henderson, a juvenile, sat in the…