United States v. Jamal T. Merriweather

RYAN, Circuit Judge.

This case requires that we explain, once again, the close and careful analysis trial courts should undertake before ruling on the admissibility of evidence of “other crimes, wrongs, or acts” under Federal Rule of Evidence 404(b).

Jamal Merriweather appeals from his conviction and sentence for conspiring to distribute cocaine and to possess cocaine with the intent to distribute, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841, 846. Merriweather attacks his conviction and sentence on a number of grounds, but we find merit in only one: Merriweather’s claim that Rule 404(b) barred the…