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United States v. Kelwyn Harris
Citation: Not availableDocket: 98-3721
Court: Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit; October 18, 1999; Federal Appellate Court
Original Court Document: View Document
Kelwyn Harris appeals his conviction for attempting to possess with intent to distribute cocaine base, arguing that the District Court erred by not excluding the testimony of a paid government informant. He contends that the use of this informant violated 18 U.S.C. § 201(c)(2), which prohibits compensating a witness for their testimony. The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, however, affirms the conviction, citing its recent decision in United States v. Albanese, which rejected a similar claim regarding the admissibility of testimony from a paid informant. The court notes that the jury was made aware of the informant's financial relationship with the government, and this information was thoroughly examined during the trial. The court concluded that it was appropriate for the jury to determine the credibility and weight of the informant's testimony. Therefore, Harris's argument does not provide grounds for reversing his conviction, and the judgment of the District Court is upheld.