Criminal Law: Drug Conspiracy – Sequestration Order – Hearsay

Where defendants facing drug conspiracy charges argued they were prejudiced because their ability to test the veracity of witnesses through cross examination was compromised by the witnesses’ conversations with each other, the district court did not abuse its discretion in finding that no sequestration order had ever been entered, so there was no error in denying the motions to exclude testimony or for mistrial, and hearsay statements of the witnesses met an exception for admission of the statements of co-conspirators.

Judgment is affirmed.

U.S. v. Camacho; U.S. v. Knaub (MLW No. 58660/Case No. 07-2441/07-2536 – 14 pages) (U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit, Gibson, J.) Appealed from U.S. District Court, Urbom, J. (Michael T. Levy, Omaha, Neb., argued for appellant) (Sara Elizabeth Fullerton, Lincoln, Neb., argued for appellee).