ATF Agent’s Drug Slang Testimony Was Harmless Error

The admission of a law enforcement witness’ testimony about the meaning of specific drug slang was a harmless error, the Fifth Circuit ruled.

While federal law enforcement agents were investigating drug trafficking in Tupelo, Mississippi, a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives special agent heard Samuel Wilson III on a wiretapped phone using certain slang terms to refer to methamphetamines, marijuana, and heroin while speaking to the leader of the trafficking conspiracy.

Wilson argued that the testimony of the ATF special agent who led the investigation shouldn’t have been presented to the jury at trial because the lower court ...