FILED U.S. COURT OF AP P EALS E LEVEN T HC IRC U IT AUGUST 18, 2008 THOMAS K. KAH

N CLERK [ P UB L I S H] I N THE UN I TE D STATE S C OU RT OF APPE ALS F O R T H E E L E V E N T H C IR C U IT

________________________ N o. 07- 10560

________________________ D . C. D o c k e tN o . 0 4 - 0 0 2 2 6 - CR- T- 1 7 - TBM U N I T E D S T A T E S O F A M E R I C A , P la in tif f - A p p e lle e , v ersu s C H R I S T O P H E R J . B E N B O W , D e f e n d a n t- A p p e lla n t.

________________________ A pp ea l fr om the U ni t ed S t at es D i stri ctC ou rt f orthe M i ddl e D i s tr i c tof F l or i da

_________________________ ( A u gu s t 18, 2008) B efo re B IR C H , C A RN E S an d C O X , C i rcu i tJu d g es. C A RN E S , C i rc ui tJudg e: T he f a c t s unde r l y i ng thi s c a s e be ga n l i ke s om e thi ng outof aJ a m e s B ond n o v e l b u t s o o n m o rp h e d in to a n in te rn a tio n a l d ru g c o n s p ir a c y s tin g . A f te rth e ta le2

w a s t ol d a tthe di s tr i c tc ourtl e ve l , C hr i s t ophe rB e nbow w a s c onvi c t e d of c ons pi r a c y t o pos s e s s w i th i nt e ntt o di s tr i but e m or e tha n f i ve ki l ogr a m s of

c oc a i ne in v io la tio n o f

2 1 U .S .C . § 8 4 6 . T h is is h is ap p e a l o f th a t c o n v ic tio n . I. In the fa l l of 20 03 B enbo w , a c i t i ze n o f G re atB ri t ai n w ho l i ved i n E st on i a, l e a rn e d th a ts e v e r a l Ru s s i a n f o rme rK G B a g e n t s w e r e try i n g t o s e l l n i n e k i l o g r a ms o f s tr o n tiu m p a c k e d in c ir c u la rc o n ta in e r s . S tr ont i um - 90, ar a di oa c t i ve i s ot ope of s tr o n tiu m , is le th a l a n d c o u ld b e u s e d b y te rr o r is ts to m a k e d irty b o m b s . T h e r e is s om e di s put e be tw e e n the gove rnm e nta nd B e nbow ove rw he the rthe s tr ont i um f or sa l e w as of thi s dea dl y var i ety, bu ti tdo es no tm att erfor our pu rposes . T he se l l er s o f f e r e d Be n b o w as i z e ab l e c o mmi s s i o n i f h e c o u l d f

i n d ab u y e rf

o rth e s tr o n t i u m, w hi ch w as expect ed t o sel l for m ore than $ 20 0 m i l l i on . B enbo w w as i nt er es t ed. In try in g to lo c a te ab u y e r , h e c o n ta c te d alo n g - tim e f r ie n d a n d b u s in e s s a s s o c ia te in F l ori da, A dam E l i sha. B enbo w bel i eved thatE l i sha had t i es t o the A m er i can g o v e rn me n t , w h i c h Be n b o w th o u g h tmi g h tb e i n t e r e s t e d i n b u y i n g th e s tr o n t i u m, p r e s u m ab ly to k e e p it o u t o f te rr o r is ts ’ h a n d s . E l i s hai ns t e a d s e tup am e e t i ng w i th D a vi d S i e ge l , w ho c l a i m e d t o ha ve c onne c t i ons t o the I s r a e l i m i l i t a ry . S i e ge l w a s a c tua l l y ac onf i de nt i a l i nf

orm a ntf or3

th e D ru g E n f

o r c e m e n t A d m in is tr a tio n . H e h a d c o n v in c e d E lis h ato c o o p e r a te w ith th e D E A . B e nbow , E l i s ha , a nd S i e ge l m e ti n ahot e l r oom i n T a m pa , F l or i daon D e c e m b e r9 , 2 0 0 3 . T h ere S i eg el m an ag ed t o tu rn th e stro n t i u m d eal i n t o a rev erse d ru g s tin g b y a s k in g B e n b o w if th e R u s s ia n s e lle r s w o u ld b e in te r e s te d in tr a d in g it fo r d ru g s, sp eci fi cal l y a l arg e am o u n to f co cai n e. B en b o w sai d th ath e w o u l d ask th e R u s s ia n s . L a te rh e in f o rm e d E lis h ath a t th e R u s s ia n s w e r e n o t in te r e s te d in drug s and w ou l d acc epton l y c as h for the stront i um . In ea rl y 200 4, ho w ever , B enbo w i nform ed E l i sha thathe had fou nd som e peopl e i n E ng l and w ho w er e i nt er es t ed i n b uyi ng a l ar ge am ou ntof cocai ne. B enbo w sugg es t ed t o E l i sha that S ie g e l c o u ld s e ll th e c o c a in e to th e E n g lis h m e n a n d th e n u s e th e p r o c e e d s to p u r c h a s e th e s tr o n tiu m f r o m th e R u s s ia n s . In Janu ary 200 4 B enbo w , E l i sha, S i egel , and ano ther D E A un derc ov er op er at i ve usi ng the nam e A m i r F ar i d spo ke by confere nce c al l . D uri ng that conv er sa t i on , B enbo w di sc usse d the po ss i bi l i ty of the bu ye rs com i ng t o the U ni t ed S ta te s to in s p e c t a n d p a y f o rth e c o c a in e . B e n b o w to ld th e o th e rth r e e th a t h is bu ye rs w er e i nt er es t ed i n a l ar ge am ou ntof cocai ne, bu tno tal l aton ce ; they w a n te d it d e liv e r e d in in s ta llm e n ts . B e n b o w a g r e e d to m e e t w ith E lis h aa n d F a r id in th e U n ite d S ta te s o n F e b ru a ry 9 , 2 0 0 4 .4

B e n b o w b r o u g h t h is c o c a in e b u y e r s , A n th o n y J o n e s a n d P e te rD a v id s o n , to the U ni t e d S t a t e s t o ne got i a t e the drug de a l w i th the s e l l e r s . O n F e brua ry 9, 2004 th e th r e e o f

th e m m e t w ith E lis h a , F a r id , an d S ie g e l a t aw a r e h o u s e in T a m p a . Jones w as the nego t i at or for the bu ye rs and F ar i d for the se l l er s. Jones e xp re ss ed i nt e r e s ti n pur c ha s i ng the c oc a i ne t o di s tr i but e i n E ur ope , buthe not e d tha tthe part i es had n ei ther w orked o utw here they w ou l d t ake posse ss i on no r di sc usse d h o w th e d ru g s m ig h t b e tr a n s p o rte d f r o m th e U n ite d S ta te s to E u r o p e . F a r id s a id th a t h e c o u ld a rr a n g e to h a v e th e d ru g s tr a n s p o r te d f r o m th e U n ite d S ta te s to E ur ope , orJ one s c oul d t a ke pos s e s s i on of the m a ny w he r e i n thi s c ountry : “ [ Y ] ou w a n t it in O h io , I ’ll g iv e it to y o u in O h io ; y o u w a n t it in K e n tu c k y , I ’ll g iv e it to you i n K entucky, al ri gh t ? ” J on es re fuse d t o com m i tt o any pl an, st at i ng : “ B utl et m e, l etm e go b ac k. I’ m no tgo i ng t o agree or di sa gree on anythi ng . ” T w o u nd er cover offi ce rs fr om the H i l l sborou gh C ou nty S heri ff’ s O ff i ce w e r e a l s o a ttha tF e brua ry 9, 2004 m e e t i ng. A tF a r i d’ s r e que s tthe y pl a c e d on a t abl e aduf

f e l ba g c ont a i ni ng thi rty ki l ogr a m s of c oc a i ne , w hi c h w a s m e a nt t o s how the buy e r s w ha tthe y w oul d ge ti f the y c om pl e t e d the tr a ns a c t i on. J one s a nd D a vi ds on c uti nt o one of the bl oc ks of

c oc a i ne a nd s a m pl e d i t . A tthe e nd of the m e e tin g , J o n e s a s k e d F a r id if h e c o u ld f

in d s o m e c o c a in e f

o rJ o n e s ’ p e r s o n a l u s e in M ia m i, b u t F a r id r e f

u s e d to d o s o .5

A f t e rtha tm e e t i ng a nd s e ve r a l f ol l ow - up t e l e phone c a l l s , on F e brua ry 24, 20 04 F ar i d t ol d B enbo w thatthe cocai ne he w ant ed t o sel l t o Jon es had b ee n s hi ppe d t o E ur ope a nd w a s r e a dy t o be de l i ve r e d. T he r e ha d be e n no c oc a i ne s h ip m e n t, b u t F a r id p r e te n d e d o th e rw is e in o r d e rto f u r th e rth e s tin g o p e r a tio n . B e nbow a gr e e d t o m e e tF a r i d i n B e l gi um i n M a r c h t o f ur the rdi s c us s the drug tr a n s a c tio n . O n M a r c h 9, 2004 B e nbow m e tw i th F a r i d i n B rus s e l s , B e l gi um . T he fol l ow i ng day F ar i d m etw i th Jon es and D avi dson i n B ruges, B el gi um . A tthat m e e tin g F a r id c o n tin u e d to d is c u s s th e c o c a in e d e a l w ith J o n e s a n d D a v id s o n to see i f th e b u yers w ere “ready to co m e u p w i th th e p aym en t s t o w ard s th e p u rch ase and d el i veryof the cocai ne thatthey w ant ed. ” B ec ause of concerns abo utw hether J o n e s c o u ld h a n d le s u c h ala r g e tr a n s a c tio n , th e n e x t d a y B e n b o w in tr o d u c e d F a r id t o a nothe rpot e nt i a l c oc a i ne pur c ha s e r , P a tr i c k J e nki ns . A ttha tM a r c h 10 m e e t i ng, J e nki ns a nd F a r i d t a l ke d aboutthe pos s i bi l i ty of J e nki ns pur c ha s i ng c oc a i ne f r om F ar i d. D uri ng the nextw ee k, B enbo w , Jones, and Jenki ns had sever al m ore te le p h o n e c o n v e r s a tio n s w ith F a r id . I n o n e o f th e s e c o n v e r s a tio n s , B e n b o w to ld F a r id th a t J o n e s h a d a g r e e d to J e n k in s b e in g in v o lv e d in th e c o c a in e tr a n s a c tio n . I n l a t e M a r c h 2004 B e nbow a nd J e nki ns tr a ve l e d t o the U ni t e d S t a t e s a nd s ta y e d f o raw e e kin M ia m i, w h e r e B e n b o w h a d liv e d f o rs e v e r a l y e a r s a n d s till6

o w n e d ac o n d o m in iu m . O n M a r c h 3 1 th e tw o d r o v e u p to T a m p ato m e e t w ith F ar i d and Jones abo utthe cocai ne deal . T he m ee t i ng t oo k p l ac e on an u nm arked D E A bo atand w as covert l y r ec orded. F ar i d b roug htpackages c on t ai ni ng three k ilo g r a m s o f

c o c a in e to th e m e e tin g . Je nk i ns sa m pl ed the drug s. F ar i d exp l ai ned th a tth e c o c a i n e J o n e s a n d J e n k i n s w e r e g o i n g t o r e c e i v e w o u l d h a v e th e s a me p a c k a g in g a n d m a rk in g a s th e s a m p le p a c k a g e s . J o n e s a n d J e n k in s le f t th e b o a t to di sc uss the cocai ne transac t i on pri vat el y, and w hen they r eturned, they ann ou nced th a t th e y h a d a g r e e d to p u r c h a s e th e c o c a in e f r o m F a r id in E u r o p e . A f t e rtha tm e e t i ng B e nbow a nd J e nki ns ha d s e ve r a l m or e t e l e phone c onve r s a t i ons w i th F a r i d aboutthe f i na nc i a l a rr a nge m e nt s a nd l ogi s t i c s f orthe c oc a i ne de a l . F a r i d w a nt e d c a s h de l i ve r e d t o the U ni t e d S t a t e s be f or e pos s e s s i on o f th e c o c a in e w a s tr a n s f

e rr e d , b u t J e n k in s w a n te d to g e t th e c o c a in e f ir s t, s e ll it in the N etherl ands, and then p ayF ar i d w i th the proceeds. Je nk i ns and F ar i d h ad s e ve r a l m e e t i ngs i n E ngl a nd t o c ont i nue pl a nni ng the de a l , a nd a f t e rw a r ds B e nbow h a d s o m e te le p h o n e c o n v e r s a tio n s w ith F a r id . J one s a nd J e nki ns a gr e e d t o buy at ot a l of 1000 ki l ogr a m s of

c oc a i ne f

r om F a r id in 2 5 0 k ilo g r a m in c r e m e n ts . T h e y p la n n e d to p a y F a r id in a d v a n c e in L on do n, w here they w ou l d al so getthe cocai ne. Jones and Je nk i ns agre ed t o p l ac e the c a s h i n as a f

e de pos i tbox, t o ha ve B e nbow i ns pe c ti tt o m a ke s ur e a l l of the7

m o n e y w a s th e r e , a n d th e n to g iv e th e k e y to B e n b o w to d e liv e rto F a r id . H ow ever , because J on es and Jenki ns ac tual l y di d n othave the m i l l i on s of dol l ar s ne c e s s a ry t o f

und the de a l , the y i nt e nde d t o de l i ve rpl a i n pape ri ns t e a d of c a s h a nd p a y f o rth e d ru g s a f

te rs e llin g th e m . T he transac t i on w as supp osed t o t ake pl ac e on A pri l 30 , 20 04 , bu tthat m o rn i n g , B en b o w , Jen k i n s, an d Jo n es w ere arrested in L o n d o n b y B ri t i sh au th o r itie s . B e n b o w a d m itte d to B r itis h au th o r itie s th a t h e h a d m e t w ith J o n e s to di sc uss the po t ent i al pu rc hase of cocai ne fr om a s ou rc e i n F l ori da. H e s t at ed that he ha d thoughtJ one s a nd J e nki ns w e r e goi ng t o pr ovi de the c a s h up f r ontf orthe d e a l, b u t th e y h a d to ldh im o f th e ir“p la in p ap e r ” p la n th a t m o rn in g . A f te rh is a rr e s tB e nbow w a s e xtr a di t e d t o the U ni t e d S t a t e s , w he r e he w a s i ndi c t e d on a s i ngl e c ountof

c ons pi r i ng t o pos s e s s w i th i nt e ntt o di s tr i but e m or e tha n f i ve k ilo g r a m s o f

c o c a in e in v io la tio n o f

2 1 U .S .C . § 8 4 6 . T h e case w as tri ed b efo re a j u ry, an d aft er th e cl o se o f th e g o v ern m en t ’ s case i n chi ef , B enbo w m ov ed for aj ud gm entof ac qu i tt al , w hi ch the di stri ctcourt de ni e d. B e nbow the n t e s t i f i e d i n hi s ow n de f

e ns e , a nd a f

t e rthe de f

e ns e r e s t e d, B e n b o w r e n e w e d h is m o tio n f o raju d g m e n t o f

a c q u itta l. T h e d is tr ic t c o u r t a g a in de ni e d the m ot i on, a nd the n c onduc t e d i t s j ury c ha r ge c onf e r e nc e . B e nbow re qu es t ed an i nstruct i on thatthe go vernm entw as re qu i re d t o p rove thatthe obj ec t8

of the conspi ra cyw as ei ther posse ss i on or di stri bu t i on of cocai ne i n the U ni t ed S ta te s . T h e d is tr ic t c o u rt d e c lin e d to g iv e th a t in s tru c tio n a n d s u b m itte d th e c a s e to the j ury, w hi ch foun d B enbo w gu i l ty of the conspi ra cychar ge. T he di stri ctcourt s e n te n c e d h im to lif

e in p r is o n . B e n b o w c o n te n d s th a t th e d is tr ic t c o u r t e rr e d b y f a ilin g to g iv e th e ju ry h is re qu es t ed i nstruct i on . H e a l so cont ends thatthe di stri ctcourtshou l d h ave grant ed h is m o ti o n s f

o r ju d g m en t o f a cq u ittal o n th e g ro u n d th at th e g o v er n m en t’ s e vi de nc e w a s i ns uf

f i c i e ntt o pr ove the ne c e s s a ry c onne c t i on of the c r i m e w i th the U n ite d S ta te s . II. W hi l e B e nbow ’ s appe a l w a s pe ndi ng, thi s C our tde c i de d U ni t e d S t a t e s v. L op ez -V anegas , 49 3 F . 3d 13 05 (11th C i r. 20 07 ), w hi ch address ed a s om ew hat s im ila ris s u e . I n th a t c a s e th e d e f e n d a n ts h a d c o n s p ir e d to p u r c h a s e c o c a in e in C ol om bi a , w hi c h w a s t o be s hi ppe d outof V e ne z ue l at o S audi A r abi aa nd e ve ntua l l y t o F r a nc e f

ordi s tr i but i on i n E ur ope . I d. a t1308–10. A l though the defe nd ant s hel d sever al m ee t i ng s i n M i am i t o d i sc uss and pl an the i nt ernat i on al o p e r a tio n , th e r e w a s n e v e ra n y a g r e e m e n t to p o s s e s s o rd is tr ib u te ille g a l d ru g s in th e U n ite d S ta te s . S e e id . a t 1 3 0 9

– 1 1 . T h e d e f e n d a n ts w e r e c h a r g e d w ith c ons pi r a c y t o pos s e s s w i th i nt e ntt o di s tr i but e f i ve orm or e ki l ogr a m s of c oc a i ne9

“in M ia m i- D a d e C o u n ty , in th e S o u th e rn D is tr ic t o f F lo r id a , a n d e ls e w h e r e ” in v io la tio n o f

2 1 U .S .C . § § 8 4 1 a n d 8 4 6 . I d . A ft era tw o-m on th j ury tri al , the defendant s i n L op ez -V anegas w er e c o n v i c t e d . I d . Th e y a r g u e d o n ap p e a l th a tth e i rc o n d u c td i d n o tv i o l a t e 2 1 U . S. C. § 846 be c aus e “ the obj e c tof the c ons pi r a c y— the pos s e s s i on a nd di s tr i but i on of c o c a in e o n f

o r e ig n s o il— is n o t av io la tio n o f 2 1 U .S .C . § 8 4 1 ( a ) ( 1 ) .” I d . a t 1 3 1 1 . W e a g r e e d , c o n c lu d in g th a t “w h e r e , a s h e r e , th e o b je c t o f th e c o n s p ir a c y w a s to p o s s e s s c o n tr o lle d s u b s ta n c e s o u ts id e th e U n ite d S ta te s w ith th e in te n t to d is tr ib u te ou t si de the U ni t ed S t at es , there i s no v i ol at i on of § 8 41 (a )( 1) or § 8 46 . ” I d. at 1313. W e di d not e tha tthi s c i r c ui tha d appl i e d § 841( a ) ( 1) a nd § 846 e xtr a t e rr i t or i a l l y i n s om e c i r c um s t a nc e s . I d. a t1312. E a c h t i m e w e ha d done s o, ho w ever , “ som e other nexus t o the U ni t ed S t at es al l ow ed for e xtra t erri t ori al ap p l i cat i o n o f § 8 4 1 (a)(1 ): d efen d an t s ei th er p o ssessed o r co n sp i red t o p o ssess control l ed subst ance s w i thi n the U ni t ed S t at es , or i nt ended t o d i stri bu t e c on trol l ed s ubs t a nc e s w i thi n the U ni t e d S t a t e s . ” I d. A s are sul tof ou r dec i si on i n L op ez -V anegas , the go vernm enthas c on ce ded th at: “ [T ]h e d istrict co u rt co m m itted re v er sib le er ro r w h en itre fu se d B en b o w ’s r e que s t e d j ury i ns truc t i on, w hi c h w oul d ha ve r e qui r e d the U ni t e d S t a t e s t o pr ove thatB enbo w had con spi re d t o ei ther posse ss or di stri bu t e the cocai ne i n the U ni t ed10

S ta te s .” G o v e rn m e n t’s N o v e m b e r3 0 , 2 0 0 7 C o n c e s s io n o f E rr o rL e tte r . T h is c a s e m us tbe s e ntba c k t o the di s tr i c tc our t . T he que s t i on i s w he the ri ts houl d be s e ntba c k f

orr e tr i a l w i th di r e c t i ons tha tthe om i tt e d j ury i ns truc t i on be gi ve n or i ns t e a d w i th di r e c t i ons tha taj udgm e ntof a c qui tt a l be e nt e r e d. T he a ns w e rturns on w he the rthe r e w a s e nough e vi de nc e a tthe tr i a l t o c onvi c tB e nbow of c ons pi r i ng t o pos s e s s ordi s tr i but e c ontr ol l e d s ubs t a nc e s w i thi n the U ni t e d S t a t e s . I f s o, he m ay b e retri ed ; i f n o t , th en n o t . S ee L o p ez-V an eg as, 4 9 3 F . 3 d at1 3 1 3 ; see al so M on ge v. C al i forni a, 52 4 U . S . 72 1, 72 9, 11 8 S . C t . 22 46 , 22 51 (199 8) (“ [W ] here a n appe a l s c ourtove rturns ac onvi c t i on on the gr ound tha tthe pr os e c ut i on p r o f f e r e d in s u f

f ic ie n t e v id e n c e o f

g u ilt, th a t f

in d in g is c o m p ar ab le to a n a c q u itta l, an d th e D o u b l e Jeo p ard y C l au se p recl u d es a seco n d tri al . ”); B u rk s v . U n i t ed S t at es, 4 3 7 U .S . 1 , 1 8 , 9 8 S . C t. 2 1 4 1 , 2 1 5 0

– 5 1 ( 1 9 7 8 ) ( “[ W ]e h o ld to d a y th a t th e D o u b le J e opa r dy C l aus e pr e c l ude s as e c ond tr i a l onc e the r e vi e w i ng c our tha s f ound evi dence l egal l y i nsuffi ci ent . ”) . III. W e r evi ew de no vo the suff i ci encyof the evi dence s up po rt i ng a c ri m i nal conv i ct i on . U ni t ed S t at es v. G ar ci a, 40 5 F . 3d 12 60 , 12 69 (11th C i r. 20 05 ). In doi ng s o, w e “ vi e w the e vi de nc e i n the l i ghtm os tf a vor abl e t o the G ove rnm e nta nd de c i de w he the rar e a s onabl e j ur orc oul d ha ve r e a c he d ac onc l us i on of gui l tbe y ond11

a r ea sonabl e dou bt . ” U ni t ed S t at es v. F aust , 45 6 F . 3d 13 42 , 13 45 (11th C i r. 20 06 ). W e d r a w a ll r e a s o n ab le in f e r e n c e s f r o m th e e v id e n c e in f

a v o ro f th e v e r d ic t. U ni t ed S t at es v. R ob ert son, 49 3 F . 3d 13 22 , 13 29 (11th C i r. 20 07 ). T hi s s t andard of re vi ew , as w e have not ed, i s “ st ac ked i n the go vernm ent ’ s f avor. ” U ni t ed S t at es v . M o o r e , 5 0 4 F .3 d 1 3 4 5 , 1 3 4 8 ( 1 1 th C ir . 2 0 0 7 ) . T h e r e is n o e v id e n c e th a t B e n b o w a n d h is c o - c o n s p ir a to r s in te n d e d to di stri bu t e i n thi s c ou ntrythe cocai ne they w ant ed t o p urchas e f rom the un derc ov er a ge nt s , buttha tdoe s notpr e c l ude ac onvi c t i on f orvi ol a t i on of

21 U . S . C . §§ 84 1(a) (1), and 8 46 . T he st atut e i s vi ol at ed by po ss es si on of cocai ne i n thi s c ou ntry e ve n w he r e the i nt e nti s t o di s tr i but e i tout s i de thi s c ountry . S e e U ni t e d S t a t e s v. M o n to ya , 7 8 2 F .2 d 1 5 5 4 , 1 5 5 5 (1 1 th C ir. 1 9 8 6 ) ( u p h o ld in g a d ef en d an t’ s c onvi c t i on unde r§ 841( a ) ( 1) w he r e he pos s e s s e d c oc a i ne i n thi s c ountry but i nt e nde d t o di s tr i but e i ti n C a na da ) ; s e e a l s o U ni t e d S t a t e s v. M ue nc h, 694 F . 2d 28, 33 (2d C i r. 19 82 ) ( “ In thi s c as e . . . the appel l ant s, w i th i nt entt o d i stri bu t e, po ss es se d con traband w i thi n the t erri t ory of the U ni t ed S t at es . T he ac tual po ss es si on on U ni t ed S t at es t erri t ory s up pl i es the j uri sdi ct i on al nexu s and ob vi at es the need for proof of i nt entt o d i stri bu t e w i thi n the U ni t ed S t at es . ”) ; U ni t ed S t at es v . G o m ez -T o stad o , 5 9 7 F .2 d 1 7 0 , 1 7 2

– 7 3 (9 th C ir. 1 9 7 9 ) ( u p h o ld in g a d ef en d an t’ s c onvi c t i on unde r§ 841( a ) ( 1) w he r e he pos s e s s e d he r oi n i n thi s c ountry but12

i nt e nde d t o di s tr i but e i ti n M e xi c o) . B e nbow ’ s ow n r e que s t e d j ury i ns truc t i on r e c o g n iz e s a s m u c h , p e rm ittin g c o n v ic tio n o n af in d in g th a t h e c o n s p ir e d e ith e rto p o s s e s s o rd is tr ib u te th e c o c a in e in th is c o u n try . T h e q u est i o n co m es d o w n t o w h eth er th e ev i d en ce, v i ew ed i n th e l i g h tm o st fav o rab l e t o th e g o v ern m en t , an d d raw i n g al l reaso n ab l e i n feren ces th atw ay, w oul d pe rm i taj ury t o f i nd be y ond ar e a s onabl e doubttha tthe r e w a s a n a gr e e m e nt on the pu rc hase si de of the nego t i at i on s. T o con vi ctB enbo w of conspi ra cyas ch arg ed th e ag reem en th ad t o b e b etw een h i m an d so m eo n e el se o n th e p u rch ase s i de , a nd i tha d t o i nc l ude orc ont e m pl a t e e i the rdi r e c torc ons truc t i ve pos s e s s i on of c o c a in e in th is c o u n try b e f o r e th e d ru g s w e r e to b e d is tr ib u te d in a n o th e rc o u n try . F a r id to ld B e n b o w o n F e b ru a ry 2 4 , 2 0 0 4 th a t th e c o c a in e h a d b e e n m o v e d to E urop e, so any c on spi ra cyam on g the w ou l d-be pu rc hase rs thati ncl ud ed po ss es si ng the drug s i n thi s c ou ntryw ou l d h ave had t o h ave been formed b y that d a te . T he r e w a s m or e tha n e nough e vi de nc e t o pr ove tha tB e nbow w a s a c t i ng on b e h a lf o f ag r o u p w h o w a n te d to p u r c h a s e ala r g e a m o u n t o f c o c a in e . F a r id te s tif ie d , a n d th e g o v e rn m e n t’s r e c o r d in g o f th e J a n u a ry 2 2 , 2 0 0 4 c o n f e r e n c e c a ll show ed, thatB enbo w t ol d the pu rport ed se l l er s thathe had l ocat ed po t ent i al bu ye rs for the cocai ne. B enbo w sa i d thathi s buyer s w ant ed a l ar ge am ou ntof cocai ne,13

e xpl a i ni ng tha the ha d “ m e tw i th [ the buy e r s ] t oda y [ a nd] the y a r e tr i pl e pos i t i ve o n p a rtic ip a tin g in w h a t is atr a n s a c tio n .” B e n b o w f u r th e re x p la in e d th a t h is r o le w a s t o m a ke the ne c e s s a ry i ntr oduc t i ons f orthe tr a ns a c t i on t o oc c ur . A tthe e nd of the c onf e r e nc e c a l l , B e nbow a gr e e d t o br i ng the othe rc ons pi r a t or s on the buy i ng si de t o F l ori da so they c ou l d m ee tw i th the se l l er s. A tthatm ee t i ng , w hi ch w as he l d on F e brua ry 9, 2004, c o- c ons pi r a t orJ one s t ol d the purpor t e d s e l l e r s tha the w o u ld ta k e c a r e o f

p a y in g B e n b o w f

o rB e n b o w ’s in v o lv e m e n t in th e tr a n s a c tio n . Th e r e w a s a l s o p l e n ty o f e v i d e n c e th a tBe n b o w a n d h i s c o h o r t s i n c r i me b e lie v e d th a t th e c o c a in e th e y w e r e n e g o tia tin g to p u r c h a s e w a s lo c a te d in th is coun try . F ar i d t es t i fi ed thatthe pu rpose of the F ebruary9, 20 04 m ee t i ng , w hi ch o c c u rr e d in T a m p a , F lo r id a , w a s “to n e g o tia te th e tr a n s p o r ta tio n o f th e c o c a in e to E ur ope , a nd the r a t e [ the c o- c ons pi r a t or s w e r e ] goi ng t o pa y f ori t , t o pa y f

orthe transpo rt at i on , and j ustt o n egot i at e the drug deal . ” T h e g o v ern m en tal so i ntr oduc e d a s e vi de nc e ar e c or di ng of the F e brua ry 9, 2004 m e e t i ng. A tthe m e e tin g F a r id to ld J o n e s , w h o w a s r e p r e s e n tin g th e c o c a in e b u y e r s , th a t h e c o u ld a rr a nge the tr a ns port a t i on of the drugs t o E ur ope orJ one s c oul d t a ke pos s e s s i on of the m i n the U ni t e d S t a t e s a tal oc a t i on of J one s ’ c hoos i ng: “ [ Y ] ou w a nti ti n O hi o, I’ l l g i v e i tt o yo u i n O h i o ; yo u w an ti ti n K en tu ck y, I’ l l g i v e i tt o yo u i n K en tu ck y, al ri gh t ? ”14

A t o n e p o in t a n o th e ro f

th e p u rp o r te d s e lle r s , D a v id S ie g e l, to ld J o n e s th a t if the buy e r s w a nt e d “ t o a rr a nge the w hol e c i r c l e t o go a nd . . . s t a r ta nd e nd i n the U n ite d S ta te s , y o u ’r e v e ry w e lc o m e .” J o n e s r e s p o n d e d th a t “[ i]f y o u c a n d o it in to the nextcoun tryup , I c ou l d p robabl y do i t . ” S i egel then t ol d Jon es that“ N ew Y ork i s e ve n e a s i e r , ” butJ one s s a i d he ha d “ ba d e xpe r i e nc e s i n N e w Y ork C i ty a nd N ew Y ork. ” F ar i d al so t es t i fi ed thatdu ri ng the m ee t i ng tw o o f the co-conspi ra t ors sa m pl ed the cocai ne thatthe pu rport ed se l l er s had brou gh tt o sho w the pu rc hase rs w h a t th e y w o u ld b e g e ttin g . T h e c o - c o n s p ir a to r s ’ g o a l w a s to d is tr ib u te th e c o c a in e o u ts id e th is c o u n try . T h e c o c a in e w a s n o t g o in g to tr a n s p o r t its e lf . S o m e o n e w o u ld h a v e to tr a n s p o rt it f o rth e c o n s p ir a c y to s u c c e e d . B e n b o w a n d th e o th e rc o n s p ir a to r s d is c u s s e d w ith the pu rport ed se l l er s m ov i ng the cocai ne t o a po i ntou t si de of thi s c ou ntry . A j ury r e a s onabl y c oul d f

i nd f r om the e vi de nc e tha tthe c ons pi r a c y i nc l ude d ha vi ng the s e l l e r s tr a ns portthe c oc a i ne f r om thi s c ountry t o anothe ra tthe di r e c t i on of the pu rc hase rs . T ho se w ho have prop erty, i ncl ud i ng i l l egal drug s, m ov ed by others at th e ird ir e c tio n an df

o rth e irp u rp o s e s c o n s tru c tiv e ly p o s s e s s th a t p r o p e r ty w h ile it is be i ng m ove d. U ni t e d S t a t e s v. $38, 000. 00 i n U ni t e d S t a t e s C urr e nc y , 816 F . 2d 15 38 , 15 44 (11th C i r. 19 87 ); U ni t ed S t at es v. G l ori a, 49 4 F . 2d 47 7, 48 2 (5th C i r.In our en ba nc dec ision Bonner

v. City of Prichard, 661 F.2d 1206, 1209 ( 11th Cir. 1 1981), weadopted a s binding pre cedent all decisions of the for mer F ifth Circuit handed down prior to October 1, 1981. 15 19 74 ); U ni t ed S t at es v. H ernand ez , 44 1 F . 2d 15 7, 15 9– 64 (5th C i r. 19 71 ). It 1 fol l ow s thatthere i s s uffi ci entevi dence thatthe conspi ra cyi ncl ud ed an i nt entt o at le a s t c o n s tru c tiv e ly p o s s e s s th e c o c a in e in th is c o u n try . T he f a c ttha tthe buy e r - c ons pi r a t or s w e r e t ol d on F e brua ry 24, 2004 tha tthe c oc a i ne ha d be e n m ove d t o E ur ope a f t e rthe F e brua ry 9 m e e t i ng doe s notrul e out a n e a r l i e ra gr e e m e nta m ong thos e c ons pi r a t or s t o ha ve the drugs m ove d out s i de of th is c o u n try . I f

a n y th in g , it in d ic a te s th a t th e y w e r e s u c c e s s f u l in h a v in g it d o n e . O ura na l y s i s i s a l s o una f f e c t e d by the f

a c ttha ta tthe F e brua ry 9, 2004 m e e tin g J o n e s to ld F a r id th a t h e w o u ld n ’t “a g r e e o rd is a g r e e o n a n y th in g ” w ith r e s p e c t to th e c o c a in e tr a n s a c tio n . T he conspi ra cyi n q uest i on i s noton e betw ee n the se l l er s and the bu ye rs . B ec ause al l of the se l l er s w er e off i ci al or un offi ci al a ge nt s f orthe gove rnm e ntthe y c oul d notbe c o- c ons pi r a t or s . S e e U ni t e d S t a t e s v. W ri gh t , 63 F . 3d 10 67 , 10 72 (11th C i r. 19 95 ) ( “ [I ] tt akes atl ea sttw o t o con spi re nei ther of w hi ch m aybe go vernm entagent s or i nform er s. A ny agre em entbetw ee n the C I a nd [ the de f

e nda nt ] t o buy a nd s e l l c oc a i ne c a n notf orm the ba s i s of

the conspi ra cy . ”) . T hatJones, the nego t i at or for the bu ye rs ’ si de, t ol d the pu rport ed se l l er s thathe w as no tgo i ng t o agree t o anythi ng w i th them atthatt i m e, “ [b] utl etThe g overnment has not argued that B enbow c ould be convicte d on a theor y of aiding 2 and a bettingthec on sp irac y, a

nd ac c ording ly

weha venooc c a sio n tode c idewh e ther t hat isa viable theor

y under theevidenc e. 16 m e, l etm e go b ac k, ” does notprec l ud e the bu ye rs fr om havi ng al re ady a gree d am on g them se l ves t o tryand fi nd coca i ne i n thi s c ou ntryand h ave i ttranspo rt ed o u ts id e o f

th is c o u n try f

o rd is tr ib u tio n e ls e w h e r e . T hi s c a s e i s di f

f e r e ntf r om L ope z - V a ne ga s be c aus e i n tha tc a s e the c oc a i ne w a s n e v e rto b e m o v e d f r o m ap o in t in s id e th e U n ite d S ta te s to ap o in t o u ts id e o f it. S e e L o p e z - V a n e g a s , 4 9 3 F .3 d a t 1 3 1 1 . T h a t c o c a in e w a s n e v e rin th is c o u n try . T here w as no evi dence i n L op ez -V anegas fr om w hi ch a j ury c ou l d rea sonabl y i nfer th a t th e c o n s p ir a to r s h a d e v e ra g r e e d a m o n g th e m s e lv e s to p o s s e s s , e ith e rd ir e c tly orc ons truc t i ve l y , the c oc a i ne i n thi s c ountry . S e e i d. a t1308–11. I n thi s c a s e the ju ry r e a s o n ab ly c o u ld in f e rf r o m th e e v id e n c e v ie w e d in th e lig h t m o s t f a v o r ab le to the go vernm entthatB enbo w w as partof a c on spi ra cyt o b uy coca i ne i n the U ni t ed S t at es an d t o h av e i ttran sp o rt ed o u t si d e o f th i s co u n try. 2 I V. T he j udgm e ntof

c onvi c t i on i s R E V E R S E D a nd the c a s e i s R E M A N D E D f or an e w tr ia l.