Opinion ID: 157359
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Insufficiency of the Evidence and Variance

Text: Adkins and Vaziri contend that there was insufficient evidence to convict them of any conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. In addition, Quarterman and Vaziri argue that there was a prejudicial variance between Count One of the indictment and the evidence of conspiracy presented at trial. These latter claims regarding variance are also essentially arguments about the sufficiency of evidence: they argue that the evidence was insufficient to show the single unitary conspiracy charged in the indictment. See United States v. Daily , 921 F.2d 994, 1007 (10th Cir. 1990), overruled on other grounds by United States v. Gaudin , 515 U.S. 506 (1995) ( overruling recognized in United States v. Wiles , 102 F.3d 1043, 1054 (10th Cir. 1996) (en banc)). In addressing these claims challenging the sufficiency of the evidence, we review the record de novo, viewing the circumstantial and direct evidence along with the reasonable inferences therefrom in the light most favorable to the government, to determine whether a reasonable jury could find Quarterman, -19- Adkins, and Vaziri guilty of a single conspiracy beyond a reasonable doubt. See United States v. Voss , 82 F.3d 1521, 1524-25 (10th Cir. 1996); Daily , 921 F.2d at 1007. Conspiracy requires proof of (1) an agreement with another person to break the law; (2) knowledge of the essential objectives of the conspiracy; (3) knowing and voluntary involvement in the conspiracy; and (4) interdependence among the alleged conspirators. United States v. Lopez , 100 F.3d 113, 118 (10th Cir. 1996). “Generally, it is sufficient for purposes of a single-conspiracy finding that a conspirator knowingly participated with a core conspirator in achieving a common objective with knowledge of the larger venture.” Daily , 921 F.2d at 1008. Quarterman contends that “[t]he evidence, at best, points toward three users and sometime retailers, often acting independently, but occasionally co-operating with one other defendant for the duration of a particular transaction or joint venture.” Quarterman Br. at 17. Adkins argues that although he may have been present during illegal transactions, “[a]t best, the evidence merely reveals that Corey Adkins was a buyer/user.” Adkins Br. at 14. Vaziri argues that he distributed drugs independent of his mother and brother, and that to the extent he may have been involved in their dealings, such involvement was merely incidental. We think that the jury was justified in concluding otherwise. In the first place, there was considerable evidence of conspiratorial agreement and -20- cooperation between Quarterman and Adkins. Quarterman told Agent Peters that Adkins had gone to California to get the methamphetamine she sold to Peters, and estimated that Adkins had obtained a total of five ounces. Quarterman repeatedly answered Agent Peters’ queries about obtaining an entire ounce by raising the possibility that Adkins would sell such a quantity. She eventually told Peters that Adkins would sell only grams. Then, circumstantial evidence supports, and indeed appears to compel, the conclusion that Adkins supplied two grams of methamphetamine to Quarterman for resale on March 14, 1997. Quarterman and Adkins also cooperated in their use of the Mill Inn records to expose the undercover operation. While it would be possible to conclude from the record that Vaziri did some independent drug dealing and that he was involved in the conspiracy to a lesser degree than Adkins and Quarterman, there was sufficient evidence for the jury to conclude that Vaziri did concur in and promote the conspiracy’s illegal objectives. Wiberg’s testimony tends to show that Quarterman, Adkins, and Vaziri were involved in a joint operation to sell drugs and that they protected each others’ interests. And during Addington’s March 13, 1997 phone call to Quarterman where Vaziri is heard in the background, even though Vaziri apparently told Quarterman that he didn’t know how much methamphetamine Adkins had, the fact that Quarterman asked Vaziri this question permits an -21- inference that Quarterman, Adkins, and Vaziri shared information and cooperated in making drugs available. In addition, Vaziri supplied the LSD that Quarterman sold Addington, and Vaziri was present with Quarterman at the site of the transaction. This tends to show that Vaziri “knowingly participated with a core conspirator in achieving a common objective with knowledge of the larger venture.” Daily , 921 F.2d at 1008. In sum, while it is possible to credit appellants’ arguments that their drugselling activities were only loosely integrated, those arguments do not save them where each was aware of and complicit in the larger venture. The evidence was sufficient to show that Quarterman, Adkins, and Vaziri knowingly agreed to cooperate in the distribution of illegal substances.