Opinion ID: 621480
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Evidentiary Sufficiency: Methamphetamine and Marijuana

Text: Diaz-Pellegaud next challenges the sufficiency of the evidence for his convictions for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and conspiring to distribute marijuana, both in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846. To establish that a defendant conspired to distribute drugs under 21 U.S.C. § 846, the government must prove: (1) that there was a conspiracy, i.e., an agreement to distribute the drugs; (2) that the defendant knew of the conspiracy; and (3) that the defendant intentionally joined the conspiracy. United States v. Jiminez, 487 F.3d 1140, 1146 (8th Cir.2007) (quoting United States v. Espino, 317 F.3d 788, 792 (8th Cir.2003)). Detailed evidence supports these convictions. Verdugo-Galaviz testified at trial that Diaz-Pellegaud approached him in Phoenix, proposing that he sell drugs for him and recruit others to do the same. Verdugo-Galaviz stated that he agreed to this proposal and then successfully recruited others to distribute and personally distributed both methamphetamine and marijuana that he received from Diaz-Pellegaud. Verdugo-Galaviz described how he, Diaz-Pellegaud, and others would unload methamphetamine and marijuana from hidden compartments in freight trains in locations including Fargo, North Dakota, and Salt Lake City, Utah. He also explained how, working with others, he began to distribute Diaz-Pellegaud's drugs in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Other drug dealers corroborated this account of Diaz-Pellegaud's central role in both the smuggling and distribution of drugs. Once again, the jury's determinations of witness credibility are virtually unreviewable on appeal. Boyce, 564 F.3d at 916 (quoting United States v. Gomez-Perez, 452 F.3d 739, 743 (8th Cir.2006)). Diaz-Pellegaud's alias Fael also was found in a drug ledger found at the Menlo Avenue house, and he personally was arrested in a pickup truck containing approximately 160 pounds of marijuana. The evidence presented, considered in the light most favorable to the government, resolving conflicts in the government's favor, and accepting all reasonable inferences that support the verdict, Yarrington, 634 F.3d at 449, was easily sufficient to support the jury's convictions on both conspiracy counts. Accordingly, we affirm these convictions.