Opinion ID: 517661
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Grier's Participation in the Single Conspiracy

Text: 89 Grier contends on appeal that the evidence adduced at trial failed to establish anything more than that the co-defendants in this case were consumers competing for a scarce commodity in a seller's market and that there was not even a hint that Grier had an interest in, or knowledge of, anything Pipito may have been doing in addition to selling him cocaine. Moreover, Grier argues that none of the evidence relating to the co-defendants or other co-conspirators establishes that Grier had an interest in, or knowledge of, their activities. Thus, Grier argues on appeal that he was merely a customer of Pipito rather than a full-fledged member of Pipito's conspiracy. We disagree. 90 The contents of the 12 intercepted phone calls between Grier or his wife with Pipito over a one-month period clearly demonstrate Grier's knowing participation in an ongoing Milwaukee, Wisconsin, drug conspiracy which included kingpin Anthony Pipito, Sr., and others. The October 29, 1984, conversations between Grier, his wife, and Pipito demonstrate a direct relationship close enough to have Pipito personally deliver drugs to Grier at Grier's apartment. Grier's clear involvement in the single overall conspiracy is further confirmed by Schill's November 25, 1984, conversation with Pipito. Schill asked Pipito, Did you front anybody else's stuff? Later in the same call Schill asked, Anybody else got the stuff? And the conversation continued: 91 PIPITO: Yes. Other people got their stuff. 92 SCHILL: I wanted an ... like on my side. 93 PIPITO: No, no, no. No. Ah, just ... 94 SCHILL: No niggers? 95 PIPITO: Chuck. SCHILL: Chuck, O.K. 26 96 The record also reflects that Grier also knew facts which would reasonably lead him to an awareness of Pipito's involvement with others in drug conspiracy activities. Grier knew that Pipito went to Florida in November 1984 as evidenced by the fact that Grier phoned Pipito the day after his return and asked him How was your trip? He also told Pipito in that conversation that he was thirsty as hell and could use about four beers to which Pipito said, Good. This was obviously a code word message requesting Pipito to deliver to Grier some of the drugs Pipito obtained. The jury could permissibly infer that Grier knew that Pipito was going to Florida to purchase drugs and could very logically infer from this and other factual circumstances that Grier knew he was participating in a larger drug enterprise. It was certainly logical and reasonable for the jury to conclude, based upon Pipito's Florida trips and his knowledge that Pipito used a beeper for messages (a fact reflective of a broad conspiracy), that he was part of a drug conspiracy which extended well beyond Pipito and himself. As the Supreme Court stated in Blumenthal v. United States, 332 U.S. 539, 558, 68 S.Ct. 248, 257, 92 L.Ed. 154 (1947): 97 [T]he salesmen knew or must have known that others unknown to them were sharing in so large a project; and it hardly can be sufficient to relieve them that they did not know, when they joined the scheme, who those people were or exactly the parts they were playing in carrying out the common design and object of all. By their separate agreements, if such they were, they became parties to the larger common plan, joined together by their knowledge of its essential features and broad scope, though not of its exact limits, and by their common single goal. 98