Opinion ID: 202709
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: 36 Following the guilty verdict at the 2004 trial, the jury returned a special verdict in which it found that at least $500,000 and a pair of diamond earrings seized by the government were derived, directly or indirectly, from the conspiracy. 4 A forfeiture verdict must be supported by a preponderance of the evidence. United States v. Keene, 341 F.3d 78, 86 (1st Cir. 2003); United States v. Rogers, 102 F.3d 641, 648 (1st Cir.1996). We have no problem finding a sufficient evidentiary basis for the jury's verdict here. 37 The evidence in support of the forfeiture verdict at the 2004 trial included Mickens's testimony, as well as several records documenting expenditures by Pierre. Mickens testified that from the time she moved to Fall River in 1998 until she developed a relationship with Pierre the following year, she saw Pierre exchanging money with others in various locations. She further testified that during the period of her involvement with Pierre—from summer 1999 until her arrest in September 2001—Pierre admitted to her that he had been in the drug business for years, and she observed Pierre regularly obtain cocaine from a source in Brockton and sell crack to customers in Fall River and New Bedford. Mickens testified that she drove Pierre to his source in Brockton [q]uite a bit, once a week, twice a week, sometimes more, and that she drove Pierre around Fall River [j]ust about every day so that he could collect money or drop off ounces. She also testified that she sold crack for Pierre, and at the height of her involvement she sold up to $3000 worth of crack per night; she further indicated that if Pierre did not need her to drive him around, she was in the bar [selling drugs] from the time they opened, all day. Mickens also stated that she collected at least $1000 two times per week from Pierre's biggest wholesale customers, and that Pierre also collected money from them. Finally, Mickens testified that she observed Pierre cook up part of a half-kilogram of cocaine that he had obtained in Florida. 38 The documentary evidence presented by the government showed that during the course of the conspiracy Pierre spent over $6000 on motel rooms, over $22,000 on cars, and deposited and withdrew nearly $40,000 from a bank account. He also spent at least $4700 on jewelry. Finally, he paid the living expenses of Mickens, totaling over $12,000 per year, and the expenses of his children and their mother. Mickens testified that Pierre had no job other than drug dealing. At the time Mickens met Pierre, he did have a used car lot, but Mickens testified that he used the car lot to deal drugs and sold only one or two cars before getting rid of the lot a couple of months after she had met him. 39 Although one cannot, based on this testimony and documentary evidence, tally specific amounts to arrive at $500,000, the government may satisfy its burden of proof by either direct or circumstantial evidence. United States v. Houlihan, 92 F.3d 1271, 1299 (1st Cir.1996). From the time of her involvement in 1999, Mickens estimated that she earned or collected between $3400 and over $20,000 per week in drug money for Pierre. The jury could easily have inferred from the evidence presented that on average Pierre sold at least $3000 worth of cocaine or crack each week over the life of the conspiracy. Such an inference supports the jury's finding that $500,000 was forfeitable.