Opinion ID: 2979142
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Joshua’s Conviction

Text: Joshua argues that the evidence was insufficient to support his conviction for conspiracy to distribute over 100 kilograms of marijuana and 5 kilograms of cocaine, and his conviction on two counts of using a communications facility to facilitate a drug transaction. With regard to the drug convictions, there is substantial and competent evidence to support the judgment. While it is true—as Joshua emphasizes—that the search of his residence uncovered only a small amount of marijuana, there is sufficient additional evidence which supports the judgment. Joshua provided the drugs sold to Cessna during March 2006, providing the initial basis for the wiretaps. Matheny testified that Joshua participated in purchasing drugs from Cato on those occasions where Joshua accompanied Matheny to Atlanta during March. Matheny also testified that every shipment of drugs from Atlanta was split evenly between Matheny and Joshua, and that there were at least two shipments a week, and sometimes as many as four, beginning in April or May 2006. According to Matheny, the shipments typically consisted of one kilogram of cocaine and 50 12 08-5913/5929, USA v. Smith pounds of marijuana. At two trips per week, Joshua would have received, as his share of the shipments, one kilogram of cocaine and 50 pounds of marijuana per week. Over the course of the period between April 2006 and December 2007, Joshua would have received over 30 kilograms of cocaine and over 1,000 pounds of marijuana.
There is also sufficient evidence to support the existence of a conspiracy, and Joshua’s part in the conspiracy. Specifically, Matheny’s testimony indicates that Joshua was a partner in the drug trade, receiving a 50% share in all drug shipments. There are also a number of recorded phone calls in which the revolving debts between Maldonado, Matheny, Joshua, and various distributors are mentioned, typically in connection with the purchase of drugs. Finally, while Joshua contends that the drug conspiracy consisted of Maldonado and Matheny, one recorded phone call indicates that Maldonado considered Joshua to be on an equal footing with Matheny, in terms of the conspiracy.
Joshua also challenges, on two separate grounds, the sufficiency of the evidence supporting his conviction on two counts of using a communication facility to facilitate a drug transaction. First, Joshua argues that the content of the phone calls indicates that no drug transactions took place, in that the phone calls were dominated by complaints that Maldonado and Joshua had neither drugs nor money. The government responds that the phone calls in question were clearly related to the drug conspiracy. Second, Joshua argues that there is no evidence that either Joshua or Maldonado was in the Eastern District of Tennessee, even though the undisputed evidence showed that the calls used a cell tower located in the Eastern District. Joshua treats the location of the individual placing the 13 08-5913/5929, USA v. Smith phone call as an element of the crime, and argues that the government was required to prove the location beyond a reasonable doubt. The government responds that the location of the phone calls is an issue of venue only, not an element of the crime, and that venue was shown to be proper by a preponderance of the evidence. Joshua’s first argument fails because it is well-established that the government need not prove that a specific drug transaction resulted from a communication in order to prove that the use of a communication facility “facilitated” the transaction. United States v. McLernon, 746 F.2d 1098, 1106 (6th Cir. 1984). In McLernon, the court held that a telephone statement indicating that “all [the co-conspirators] can do is wait,” when taken in context of the entire conspiracy, was sufficient to show that the phone call made fulfillment of the conspiracy’s goals easier. Id. Other Circuits have reached the same conclusion. See United Stats v. Dixon, 132 F.3d 192, 200 (5th Cir. 1997) (“[T]he government only is required to establish that [the defendant] used the telephone to facilitate an attempt to distribute drugs.”); United States v. Milton, 62 F.3d 1292, 1294 (10th Cir. 1995) (“[T]o sustain a facilitation conviction under [21 U.S.C.] § 843(b), it was not necessary to prove an actual distribution, at least where the defendant was also convicted of conspiracy.”). Joshua’s communications with Maldonado were clearly connected to the drug conspiracy and, as such, facilitated the conspiracy. See United States v. Slayton, 366 F. App’x 650, 655-56 (6th Cir. 2010). Joshua’s second argument fails because the location of the alleged violation of § 843(b) is a question of venue, not an element of the crime. As such, it need only be proved by a preponderance of the evidence. United States v. Crozier, 259 F.3d 503, 519 (6th Cir. 2001). Joshua argues that he and Maldonado both live in the Middle District of Tennessee, but when the defendant 14 08-5913/5929, USA v. Smith is charged with conspiracy, venue is proper in any district where an overt act in furtherance of the conspiracy was performed. Id. At trial, Burnette testified that the phone calls between Joshua and Maldonado utilized a cell tower in the Eastern District of Tennessee, and testified that cell phones will utilize the nearest cell tower. Joshua complains that the government failed to call an expert witness to offer this testimony, but there is no indication he ever objected to the introduction of the evidence through Burnette, rather than by calling an expert witness, so this objection is waived. See Bowman v. Corr. Corp. of Am., 350 F.3d 537, 548 (6th Cir. 2003). Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the government, a rational trier of fact could easily have concluded that the phone calls facilitated the conspiracy and that venue was proper. This evidence is substantial and competent, and is sufficient to support Joshua’s conviction.