Opinion ID: 3064963
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The 2005 Planned Transaction

Text: [4] Although the 2005 transaction was not completed because Munoz was unable to secure the cocaine for Mincoff’s buyer, the recorded telephone calls reflect that Mincoff and Munoz planned to incorporate fronting into their second transaction. In fact, Mincoff specifically asked Munoz to deliver the drugs directly to him to save time. In both the 2004 and 2005 transactions, the existence of a deferred payment arrangement supports the conclusion that Mincoff was engaged in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine. See United States v. Johnson, 437 F.3d 665, 676 (7th Cir. 2006) (noting that fronting demonstrated trust between the parties and was sufficient to establish that there was a “continuing and mutually profitable relationship to distribute drugs”) (citation omitted). We are persuaded by precedent from our sister circuits that evidence of fronting may support a conviction for conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. See United States v. Bender, 539 F.3d 449, 454 (7th Cir. 2008) (“[S]elling drugs on credit is especially indicative of a conspiracy because it gives the seller a stake in the buyer’s successful resale of the drugs.”) (citation omitted); see also United States v. Pizano, 421 F.3d 707, 719-20 (8th Cir. 2005) (relying on evidence of fronting over five-year period to uphold conviction for conspiracy to distribute). UNITED STATES v. MINCOFF 9993