Opinion ID: 557219
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Drug-Related Offenses.

Text: 16 Gallo challenges the sufficiency of the evidence to sustain his convictions for conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to distribute, and for aiding and abetting the possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. In reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence, this court must examine the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict and uphold the conviction  'if a rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the offense beyond a reasonable doubt.'  United States v. Rodriguez-Mireles, 896 F.2d 890, 892 (5th Cir.1990) (quoting United States v. Ayala, 887 F.2d 62, 67 (5th Cir.1989)). Further, this court accepts all credibility choices that tend to support the jury's verdict. United States v. Yamin, 868 F.2d 130, 133 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 109 S.Ct. 3258, 106 L.Ed.2d 603 (1989). 17 To establish a drug conspiracy, the government must prove: (1) the existence of an agreement between two or more persons to violate federal narcotics laws; (2) that the defendant knew of the agreement; and, (3) that the defendant voluntarily participated in the agreement. United States v. Magee, 821 F.2d 234, 239 (5th Cir.1987) (citing United States v. Natel, 812 F.2d 937, 940 (5th Cir.1987)). The Government is not required to prove the existence of the conspiracy and the agreement between the co-conspirators and the defendant by direct evidence, but may present circumstantial evidence, such as the co-conspirator's concerted actions, from which the jury can infer that a conspiracy existed. Id. (citing United States v. Vergara, 687 F.2d 57, 61 (5th Cir.1982)). The existence of the agreement, the defendant's knowledge of the agreement, and the defendant's participation in the conspiracy may be inferred from the  'development and collocation of circumstances.'  United States v. Lentz, 823 F.2d 867, 868 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 484 U.S. 957, 108 S.Ct. 354, 98 L.Ed.2d 380 (1987) (quoting Vergara, 687 F.2d at 61). Although mere presence at the scene of the crime or close association with co-conspirators will not alone support an inference of participation in a conspiracy, presence or association is one factor that the jury may rely on, along with other evidence, in finding conspiratorial activity by a defendant. Magee, 821 F.2d at 239 (citing Natel, 812 F.2d at 940-41). 18 Gallo argues that the evidence is insufficient to establish that he knew the conspiracy existed and intentionally participated in it. Gallo also argues that there was insufficient evidence to establish that he knew the contents of the box recovered from his car. The Government responds that Gallo's participation in the conspiracy was established by circumstances showing a concert of action among Gallo, Balcazar, and Cruz. First, Cruz and Gallo met in a public place shortly after Cruz placed a call from a public telephone. Drug traffickers commonly arrange meetings following these procedures. Next, Gallo and Cruz drove to a nearby location where they conversed briefly, then simultaneously opened the rear doors of their cars and exchanged the box containing the currency. Gallo accepted the box from Cruz and it was later determined that Balcazar's fingerprints were on the aluminum-foil packets of money in the box. A large sum of money and a ledger were inside the box. The box that Gallo received was similar in appearance to a box containing $300,000 in currency, also wrapped in aluminum-foil packets, that Cruz transferred to Balcazar in exchange for over twenty-five pounds of cocaine. From these circumstances, the jury could reasonably infer that a conspiracy existed among Gallo, Cruz, and Balcazar. Along with the evidence showing the large quantity of money and the money counting machine recovered from Balcazar's residence, and the large quantity of cocaine recovered from Cruz's residence the jury could reasonably infer that the object of the conspiracy was the possession and distribution of narcotics for profit. 19 To infer Gallo's awareness of the nature of the conspiracy and his participation in it, the jury was entitled to consider the concerted action of Gallo, Balcazar, and Cruz, and the development of the circumstances. The Government established Gallo's knowledge of the contents of the box recovered from his car by reasonable inferences drawn from his control over the box and his inconsistent statements disclaiming knowledge of how the box got into his car. See United States v. Martinez-Mercado, 888 F.2d 1484, 1491 (5th Cir.1989) (inconsistency in explanations allows for an inference of guilty knowledge). Therefore, the jury could reasonably conclude from the evidence that Gallo knew that he was transporting approximately $300,000 that was separated in aluminum-foil packets, and a ledger sheet. 20 From Gallo's knowing possession of such a large sum of money, which represented a necessary part of the conspiracy, it was reasonable for the jury to conclude that Gallo knew the object of the conspiracy. Drug traffickers are unlikely to entrust a large portion of the proceeds from their illicit trade to an outsider, especially when the outsider is aware of the valuable nature of the merchandise that he is transporting. This court has stated that: 21 conduct consisting only of involvement in a single transaction may nevertheless be treated as rationally permitting the inference of knowledge of the broader conspiracy when the single act itself shows so much familiarity with or high level participation in the overall conspiracy as to be in and of itself indicative of the broader conspiracy. 22 United States v. Hawkins, 661 F.2d 436, 454 (5th Cir. Unit B 1981), cert. denied, sub nom. McCain v. United States, 456 U.S. 991, 102 S.Ct. 2274, 73 L.Ed.2d 1287 (1982) (quoting United States v. Torres, 503 F.2d 1120, 1124 (2d Cir.1974)). In this case, the evidence that Gallo was solely entrusted with a large portion of the proceeds of the drug trafficking enterprise establishes his familiarity with, or high level participation in, that enterprise. Therefore, the jury could reasonably conclude that such evidence established his knowledge of the broader conspiracy. Viewing these circumstances cumulatively, in the light most favorable to the verdict, there is sufficient evidence to support Gallo's conviction for conspiracy to possess cocaine with the intent to distribute. 23 To convict a defendant of possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute under 21 U.S.C. Sec. 841(a)(1), the Government must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant (1) knowingly (2) possessed cocaine (3) with intent to distribute it. United States v. Richardson, 848 F.2d 509, 511 (5th Cir.1988). The proof that the defendant knowingly possesses contraband will usually depend on inference and circumstantial evidence. Id. at 514. However, when the evidence is sufficient to establish the defendant's participation in a conspiracy to possess illegal narcotics, the defendant will be deemed to possess narcotics through his co-conspirator's possession. United States v. Medina, 887 F.2d 528, 532 (5th Cir.1989) (citations omitted). 24 To convict a defendant of aiding and abetting under 18 U.S.C. Sec. 2, the Government must prove (1) that the defendant associated with the criminal venture, (2) participated in the venture, and (3) sought by action to make the venture succeed. Medina, 887 F.2d at 532. The defendant must share the principal's criminal intent and engage in some affirmative conduct designed to aid the venture. Id. The evidence that supports a conviction for conspiracy can also be used to support a conviction for aiding and abetting in the possession of illegal narcotics with intent to distribute. United States v. Sandoval, 847 F.2d 179, 184 (5th Cir.1988). The same evidence that establishes Gallo's knowing and voluntary participation in the conspiracy also establishes his association with the criminal venture and participation in it. Because the evidence is sufficient to support Gallo's conspiracy conviction, and Gallo is deemed to have possessed cocaine through his co-conspirator's possession, we conclude that the evidence was sufficient to support his conviction for aiding and abetting the possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute. 25