Opinion ID: 154533
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: 9 Mr. Wilson contends the evidence was insufficient to support the jury's finding that he possessed cocaine with intent to distribute and that he was a felon in possession of a firearm or ammunition. We review the record for sufficiency of the evidence de novo. United States v. Chavez-Palacios, 30 F.3d 1290, 1294 (10th Cir.1994). Evidence is sufficient to support a conviction if a reasonable jury could find the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, given the direct and circumstantial evidence, along with reasonable inferences therefrom, taken in a light most favorable to the government. United States. v. Mains, 33 F.3d 1222, 1227 (10th Cir.1994). Rather than examining the evidence in bits and pieces, we evaluate the sufficiency of the evidence by consider[ing] the collective inferences to be drawn from the evidence as a whole. United States v. Hooks, 780 F.2d 1526, 1532 (10th Cir.1986). Thus, we must affirm the convictions if the collective inferences from the totality of that evidence could have led a reasonable jury to find beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr. Wilson possessed the requisite knowledge and intent for the underlying crimes. United States v. Johnson, 57 F.3d 968, 971 (10th Cir.1995). We address Mr. Wilson's arguments in turn. 10
11 To obtain a conviction for possession of cocaine with intent to distribute under 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), the government had to prove that Mr. Wilson (1) possessed a controlled substance; (2) knew he possessed a controlled substance; and (3) intended to distribute the controlled substance. Mains, 33 F.3d at 1228. Mr. Wilson contends the evidence was insufficient to support his conviction under § 841(a)(1). Specifically, he argues that there was insufficient evidence to connect him with the house and the cocaine found in the yard. He also argues that there was insufficient evidence to establish his alleged intent to distribute the 3.74 grams of cocaine base. 12 In reviewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the government, we find that the combination of the various pieces of evidence provides sufficient grounds for a reasonable jury to conclude that Mr. Wilson possessed the cocaine base found in the yard. The possession of a controlled substance may be either actual or constructive. Constructive possession occurs when a person knowingly has ownership, dominion or control over the narcotics and the premises where the narcotics are found. United States v. Hager, 969 F.2d 883, 888 (10th Cir.1992). While constructive possession may be demonstrated through circumstantial evidence, the government must show a sufficient nexus between the defendant and the narcotics. Id. 13 The circumstantial evidence found in the home suggests that Mr. Wilson exercised sole dominion and control over the premises and can be used to infer that he possessed the cocaine found in the Dial soap box in the yard. Even though there is no direct evidence that Mr. Wilson owned or rented the house at 2026 North Green, the circumstantial evidence demonstrates that Mr. Wilson was the only person living at the residence at the time of the search. The police found Mr. Wilson's personal belongings in an upstairs bedroom: letters and documents with Mr. Wilson's name, personal photos which included Mr. Wilson, and shoes matching Mr. Wilson's size. The police also noted that no other personal effects were found in the house. Nor was there evidence (ie., crack pipes, alcohol, steel wool, or cotton swaps) to indicate that the house served as a transient crack house. Mr. Wilson is further connected to the house and the cocaine through the glass tray and razor blade containing cocaine residue and his fingerprint. Finally, the 3.74 grams of cocaine base were in a Dial soap six-pack box, and there were six bars of Dial soap found inside the house--five of which were in the same closet as the glass tray with Mr. Wilson's fingerprint. This evidence, taken together, creates a sufficient nexus between Mr. Wilson and the cocaine found in the yard to establish that he had dominion or control over the 3.74 grams of cocaine. 14 The government also provided sufficient evidence of Mr. Wilson's intent to distribute the cocaine found in the yard. The intent to distribute, or aid or abet in distributing, cocaine could be inferred from Officer Easter's description of the events surrounding the controlled buy. While Officer Easter did not actually observe Mr. Wilson sell the cocaine to the confidential informant, he did observe Mr. Wilson greet the informant in the yard and lead him into the house where the purchase occurred. The evidence also demonstrates that the police found $359.00 on Mr. Wilson's person and a pager--both probative of cocaine distribution given that Mr. Wilson was unemployed at the time. Furthermore, the cocaine base found in the yard consisted of between 17 and 20 rocks--indicative, according to the testimony of Officer Easter, of distribution as opposed to personal use. The government also introduced statements Mr. Wilson made while being booked--that he had beat the officer because he did not have the guns or crack on his person, a statement tending to demonstrate that Mr. Wilson understood drug trade and distribution. This court has also indicated that the presence of a firearm in connection with drugs, as with the two assault rifles in this case, may be probative evidence of an intent to distribute the drugs. Hager, 969 F.2d at 888 (citing United States v. Bruce, 939 F.2d 1053, 1056 (D.C.Cir.1991)). Taken as a whole, the evidence was sufficient for a reasonable jury to conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr. Wilson possessed the 3.74 grams of cocaine base with the intent to distribute, or aid or abet distribution of, that cocaine. 15
16 To obtain a conviction under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) for possession by a felon of a firearm or ammunition, the government had to prove (1) Mr. Wilson was convicted of a felony; (2) he thereafter knowingly possessed a firearm and/or ammunition; and (3) the possession was in or affecting interstate commerce. United States v. Shunk, 881 F.2d 917, 921 (10th Cir.1989). Mr. Wilson focuses his challenge on the second element--that is, that there was insufficient evidence that he knowingly possessed the firearms and ammunition. Mr. Wilson alleges that the government failed to provide direct evidence, such as fingerprints from either weapon or his actual physical control over either weapon or the ammunition when the search was conducted. 17 Constructive possession--again ownership, dominion, or control--is sufficient for a conviction under § 922(g)(1); proof of actual possession is not required. See United States v. Cardenas, 864 F.2d 1528, 1533 (10th Cir.1989) (finding section 922(g)(1) possession shown by demonstrating that the defendant knowingly holds the power to exercise dominion and control over [the firearm]) (quoting United States v. Massey, 687 F.2d 1348, 1354 (10th Cir.1982)). Dominion, control, and knowledge may be inferred by a defendant's exclusive possession of the premises. United States v. Mills, 29 F.3d 545, 549 (10th Cir.1994). To prove Mr. Wilson's constructive possession, the government was required to show some nexus between Mr. Wilson and the firearms and ammunition. Thus, the conviction depends on whether there [is] some evidence supporting at least a plausible inference that the defendant had knowledge of and access to the weapon or contraband. Id. 18 Viewing the evidence in favor of the government, as our standard requires, we conclude that there was sufficient evidence by which a reasonable jury could conclude that Mr. Wilson knowingly possessed the firearms and ammunition. As with the constructive possession of the cocaine discussed above, the circumstantial evidence found in the house suggests that Mr. Wilson exercised sole dominion and control over the house and had constructive possession of its contents including the two SKS assault rifles and the .38 caliber ammunition. This inference is further supported by Mr. Wilson's movement towards the room with one of the rifles during the arrest, and by the location of the other rifle in the bedroom where his belongings were found. The location of the .38 caliber bullets in the house and the prior testimony of Ms. Mannie regarding Mr. Wilson's possession of a .38 caliber gun lead to a strong inference that Mr. Wilson also possessed the .38 caliber ammunition. In sum, there was sufficient evidence for the jury to conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr. Wilson knowingly possessed the weapons and ammunition.