Opinion ID: 2775033
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Holt, Barnes, and Hartfield’s Variance Claim

Text: Defendants Holt, Barnes, and Hartfield argue that a material variance occurred in this case because, while the indictment alleged a single conspiracy, the evidence at trial showed multiple distinct conspiracies. They suggest that the evidence demonstrated a rimless hub-and-spoke conspiracy, with Barbary as the “hub” with multiple “spokes.” 48 Case: 13-10453 Date Filed: 01/30/2015 Page: 49 of 67 “A material variance between an indictment and the government’s proof at trial occurs if the government proves multiple conspiracies under an indictment alleging only a single conspiracy.” United States v. Alred, 144 F.3d 1405, 1414 (11th Cir. 1998) (internal quotation marks omitted). The issue of whether the evidence establishes a single conspiracy is a question of fact for the jury. Id. Accordingly, “the arguable existence of multiple conspiracies does not constitute a material variance from the indictment if, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the government, a reasonable trier of fact could have found that a single conspiracy existed beyond a reasonable doubt.” Id.20 We therefore will not disturb the jury’s determination that a single conspiracy exists if supported by substantial evidence. Id. In determining whether a jury reasonably could have found a single conspiracy, we consider “(1) whether a common goal existed; (2) the nature of the underlying scheme; and (3) the overlap of participants.” Id. (internal quotation marks omitted). As to the common-goal factor, we typically define the common goal element as broadly as possible and repeatedly have explained that “common” means “similar” or “substantially the same” rather than “shared” or “coordinate.” United States v. Richardson, 532 F.3d 1279, 1285 (11th Cir. 2008) (internal quotation 20 Only Barnes, and not Holt and Hartfield, raise this “multiple conspiracies” argument in the district court, so we review Holt and Hartfield’s material variance claim for plain error. See United States v. Straub, 508 F.3d 1003, 1010-11 (11th Cir. 2007). In any event, we find no error, plain or otherwise. 49 Case: 13-10453 Date Filed: 01/30/2015 Page: 50 of 67 marks omitted). “[I]n a drug conspiracy, in which the object of the conspiracy is clearly illegal and there are various clandestine functions to perform, the conspirators can be charged with knowledge that others are performing these different functions.” Id. (internal quotation marks omitted). Although it is often possible to divide a single drug conspiracy into sub-agreements, this does not necessarily mean that more than one conspiracy exists. Id. Rather, “[t]he key is to determine whether the different sub-groups are acting in furtherance of one overarching plan.” Id. (internal quotation marks omitted). In a so-called “hub-and-spoke conspiracy,” “a central core of conspirators . . . recruits separate groups of co-conspirators to carry out the various functions of the illegal enterprise.” United States v. Pacchioli, 718 F.3d 1294, 1303 (11th Cir.) cert. denied, 134 S. Ct. 804 (2013) (internal quotation marks omitted). “Where the ‘spokes’ of a conspiracy have no knowledge of or connection with any other, dealing independently with the hub conspirator, there is not a single conspiracy, but rather as many conspiracies as there are spokes.” Id. (internal quotation marks and alteration omitted). However, although “particular conspirators may not have known other conspirators or may not have participated in every stage of the conspiracy,” the government need only prove “an agreement or common purpose to violate the law and intentional joining in this goal by coconspirators.” Richardson, 532 F.3d at 1284 (internal quotation marks omitted). Moreover, “[i]f 50 Case: 13-10453 Date Filed: 01/30/2015 Page: 51 of 67 a defendant’s actions facilitated the endeavors of other co-conspirators, or facilitated the venture as a whole, a single conspiracy is established.” Id. We have held that “a jury may find that a single conspiracy existed when a ‘key man’ directs and coordinates the activities and individual efforts of various combinations of people.” Id. (internal quotation marks omitted). As a final matter, unless a variance is material and substantially prejudiced the defendants, we will not reverse the defendants’ convictions because a single conspiracy is charged in the indictment but multiple conspiracies were revealed at trial. Alred, 144 F.3d at 1414. To demonstrate substantial prejudice, a defendant must show (1) “that the proof at trial differed so greatly from the charges that [he] was unfairly surprised and was unable to prepare an adequate defense”; or (2) “that there are so many defendants and separate conspiracies before the jury that there is a substantial likelihood that the jury transferred proof of one conspiracy to a defendant involved in another.” United States v. Calderon, 127 F.3d 1314, 1328 (11th Cir. 1997), modified on other grounds by United States v. Toler, 144 F.3d 1423, 1426-28 (11th Cir. 1998). As to whether a jury transferred proof of one conspiracy to a defendant involved in another, we have found no substantial prejudice where the jury returned different verdicts on different counts as to different defendants, such that the “divergent verdicts indicate[d that] the jury . . . 51 Case: 13-10453 Date Filed: 01/30/2015 Page: 52 of 67 had no difficulty compartmentalizing the evidence presented.” United States v. Glinton, 154 F.3d 1245, 1252 (11th Cir. 1998). Here, we conclude that, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the government, the jury in this case reasonably could have found that a single conspiracy existed beyond a reasonable doubt. See Alred, 144 F.3d at 1414. First, the evidence at trial that we describe above was sufficient to support the conclusion that Barbary and his various confederates, including Holt, Barnes, and Hartfield, operated toward a common goal to distribute cocaine and oxycodone in South Florida and Boston. Even assuming that Holt, Barnes, and Hartfield did not know every co-conspirator or participate in every stage of the conspiracy, the jury reasonably could have inferred that these defendants intentionally joined in the conspiracy’s common goal and that Barbary, as a “key man,” directed, coordinated, and facilitated the venture as a whole. See Richardson, 532 F.3d at 1285-86. Second, the jury reasonably could have found the existence of an underlying scheme. In particular, the evidence supported a reasonable conclusion that the nature of the scheme was that Barbary, with Holt’s assistance, distributed drugs to Barnes, Hartfield, and others for them to distribute in turn to others. Finally, the evidence demonstrated a significant overlap of participants. For example, Holt knew and interacted with Barbary, Lewis, Jackson, Lespinasse, and Bennett; 52 Case: 13-10453 Date Filed: 01/30/2015 Page: 53 of 67 Barnes had direct connections with Barbary and Holt; and Hartfield had direct connections with Barbary, Holt, and Bennett. Therefore, because the government presented evidence sufficient to establish a common goal, underlying scheme, and overlap of participants, there was no material variance, and we will not disturb the jury’s verdict. See Alred, 144 F.3d at 1414. Nevertheless, even if the jury could not have found a single conspiracy, such that a material variance occurred, we conclude that Barnes, Holt, and Hartfield have not demonstrated any substantial prejudice. See id. at 1415-16. As to the first way substantial prejudice may be shown, the defendants make no argument that the proof at trial differed so greatly from the charges that they were unfairly surprised and were unable to prepare an adequate defense. See Calderon, 127 F.3d at 1328. Moreover, as to the second way in which substantial prejudice may be shown, we reject the defendants’ argument that there were so many defendants and separate conspiracies before the jury that there is a substantial likelihood that the jury transferred proof of one conspiracy to a defendant involved in another. See id. In particular, we note that the jury returned different verdicts as to different defendants, indicating that the jurors were able to compartmentalize the evidence presented. See Glinton, 154 F.3d at 1252. Specifically, the jury found the defendants responsible for different combinations and quantities of drugs, and 53 Case: 13-10453 Date Filed: 01/30/2015 Page: 54 of 67 acquitted Hartfield of conspiracy to use a communication facility to facilitate a narcotics crime.