Opinion ID: 12447
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Morgan

Text: The evidence of Morgan’s participation in the crackdistribution conspiracy is sufficient as well. The record demonstrates that Morgan bought crack from Ammons, Stuart, and Robinson during 1995, made two crack sales to undercover officers 3 Wright also argues that his affiliation with a gang could not be used to prove the conspiracy. This argument is frivolous. The government did not introduce evidence at trial of Wright’s affiliation with the 415 Bloods, much less did it rely on that affiliation to prove conspiracy. 7 during the same period, and was aware of at least a tacit agreement between Ammons, Stuart, and Robinson.4 In March 1995, Morgan referred Officer Webster to Andre Rogers for the purchase of crack cocaine. Ammons testified that in May 1995, Morgan approached him to buy crack cocaine. He told Ammons that he was buying the crack because Rogers was no longer at his house at 2821/2823 Carter, but his customers were “still coming down there” so Morgan “wanted to make some money.” It requires only a small and permissible inferential step to conclude that Morgan was taking over Rogers’s role in distributing cocaine in that part of Frazier Courts. On June 15, 1995, Morgan flagged Officer Webster down. Morgan told Officer Webster he was “back in power.” Officer Webster then purchased crack cocaine from Morgan. During the purchase, Officer Webster saw numerous small baggies of crack in Morgan’s car, further supporting the inference that Morgan was distributing crack in the area. The record also contains strong evidence that Morgan knew of the agreement between Stuart, Ammons, and Robinson. Stuart twice sold crack cocaine to Morgan at Ammons’s Frank Street duplex. On the first occasion, Morgan purchased approximately 7 grams of crack cocaine for $200. The next time, he purchased an ounce. Stuart testified that he tried to charge Morgan $450. Morgan apparently 4 Morgan asserts that his first sale to Webster on January 9, 1995 was not evidence of his knowing participation in any conspiracy because Ammons, Stuart, and Robinson had not yet entered into an agreement at that time. Even without this sale, the evidence is sufficient to support Morgan’s conviction. 8 had bought an ounce from Ammons for $400; Morgan protested to Stuart that “Sinky [Ammons] let me have them for 4. Stuart testified that he reduced the price to $400 “out of respect for the duplex [on Frank Street] and the business relationship we all had.” On another occasion in 1995, Morgan came to Ammons’s residence to purchase crack cocaine. When Morgan arrived, Ammons and Robinson were cooking powder cocaine into crack cocaine. Ammons instructed Robinson to tell Morgan that it would be awhile before the crack was finished. When the crack was ready, Robinson delivered it to Morgan on Carter Street. Morgan bought approximately 60 grams of crack in this transaction alone. Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict, there is substantial evidence from which the jury could conclude that there was an agreement to sell crack cocaine in the Frazier Courts area and that Morgan was aware of and voluntarily participated in that agreement.