Opinion ID: 708235
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Sufficiency of the Evidence to Support the Conspiracy Convictions

Text: 23 Nick Owens and Kevin Johnson both contend there was insufficient evidence to support their convictions for participating in a single, unified conspiracy to distribute cocaine in the Musgrave Addition area of Oklahoma City, as charged in the indictment. Rather, they contend that, if anything, the evidence showed there were several different conspiracies. We disagree. It is well established that to prove conspiracy, the government must show ' that two or more persons agreed to violate the law, that the Defendant knew at least the essential objectives of the conspiracy, ... that the Defendant knowingly and voluntarily became a part of it,' and that the alleged coconspirators were interdependent. United States v. Evans, 970 F.2d 663, 668 (10th Cir.1992) (quoting United States v. Fox, 902 F.2d 1508, 1514 (10th Cir.), cert. denied, 498 U.S. 874, 111 S.Ct. 199, 112 L.Ed.2d 161 (1990)), cert. denied, 507 U.S. 922, 113 S.Ct. 1288, 122 L.Ed.2d 680 (1993). 24 [W]hether the evidence was sufficient to establish a single conspiracy is a question of fact for the jury to decide. To find a single conspiracy, the jury must be convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that the alleged coconspirators possessed a common, illicit goal. Proof of separate transactions does not necessarily establish multiple conspiracies. Rather, it must be determined whether such activities constituted essential and integral steps toward the realization of a common, illicit goal. 25 United States v. Peveto, 881 F.2d 844, 854 (10th Cir.) (citations, internal quotation marks, and footnote omitted), cert. denied, 493 U.S. 943, 110 S.Ct. 348, 107 L.Ed.2d 336 (1989); see also Roberts, 14 F.3d at 510-12 (However diverse and far ranging the activities of each coconspirator may be, so long as there is sufficient proof of mutual dependence and assistance, a single conspiracy exists. (Citations and internal quotation marks omitted.)). 26 Thus, under Peveto, Mr. Owens' and Mr. Johnson's contention amounts to nothing more than a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence supporting the verdict. In evaluating such challenges, 27 we review the record de novo, and ask only whether, taking the evidence--both direct and circumstantial, together with the reasonable inferences to be drawn therefrom--in the light most favorable to the government, a reasonable jury could find the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. In order to conclude the evidence was insufficient, as a matter of law, to support a conviction, we must find that no reasonable juror could have reached the disputed verdict. 28 Williamson, 53 F.3d at 1514 (citations and internal quotation marks omitted). In addition, we will not reverse a conviction merely because the verdict was grounded on the uncorroborated testimony of a coconspirator. United States v. McGuire, 27 F.3d 457, 462 (10th Cir.1994); United States v. Sloan, 65 F.3d 861, 863 (10th Cir.1995) (it is the general rule in this Circuit that in a criminal case a jury may convict a defendant on the uncorroborated testimony of an accomplice.) (Emphasis in original.) To the extent that the evidence conflicts, we accept the jury's resolution of conflicting evidence and its assessment of the credibility of witnesses. United States v. Sapp, 53 F.3d 1100, 1103 (10th Cir.1995) (citations and internal quotation marks omitted). Applying this standard, our review of the record shows there was ample evidence from which a reasonable jury could conclude the actions of Nick Owens, Kevin Johnson, and the other three coconspirators tried with them were all part of a single, unified conspiracy to distribute cocaine in the Musgrave Addition area of Oklahoma City. 29 Viewed in the light most favorable to the government, the evidence shows that in the early stages, Nick Owens was the organization's supplier. After Ramon Cartznes took over that role in November 1991, Nick Owens helped transport the cocaine from Los Angeles to Oklahoma for distribution through the network his nephews, Morris and Timothy Johnson, had established. William Gaines was responsible for cooking powdered cocaine into a form which could be sold by Timothy and Morris Johnson's distributors, i.e., crack cocaine. William Gaines also helped to prevent the police from interfering with the organization's activities by acting as a lookout. Chiquita Owens helped transport the cocaine from Ramon Cartznes in Los Angeles and Dallas to Timothy Johnson in Oklahoma City for distribution by the various retail sellers he had hired. Finally, Kevin Johnson acted as an intermediary between Ramon Cartznes, the organization's supplier from November 1991 to February 1994, and his half-brother Timothy Johnson, the leader of the organization's activities in Oklahoma City from November 1991 to February 1994. Thus, although each had a different role and their roles changed during the six years the organization existed, each served as a vital part of the overall conspiracy, either as suppliers, drug manufacturers, couriers, or lookouts. See Roberts, 14 F.3d at 511 ( '[L]apses of time, changes in membership, or shifting emphases in the locale of operations [do not] necessarily convert a single conspiracy into multiple conspiracies.'  (Quoting United States v. Maldonado-Rivera, 922 F.2d 934, 963 (2d Cir.1990), cert. denied, 501 U.S. 1233, 111 S.Ct. 2858, 115 L.Ed.2d 1025 (1991)); United States v. Gomberg, 715 F.2d 843, 846 (3d Cir.1983) (A division of labor among conspirators in pursuit of a common goal does not necessitate a finding of discrete schemes.), cert. denied, 465 U.S. 1078, 104 S.Ct. 1439, 79 L.Ed.2d 760 (1984); United States v. Gonzalez, 940 F.2d 1413, 1422 (11th Cir.1991) (there may be a single conspiracy even if one or more members of the conspiracy dominates, provided that the lesser players also work toward the common goal), cert. denied, 502 U.S. 1047 and 1103, 112 S.Ct. 910 and 1194, 116 L.Ed.2d 810 and 117 L.Ed.2d 435 (1992). Our conclusion is reinforced by the fact that four of the five individuals tried together were members of the same family. See United States v. Askew, 958 F.2d 806, 810 (8th Cir.1992) (verdict finding that there was a single conspiracy supported by evidence that the drug ring was a family affair, in which family members had various roles but were aware of the common goal). 30 C. Sufficiency of the Evidence Supporting Nick Owens' Conviction for Being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm 31 Nick Owens contends there was insufficient evidence to support his conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm in violation of 18 U.S.C. Sec. 922(g). According to Mr. Owens, no reasonable jury could have found he was in constructive possession of the handgun absent specific evidence there was a nexus between himself and the weapon, because he shared his home with at least one other person. See United States v. Mills, 29 F.3d 545, 549-550 (10th Cir.1994). We disagree. Mr. Owens was arrested in his bedroom while he was lying asleep in his bed. There was a semiautomatic handgun under the bed. There is no indication he shared his bedroom with anyone else. Thus Mills and our other decisions addressing constructive possession in cases of joint occupancy are distinguishable.