Opinion ID: 1233878
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Deitz's methamphetamine and marijuana sales occurred in the scope of the conspiracy

Text: Deitz next asserts that his alleged sales of methamphetamine and marijuana to Bloor and Garland did not occur within the scope of the conspiracy. He argues that if such sales had occurred, they would not have furthered the underlying OMC narcotics conspiracy because Wheeler and other Outlaws had specifically excluded him from participating in that conspiracy. At trial, government informant Catherine Solgot, Garland's ex-girlfriend, testified that she lived with Garland in Indianapolis for approximately three years, beginning in October 1997. Solgot testified that during that period, she witnessed Garland conduct numerous drug transactions (mostly involving marijuana, cocaine, and pills) with other Outlaws, including Deitz, and that she sold drugs for Garland. Solgot testified that beginning in 2000, Garland and Deitz regularly conducted transactions of approximately five-to-ten pound amounts of marijuana. Solgot explained that when Garland sold marijuana to Deitz, she would travel with Garland to Columbus, Ohio, where he would give Deitz drugs provided by Wheeler or other Outlaws, though she was unsure if Deitz paid for the drugs upon receipt or later. On other occasions, Deitz would deliver five-to-ten-pound amounts of marijuana to Garland's home in Indianapolis; and at times when Garland was not home, Solgot would pay Deitz for the drugs and store them in a back room. James Dilts, an Outlaw in the Dayton chapter and an FBI informant from 1998 through 2000, testified that Deitz was known as a source of methamphetamine in the Green region. At trial, Dilts explained that when he traveled to the Louisville clubhouse in 1999 and asked the chapter president, Jerry Kinser, where he could purchase methamphetamine, Kinser introduced him to Deitz and identified him as a methamphetamine source. Dilts testified that when he met Deitz at a local bar, Deitz told him that he had a connection to obtain the ingredients used to make methamphetamine and that he would sell Dilts methamphetamine at a party later that week. Dilts also testified that Kinser warned him that although Deitz was an Outlaw, Dilts should be careful because he had heard Deitz might be facing indictment for selling cocaine to an undercover FBI or DEA agent. Bloor likewise testified that he purchased methamphetamine from Deitz multiple times, both for personal use and for resale to other Outlaws. Deitz relies heavily on our decision in Gibbs in arguing that his sales of drugs did not occur within the scope of the narcotics conspiracy. 182 F.3d at 408. In Gibbs, a loosely associated group of drug dealers in Columbus, Ohio were charged with a conspiracy to control the distribution of cocaine in a local area by excluding non-local drug dealers. Id. There, we vacated several of the defendants' convictions, explaining that although the government successfully proved that the defendants sold drugs in the area during the relevant time period, there was no evidence that they had agreed to participate in the charged conspiracy to exclude outsiders. Id. at 423. The allegations against Deitz are distinguishable from those at issue in Gibbs because Deitz has not identified any aspects of the charged conspiracy for which the jury could not have inferred his involvement. The indictment and superseding indictment in this case alleged a conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a wide range of drugs through [defendants'] membership in and participation in the [OMC]. (Joint Appendix (JA) 305, 369.) The Means and Methods and Manner and Means sections of both indictments detail the individual leadership roles of certain defendants and set forth the names of the individuals who, as members and associates of the OMC, allegedly distributed these controlled substances. Moreover, the evidence demonstrates that the indicted individuals, including Deitz, used their affiliation with the OMC to distribute drugs. For instance, Outlaw status was difficult to attain and maintain, the club had regular meetings and required members to pay significant dues, members occasionally attended meetings regarding international issues, and members' mutual trust was enforced by a club policy of violence against snitches. In contrast to Gibbs, the evidence presented against Deitz demonstrates that Deitz had knowledge of the agreement that the OMC intended to use its organizational structure and contacts to facilitate the sale of drugs, and that he had acquiesced in that agreement. 182 F.3d at 422. Therefore, a reasonable jury could have found that Deitz's methamphetamine and marijuana sales occurred in furtherance of the conspiracy.